Reduce your carbon footprint and save money by giving zero-waste or homemade gifts. Here are 15 simple zero-waste or DIY gift ideas.
Why are holidays and birthdays associated with mass overconsumption? No one needs a glowing teddy bear that sings happy birthday. Or an electric cocktail dispenser. Yet, these are precisely the sort of gifts we buy for someone who “already owns everything.”
The United Nations has Reduce, Reuse, Repair on its list of 10 things you can do to help climate change. Not only does useless stuff end up in the landfill, but it also requires a lot of energy and resources to produce and ship it to your door.
Still not convinced? If you’ve got 20 minutes to watch a video, I recommend checking out The Story of Stuff, which certainly makes it clear why less is more!
In my household, we specifically give each other zero-waste or homemade gifts.
- This allows us to limit how much excess stuff we have in our rather tiny home.
- When we buy something new, we get to choose exactly what we want (rather than put up with something that’s not quite right).
- Homemade gifts are often more thoughtful than simply buying another #1 Dad mug.
- Zero-waste gifts can be second-hand or experiential gifts.
If you need some inspiration, here are 16 unique zero-waste and homemade gifts.
Zero-Waste And Homemade Gifts
Reduce your carbon footprint by giving zero-waste gifts! Homemade gifts are thoughtful and appreciated. Here are 16 simple zero-waste or homemade gift ideas.
Zero-Waste Gifts
The easiest way to decrease the amount of stuff that you are buying is to give zero-waste gifts instead! Here are 4 easy, zero-waste gifts.
Experiential gifts
Experience gifts can be as small as a trip to a coffee shop or as fancy as a gift certificate to a spa.
Take a Staycation
A staycation is the ultimate zero-waste experiential gift. It's a super splurgy gift that doesn't involve a carbon footprint.
Food and Treats
Who wouldn't love a homebaked cake or ready-made meal? All of your favorite recipes are sure to be appreciated by those who are receiving them. If you want a bit of inspiration, here are some delicious ideas.
Homemade Masala Chai Tea
Here are 4 different masala chai tea flavor combinations to inspire your own signature blend.
Hot and Sweet Fruit Mustard
We've given homemade fruit mustard to our grandparents, teachers, and friends. It's so easy and delicious. A perfect DIY gift.
Flavorful Marshmallows
Homemade marshmallows can be made with juice, Earl Grey tea, or cocoa powder.
Homemade Gifts
Homemade gifts are useful and thoughtful. Best of all, they can be as simple or complicated as you want.
Birdseed Feeders
These birdseed feeders are ideal as a party favor. Make up a large batch for homemade valentines or wedding favors!
Friendship bracelets
This is another party favor/valentine's gift. They are simple enough that kids can make them all on their own.
Balms
Check out these recipes for foot balm, relaxation balm, and soothing muscle balm. Best of all, balms take less than 5 minutes to make!
Hot And Cold Packs
Heat packs are perfect for headaches, injuries, or just getting cozy on a cold night. Or put them in the freezer to help you cool down on a hot night.
Patchwork Quilt
This super simple quilt pattern is perfect for a baby gift. This hand-knotted quilt can be made with an ordinary sewing machine.
Homemade Bunting
Here are three different ways to make bunting, from the simplest knotted bunting to the more complicated sewn bunting.
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