ALT-4 How to Green your Gifts
When deciding on a gift, never lose sight of the end recipient. Although we might have fixed ideas about what is a suitable gift - especially when it comes to children - we should try not to impose too strongly our personal likes and dislikes. We may think stamp collecting is boring but if Uncle Bill enjoys stamp collecting we should indulge him in his hobby. While we may think that it would better to buy Uncle Jim something ethically sourced that helps others, there is no point in doing so if Uncle Jim thanks you then stows the gift at the back of a closet, never again to see the light of day.
The most "un-green" gift is the one that is unwanted, inappropriate and gives no pleasure to the recipient. A gift such as this is a waste of money, a waste of the time you spent buying it and the materials used to create it. In order to make sure your gift is appreciated, be observant, ask questions, make a note of something your friend admires while out shopping, take a look at what's on their book shelves...all of this will help you make an appropriate choice.
Once you have thought of something, do what you can to make sure you purchase it from a retailer that you have no ethical problems with. If you are buying mail order, try to get it from as close to home as possible. You could even look at online auction sites where someone might be selling just the thing you're after but at a reduced price for a good condition unwanted item.
What do you buy for the person who has everything? Well, I don't know too many people that fit into this category but I do know that many people these days try to avoid clutter so why not consider buying something that goes to someone else? Sound strange? The idea is that you buy something - a goat, the means to store water, books for disadvantaged children - on behalf of the birthday girl or boy. Rather than buy something that your friend or relative already has or just doesn't want, your friend will, indirectly, be helping someone who needs it more than he or she. Most charities have ways of giving in this way; check the websites of your favourite charities - or try to find a charity that might have special meaning to your friend or relative.
Why not be really green and offer something that is totally free but can mean such a lot? Your time is the best asset you have; combine it with your skills or talents to give a really special present. Give a couple of afternoons gardening to an elderly relative who can no longer manage their garden. How about a few night's babysitting for your sister? You could even make a book full of "vouchers" with each one offering an hour of your time for a different activity and the recpient can use them over the course of the year.
Look for green options for conventional gifts; give a subscription to an e-magazine rather than a paper one. Check out internet auction sites for interesting second hand items. Planning on giving chocolates - then look for ones made by a fair trade, ethically sound company. There are a increasing number of optionsavailable now for people looking to give green gifts.
Finally, you've chosen the gift you'd like to give so now it's time to wrap it. Instead of buying paper gift wrap each time why not buy re-use gift bags that you have been given presents in? I have a box of them and always put them away carefully so I can use them again. It's a good idea to put a removable sticky note on the bag saying who gave you the bag so you know not ot give it back to that person. Try to be creative and think of unusual ways to wrap presents - how about an old piece of fabric tied with some contrasting ribbon? Or newspaper - the UK Financial Times looks great for wrapping gifts. Make your own cards and gift cards from recylcing old cards or using free postacrds and magazine clippings. you could even use snapshots fora really personal touch.
Remember that however green you are you should not try too hard to impose your beliefs on the people you are buying for. There is little point in buying your granny a wormery if she has no interest in gardening and she is going to stick it in the shed....
