12 Christmas Gift-giving Tips by EcoWaste Coalition

Gift giving with ecological value is possible (image from www.flickr.com/photos/)

1.          Collect unused gifts, old clothes, and toys, and books then donate them to charitable institutions.
2.    Make your own gifts. Why not gift your family and friends with your specialty dish, plants from your own backyard, scrapbooks, or a CD music compilation?
3.      Volunteer your time and talent to worthwhile projects and services for the community and the environment. Ask your church, school, or organization how you can be of help.
4.      Recycle old items and redesign them for a new look. It not only allows you to be creative and imaginative, it also prevents waste generation.
5.       When buying gifts, choose eco-friendly products that do not come from old-growth forests and do not contain genetically-modified organisms. Patronize products that are not fossil fuel-based, non-toxic, and are not made from child or abusive labor practices.
6.       Select toys that are adequately and truthfully labelled, age-appropriate, locally-made and safe. Carefully read  the product labels. Ensure that the items do not contain hazardous ingredients such as bisphenol A, phthalates, lead, mercury and other chemicals of concern.
7.      Patronize toys that promote a culture of creativity, harmony, and peace and no that of prejudice, war and violence.
8.         Give Products and delicacies from your province. Go for fruits, vegetables, plants, sweets, condiments as well as decorative and functional crafts.
9.      Give environmentally-friendly gifts made of recycled materials and products/services that advocate sustainable living. Share items that will teach recycling such as handouts, primers, and manuals on the different kinds of recycling.
10.        Choose gifts that do not need to be wrapped such as potted plants, massage from blind masseurs, gift checks, concert tickers, among others.
11.       If you need to wrap the gift, use old magazines, newspapers, or bandanas. You can also use craft paper and jazz it up with colored pencils.
12.       Call or send e-cards to family and friends with Internet access. Create your own greeting card to give it a more personal touch or buy cards from groups with a special mission or advocacy. 

Source: Eco Waste Coalition