Green Gifting
Encyclopedia
Green Gifting is an emerging trend that results in a lower environmental impact
as well as a lower impact on personal budget
s from the gift giving process. It began with the idea of recycling
the packaging around a gift and has expanded into the mindset that presents themselves can be chosen or created for the purpose of recycling or lowering their environmental and budgetary impact.
The concept of re-gifting is not uncommon and has traditionally been frowned upon. Because of this perception one of the most important steps for successful Green Gifting is for the host of an event to indicate that Green Gifting is not only approved, but preferred. An event that features Green Gifting encourages those invited to practice the level of Green Gifting the giver is comfortable with:
Environmental impact assessment
An environmental impact assessment is an assessment of the possible positive or negative impact that a proposed project may have on the environment, together consisting of the natural, social and economic aspects....
as well as a lower impact on personal budget
Budget
A budget is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods...
s from the gift giving process. It began with the idea of recycling
Recycling
Recycling is processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse...
the packaging around a gift and has expanded into the mindset that presents themselves can be chosen or created for the purpose of recycling or lowering their environmental and budgetary impact.
The concept of re-gifting is not uncommon and has traditionally been frowned upon. Because of this perception one of the most important steps for successful Green Gifting is for the host of an event to indicate that Green Gifting is not only approved, but preferred. An event that features Green Gifting encourages those invited to practice the level of Green Gifting the giver is comfortable with:
- Re-gift a never used or gently used item.
- Use recycled wrapping paperWrapping Paper"Wrapping Paper" is a song with music composed by Jack Bruce and lyrics by Pete Brown, performed by Cream and originally released as a single in 1966 with "Cat's Squirrel" as the B side. It is featured on The Very Best of Cream...
, bows, or gift bags. - Substitute newspaperNewspaperA newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
or cloth for wrapping paper. Two examples of traditional cloth wrappings are FuroshikiFuroshikiFuroshiki are a type of traditional Japanese wrapping cloth that were frequently used to transport clothes, gifts, or other goods. Although possibly dating back as far as the Nara period, the name, meaning "bath spread", derives from the Edo period practice of using them to bundle clothes while at...
and BojagiBojagiBojagi or bo for short is a traditional Korean wrapping cloth. Bojagi are square and can be made from a variety of materials, though silk is common...
. - Create a present by hand.
- Give a pass or membership to a local zoo, museum, or state and national park.
- Search online for additional creative ideas.
See also
- RegiftingRegiftingRegifting or regiving is the act of taking a gift that has been received and giving it to somebody else, sometimes in the guise of a new gift. One example of a formalization of this activity are the white elephant gift exchanges, in which items can be regifted from year to year.In the USA,...
- Ethical consumerismEthical consumerismEthical consumerism is the intentional purchase of products and services that the customer considers to be made ethically. This may mean with minimal harm to or exploitation of humans, animals and/or the natural environment...
- Experiential giftsExperiential giftsExperiential gifts also known as gift experiences and experience gifts, pioneered in the UK in the 1990s, now represent one of the faster growing segments of the $253 billion a year gift industry...
- Alternative givingAlternative givingAlternative giving is a form of gift giving in which the giver makes a donation to a charitable organization in the recipient’s name, rather than giving an item...
- Red envelopeRed envelopeIn Chinese and other Asian societies, a red envelope or red packet is a monetary gift which is given during holidays or special occasions.-Usage:Red envelopes are mainly presented at social and family gatherings such as...
- FuroshikiFuroshikiFuroshiki are a type of traditional Japanese wrapping cloth that were frequently used to transport clothes, gifts, or other goods. Although possibly dating back as far as the Nara period, the name, meaning "bath spread", derives from the Edo period practice of using them to bundle clothes while at...
- BojagiBojagiBojagi or bo for short is a traditional Korean wrapping cloth. Bojagi are square and can be made from a variety of materials, though silk is common...
- PrecyclingPrecyclingPrecycling is the practice of reducing waste by attempting to avoid bringing items which will generate waste into home or business.The original three-pronged push for trash management is "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle." Precycling emphasizes "reducing and reusing", while harnessing and questioning the...