Month: December 2020

5 Eco-Friendly Options for Unwanted Gifts

5 Eco-Friendly Options for Unwanted Gifts

All the Christmas and Hanukkah gifts are open and there are inevitably one or two gifts that aren’t quite right. Since many online returns can end up in the landfill, avoid creating extra waste by considering one of these five options.

5 Things I’ve Given Up Because of COVID

5 Things I’ve Given Up Because of COVID

COVID will forever be the wrench thrown into 2020. But there are also some silver linings. Here are 5 things I’ve given up because of COVID.

5 Last Minute Plastic-Free Gift Ideas

5 Last Minute Plastic-Free Gift Ideas

We’re rounding the corner to Christmas and if you haven’t finished your shopping, don’t fret! In some ways, it’s a blessing in disguise because you’ll won’t throw away extra air “pillows” that are always unnecessarily thrown into Amazon packages. So, here are 5 last minute ideas for plastic-free gifts.

Gift Certificate to Local Restaurant

By now you’ve probably experienced a few restaurant closures in your area. Buying a gift certificate to a local restaurant is a great way to help out your local economy while gift giving! Also, most smaller restaurants usually have paper gift certificates instead of plastic cards. So, support a local restaurant with a paper gift certificate while gift giving! Win-win-win!

Gift Certificate for Local Classes

Same concept, different gift. Support your local business which probably uses paper certificates while gift giving. These can be online classes or be used for in-person classes for when things go back to “normal”. Some ideas for classes include:

  • Dance
  • Martial arts
  • Boxing
  • Crossfit
  • Cooking
  • Language
  • Painting
  • Pottery

Seed Packets in a Clay Pot

Even though we’re just starting winter, spring is just around the corner. Why not jumpstart your friend’s or family member’s garden with a collection of vegetable and flower seeds in a pot? You can find these at Lowe’s or Home Depot. Most seed are packaged in paper envelopes and clay pots don’t have any packaging! If wrapping is a must for you, try wrapping the pot in a piece of fabric.

Olivia for the Ocean - Plastic-Free Living

Bottle of Wine

Unless your recipient doesn’t consume alcohol, a nice bottle of wine is a safe go-to plastic-free gift. Even if they don’t necessarily like the bottle you bought, they can always re-gift it by bringing it as a hostess gift when things finally go back to “normal”.

Christmas Cookies

If you’re a decent baker, why not bake a few dozen of your best cookies? You can grab metal cookie tins at Target for simple plastic-free wrapping. My friend is an insane baker. She gave me a bottle of champagne and some of her famous whole wheat sugar cookies in a metal tin. I was beyond excited!

She baked some for my daughter’s plastic-free birthday last year and I’ve been a fan ever since:

What do you think? Can you choose one of these plastic-free options for a last minute gift?

For related and random posts, check out:

Olivia for the Ocean - Plastic-Free Living
Olivia for the Ocean - Plastic-Free Living
Why I Want a #PlasticFreePresident

Why I Want a #PlasticFreePresident

Earlier this month 550 organizations came together to ask our incoming President of the United States to be a #PlasticFreePresident. Here’s why I agree.

4 Ways to Avoid Disposable Plastics During the Holidays

4 Ways to Avoid Disposable Plastics During the Holidays

From stocking stuffers to decorations, packaging and food, the holidays can be filled with disposable plastics Here are 5 ways to avoid the extra plastic during the holidays.