The National Retail Federation predicts that U.S. shoppers will spend more than $1 trillion on holiday gifts in 2025, a record that could push the planet into deeper warming if the usual materials and packaging aren’t reconsidered.
Sustainable Gift Ideas
While the sheer volume of presents fuels the economy, it also pushes a heavy load of materials, energy, packaging and gasoline into the supply chain. Those processes release planet‑warming gases that are largely avoidable. The article lists several ways to keep the impact low: homemade items, food gifts, experiences, secondhand purchases and thoughtful wrapping.
Homemade and Food Gifts
Not everyone has the time or skill to craft a wooden bowl or needle‑point stocking, but many people can still give something personal and low‑impact. Sandra Goldmark, associate dean of Columbia Climate School’s Office of Engagement and Impact, says an act of service can be a gift that truly matters. She shares that her husband once organized all her passwords for her. “It was not something easy to wrap and put under the tree, but believe me, it was meaningful and really helped me more than any additional object cluttering up my home could have,” she said.
Food is another versatile option. When you have a long list of recipients, buy ingredients in bulk and pack them in Mason jars. Cookie mix, soup mix, sourdough starter and spice mixes are all easily sealed and transported that way. Add ribbon and a sprig of cedar for a festive touch. Homemade baked goods and snacks are also inexpensive but require care, time and attention, says sustainable living educator Sarah Robertson‑Barnes.
Experiences Over Stuff
Goldmark recommends buying fewer new things. She points out that many Christmas stockings end up holding toys that break quickly and go straight to landfill. Instead, fill stockings with items people already need, such as toothbrushes, body wash, fruit or chocolates.
Giving an experience is another popular and planet‑friendly option. Concert tickets, a spa day, a gift card to a favorite local restaurant, a local news subscription or a membership to a nearby garden or zoo are gifts that can be used repeatedly. Research indicates that experiences strengthen relationships better than material gifts.
“Atar Herziger, environmental psychologist and assistant professor at Technion — Israel Institute of Technology, says there is so much that you could do by just saying, ‘I would prefer if you just made me a nice meal or took me out for some sort of adventure,’” he says.
Experiences also come with less packaging. Herziger cautions that travel can have a high impact, especially if it involves planes, and recommends local options such as a nearby hike or a staycation. If you’re unsure what experience a loved one would prefer, Herziger says don’t overcomplicate it — just ask.
Vintage and Secondhand Gifts
Secondhand gifts are easier on the planet because they involve less manufacturing, packaging and shipping. Robertson‑Barnes looks to Facebook Marketplace or her local Buy Nothing group to find items she would have otherwise bought new. “I bet somebody has the thing that you’re looking for and they would love to get rid of it,” she says.
She acknowledges that some recipients view used gifts as taboo. “We do have a weird cultural thing where new is better and used is gross,” she says, and suggests reframing used gifts as “vintage.”
Herziger notes that secondhand options might be received better when they are items that can’t be bought new, such as a family heirloom or a collectible that isn’t produced anymore.
Goldmark recommends thrift stores for smaller toys or mugs, record stores, used book stores, furniture stores and antique shops, and points out that big names like eBay and Goodwill can have rare and unique finds.
If buying secondhand simply won’t work for a recipient, Goldmark says focus on items that are high‑quality, long‑lasting, repairable and really needed. That ensures it’s worth investing in and reduces the chance that it gets returned. She advises buying locally, rather than ordering online, to reduce how far it travels.
Wrapping and Presentation
Millions of pounds of wrapping paper end up in landfill every year. Much of it is blended with plastic to make it shiny or sparkly, so it can’t be recycled.
Not sure whether your wrapping paper is recyclable? Check your local recycler’s website for guidelines, or try a simple test by crumpling it into a ball. If it holds its shape, it’s more likely recyclable. If it rips as easily as printer paper or gets soggy like a saturated brown grocery bag, those are good signs it’s recyclable, too.
Robertson‑Barnes says if you already have wrapping paper on hand, use it rather than waste it. Once it’s gone, she recommends reusable wrapping cloths such as furoshiki, a traditional Japanese fabric for presenting gifts.
Some experts also recommend gift bags as long as they’re reused — and not tossed. Another cheap and planet‑friendly alternative to wrapping paper is newspaper or brown paper bags. Tie them off with reusable ribbon, a couple pinecones or a candy cane and suddenly it’s festive.
Brown paper is a blank canvas with endless opportunities for customization. “If you’ve got kids, then their drawings are wonderful packaging materials. They make the best wrapping paper,” Herziger says.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. holiday gift spending is projected to exceed $1 trillion in 2025.
- Homemade, food, experience, secondhand gifts and mindful wrapping reduce environmental impact.
- Local, reusable, and low‑packaging options are the most sustainable choices.
The holiday season can be a time of generosity without sacrificing the planet. By choosing thoughtful, low‑impact gifts and wrapping, shoppers can enjoy the joy of giving while keeping the Earth in mind.
