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Lower Your Impact
In 2025, July 24 was Earth Overshoot Day, the day when, counting from January 1, humanity consumed the ecological resources that our world can provide in a year. In other words, we consistently consume 1.5x Earth’s carrying capacity. With the fossil fuel industry’s “Plan B” being plastic production and the embodied carbon of physical stuff, reducing consumption is a climate win. Here are some lower-impact ideas for the holidays:
Gifts need not be physical items
Experiential opportunities make great gifts—institutional memberships, tickets to sporting events, concerts, the theater, subscriptions to online entertainment or local news sources, streaming platforms, audiobooks, or outdoor experiences like skiing or a guided canoe trip. Or support a local business with a gift certificate to an independent bookstore, refill shop, restaurant, movie theater, or luxurious personal care such as a massage, facial, or mani-pedi. A membership to a food co-op or CSA (community-supported agriculture) helps local producers while providing healthy food all year. Or offer a “coupon” for time spent with you, such as cooking together, or a favor like babysitting, gardening, or a house cleaning.
Low-impact items
Vintage and DIY make charming gifts—regifting is GREAT if you own something someone else will love. Or give a unique second-hand find. Crafts are always heartfelt, but If you’re not crafty, consumables, such as foods or health and beauty aids, are another low-waste category, and sometimes you can personalize them in repurposed or decorated jars. Or assemble dry ingredients for a favorite dessert, soup, cocktail, or tea mix in a thrifted Mason jar and attach a pretty recipe card. Other popular homemade ideas include candles, bath salts, flavored vinegars, or try fermenting kombucha or pickles.
Items to reduce someone else’s impact
Reusable items cut down on waste. Think metal, glass, or ceramic water bottle or travel mug, bamboo utensil set, beeswax food wraps, metal straw, Swedish dishcloths, steel tiffin containers, foldable shopping bags, or even a nice kitchen compost bin. Include a gift receipt in case the item is not needed.
Creative wrapping can be a lovely touch
Skip commercial gift wrap and bags (or reuse them), as they are generally not recyclable; instead use colorful magazines or old calendars, paper bags (decorated with ink stamps), kids’ artwork, old book pages, fabric scraps, or thrifted scarves, curtains, or tablecloths.
Shop locally and avoid mail orders, since shipping and packaging generate greenhouse gas. And minimize plastics, synthetic materials, and plastic gift cards when possible.
Susan Abrams, Ph.D
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