What do you do if someone on your Christmas gift list is keen to be green and you don’t know where to begin looking? They will already have adapted their lifestyle to the point where a funky reusable coffee cup or eco-friendly toothbrushes are unlikely to make them jump for joy (although I’m sure they’ll still appreciate it). So, here are some green Christmas gift ideas to really make your loved ones’ Christmas if their passion is the environment.
Planting a tree
More trees equal less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and more oxygen, plus planting trees is a way of kicking back at the mass deforestation that has taken place over decades. However, there are limitations: A sapling is unlikely to suck up enough carbon in its early years to make much difference; only mature trees really have any effect. Perhaps you could give your eco-friendly friend a sapling of their own to start the process.
Alternatively, for just £10, you can help The Woodland Trust plant more trees and create future homes for wildlife. Click here for more information.
Donating to a green charity
Your planet-friendly friend does not necessarily want lots of ‘stuff’. So, knowing you have given your money to a charity that they believe in can go down well.
Fo this Green Christmas gift, if they are concerned about the impact on wildlife, consider a donation to WWF, Born Free or similar. If deforestation is their bugbear, try something like the Rainforest Trust. And if you’re not sure, Greenpeace is a good bet!
The gift of carbon dioxide removal
A Climeworks subscription is a unique proposition and perfect green Christmas gift that anyone who wants to help reduce their impact on the planet will love!
Climeworks removes carbon dioxide directly from the air, which is then stored safely and permanently underground. What’s clever about this is that it removes historic CO2, i.e. the carbon dioxide that has been kicking around for some time and that needs to be removed to keep global warming under control.
Another clever aspect is its speed: within just five years from the date of purchase, CO2 is permanently removed from the air and stored underground – this is at least twice as fast as planting trees.
Climeworks works with big organisations, such as Stripe or Shopify, to help them remove their carbon footprint but it is also available to people like you and me – making it a great Christmas gift. For as little as €7 per month, 85kg of carbon dioxide can be removed from the air per year. That’s the equivalent of around four trees. Click here for more information.
Gift experience
There are companies that arrange a whole gift experience, such as Red Letter Days and BuyAGift in the UK. Your environmentalist might enjoy, for example, rock climbing, sailing, glamping or staying in a tree house. The disadvantages of this are the cost and, more importantly for your recipient, the fact that they may have to travel some distance, which might negate some of the environmental advantages.
Why not research and find an experience nearby? Perhaps a slap-up meal at their local vegan restaurant or a local course in bee keeping?
If they don’t automatically offer gift vouchers, most local businesses will come up with something.
A smarter smart phone
Those who care for the planet may well have a very old phone. If someone really needs new one, enter Fairphone; they design longer-lasting products that can be repaired and recycled. At just under £400, they’re not inexpensive, but they are one that the recipient can expect to enjoy for years whilst doing their bit to reduce e-waste. Find out more here.
Solar chargers and power banks
Of course, phones need charging, as do other portable devices. So, another gift idea is a solar charger or a solar power bank.
In addition to the environmental benefits, these little gems are both economical and handy. They’re also invaluable for those who like to hike or camp, for example, but still want or need their tech.
There is a plethora of options on the market. See here for some ideas to get you started.
Rainwater harvesting
Much water is wasted. The average household uses 150 litres of water a day and very little of that is used for drinking or cooking. Harvesting rainwater is environmentally responsible, promotes self-sufficiency and saves money! It can be as simple as having a water butt in to collect rainwater for plants and lawns. It can also go further with filtering systems, meaning you can use rainwater for toilet flushing and bathing. You can get plenty of inspiration from Celtic Sustainables.
There are so many innovations around the environment that buying eco-friendly presents is becoming easier. Find something to inspire your environmentalist family members and friends this year. Happy Green Christmas gift hunting!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Liesbeth Deddens is from Climeworks. Climeworks empowers people to reverse climate change by permanently removing carbon dioxide from the air.
One of two things happens to the Climeworks air-captured carbon dioxide: either it is returned to earth, stored safely and permanently away for millions of years, or it is upcycled into climate-friendly products such as carbon-neutral fuels and materials, fertilizer for greenhouses or bubbles in your fizzy drinks. The Climeworks direct air capture technology runs exclusively on clean energy, and the modular CO2 collectors can be stacked to build machines of any size.
Founded by engineers Christoph Gebald and Jan Wurzbacher, Climeworks strives to inspire 1 billion people to act now and remove carbon dioxide from the air.
Together we can build a climate-positive world. Join us!
Web: https://www.climeworks.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Climeworks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/climeworks
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/climeworks
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