Your Guide to Ethical Gifting

November 27, 2019

December is just around the corner, Christmas is fast approaching and every year we find ourselves wishing for less 'stuff.'

In this fast-paced, consumer-driven world, we encourage you to slow down this festive season and, when buying a gift for your loved ones, consider this; your memories, emotions and feelings are what you'll remember when looking back.

So, to inspire you to do this Christmas differently, we want to share with you some easy to follow Rules of Gifting and the Ethical Hierarchy of Gift Giving in an effort to be mindful of the footprint we leave this festive season.

Rules of Gifting

Something you want, Something you need, Something you wear, Something you read

Not only will this rule save you time and money, it will also reduce waste and allow us to be mindful about the gifts we give. Here at ReCreate, we choose to practice mindful gifting and are reminded that the focus of the festive season isn't just about gift-giving; it is about fellowshipping with one another and making lasting memories.

Ethical Hierarchy of Gift Purchasing

Based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, the Ethical Hierarchy of Gift Purchasing focuses on the different gift-giving categories from most 'ideal' to less 'ideal.' It is important to remember that none of these options are not ideal (they all have their place on the hierarchy) and that the purpose of this is not to cause guilt but rather to be used as a guide for eco/zero-waste/minimalist friendly gift ideas.

Make Memories: Invite your friends over for a home-cooked meal, take your family on a day trip with a picnic on the beach, or gift tickets to an upcoming event. Experiences are our favourite gifts! Not only will everyone involved have something to look forward to, it is also something they will remember forever.
Give Your Time: Share your skills or simply offer to help out where your loved ones wants/needs. You'll be surprised at how meaningful an extra set of helping hands can be!
Upcycle/Buy Secondhand: Search your local op-shops or scour the web for pre-loved gifts and if you see something you know your loved one will like (but it isn't in the best knick), refinish or repurpose it for a thoughtful, meaningful gift.
Make: What is better than a homemade, handcrafted gift? Go the consumable route by baking some yummy treats, or go full D.I.Y and sew some clothes/accessories or make homemade soap.
Ethical Buy: If you're going to buy new, support companies that are ethical and environmentally responsible, or support smaller local businesses!
Buy: Now, sometimes your option is to resort to brand new items. And that's okay. We all have to start somewhere and are doing the best we can in the season that we're in. Remember, you can still purchase items that fall in the eco/zero-waste/minimalist friendly gifting options but the key is to be mindful and intentional about what you are purchasing.

Share some of your gifting ideas with us in the comments below! Blog inspired by Reduce, Reuse, Renew.

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