5 Gifting ideas for a Greener FESTIVE SEASON

With the holiday season steadily approaching us, one might find themselves in a fix – “What shall I give my loved ones in December?” Especially difficult when you are trying to be environmentally friendly and focus less on stuff (even if they are eco-gifts) and on experiences- fear not, we have wonderful fresh ideas to help you!

(According to a 2011 study conducted by Greenpeace, one kilogram of wrapping paper emits three and a half kilograms of carbon dioxide during its production process and an additional one and a half kilograms of coal is needed to power its production. (Credit: Yevhen Buzuk / Pixabay)

No matter who the recipient is, finding the perfect Christmas gift is never easy. You might be pondering on where to buy it from, whether it would arrive on time, and such. In fact, to some, getting the ideal Christmas gift is much harder than planning festive parties or cooking up a feast as it all boils down to whether the recipient will ultimately appreciate the gift.

Furthermore, with Christmas being one of the most celebrated holidays in the world, it is also the period of time that experiences a surge of waste pollution. Lots of aluminum foil, plastic packaging, wrapping paper, and such are excessively produced just to be discarded.

However, this does not mean that everyone should feel guilty about celebrating Christmas –it is the season of joy after all! The environmental impact of the holiday season can simply be reduced with minimal creativity and effort. Moreover, according to a 2018 survey conducted by Futera, 88% of consumers prefer gifts that minimise their environmental impact. Therefore, forget visiting densely packed emporiums or paying extravagantly for an express shipping rate this year. Not all gifts have to be tangible, they can perhaps come in the form of an experience instead.

Here are five environmentally friendly gift ideas that will definitely add spice and everything nice to your loved ones.

1. Sponsor a coral reef star

Instead of a star atop the christmas tree, why not plant a star at the bottom of the ocean in Bali? Symbolic adoptions are meaningful gifts as they support conservation efforts.

Ocean Purpose Project’s Coral Reef Stars project is a joint collaboration with Livingseas Conservation to reforest coral depleted waters in East Bali. It focuses on shaping hexagonal steel bars into a star, anchored onto the seabed, while promoting corals to spread along the structure. Due to the circumstances of coral reefs being damaged because of changing water temperatures and pollution, the Coral Reef Stars project aims to restore the underwater forests of Bali that provide coastal protection for communities and increase the potential for adaptation which will prevent the extinction of coral biodiversity.

Sponsoring a coral reef star can go a long way and it will definitely make anyone feel contented for helping to protect the aquatic environment.

Selection of resilient genotypes planted on to the artificial surface could improve restoration efficiency and ensure that restored populations do not meet the same fate as their predecessors (Credit: Ocean Purpose Project)

Get a Christmas Coral reef Star today! Click here to purchase: https://www.oceanpurposeproject.com/copy-of-bioplastics-bioremediation

2. Instead of Christmas cards, send Christmas plants