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Eco Christmas
Three cream-colored felted wool dryer balls

Give · 1 guide

Eco-friendly Christmas gifts

Low-waste presents by interest and by moment: kitchen, garden, birds, experiences and stocking stuffers.

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A gift that gets used makes less waste than one that sits in a drawer, so this section sorts ideas by the person rather than by product. Our guide to low-waste Christmas gifts by interest covers the kitchen low-waster (beeswax food wraps), the balcony or windowsill gardener, the backyard bird watcher, the minimalist who wants no more stuff, and small presents for Secret Santa and stockings such as wool dryer balls.

Two tufted titmice perched on a hanging tube feeder capped with snow, with snowy trees behind

Two moments have their own guides. For someone’s first apartment Christmas, a tabletop living tree such as a Norfolk Island pine can stay on as a houseplant; Iowa State University Extension says it wants a brightly lit spot near an east, west or south window. For the vintage hunter, a single secondhand glass ornament is already on its second life, and our vintage ornament guide explains what to check. Wrap either in a furoshiki cloth that becomes part of the gift.

Wool dryer balls for stockings and gift swaps

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Frequently asked questions

What makes a Christmas gift lower-waste?

A gift that is used up or used for years, that replaces something disposable, and that suits the person's habits. A maker that says exactly what a product is made of and how to dispose of it gives you more to go on than an eco-friendly badge, which the FTC's Green Guides warn is hard to substantiate.

Is a bird feeder a good gift?

Only if it is easy to clean. N.C. Cooperative Extension advises cleaning seed feeders at least every two weeks, so choose one that comes apart and add a long bottle brush.

What can I give someone who wants no more stuff?

An experience or a consumable. For someone who likes the outdoors, the National Park Service's America the Beautiful annual pass covers entrance fees at federal recreation sites for 12 months from purchase; it is non-transferable, so buy it in the user's name.

Sources

  1. Green GuidesFederal Trade Commission
  2. Washing Bird FeedersN.C. Cooperative Extension, McDowell County Center
  3. Entrance PassesNational Park Service
  4. How do I care for a Norfolk Island pine?Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

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