Christmas is a time for giving, but it can also be a time for excess and waste. This year, why not give gifts that are good for the planet and spread cheer? Here are 10 sustainable gift ideas for an earth-friendly holiday. You'll find gifts made from eco-friendly or recycled materials, produced locally, and designed to reduce consumption and last for years to come.

Want to give a gift that will last a lifetime? Give an experience tailored to your friends’ interests—like tickets to a cooking class or a concert. Memories of the adventure will endure forever. Experiences also have a lower environmental footprint than material goods, which require production, packaging, and shipping.

These experiences could be as simple as treating your family to a picnic at a park near you. Use of these spaces is free, and all you’ll need is a blanket, some homemade food, and your favorite people for a fun time outdoors! Or, you could also bond with your barkada while forest bathing at Masungi Georeserve (₱1,500 per person).

Giving personalized, handmade gifts is a meaningful gesture. Crochet a scarf, bake cookies, or create a piece of art. Take a crafting workshop (₱1,200) at CraftMNL to learn how to crochet, embroider, and make mosaics. At Tahanan Studio’s pottery wheel workshop (₱3,000), you can make a unique mug for each loved one. Handmade gifts use fewer resources, repurposed materials, or natural ingredients, making them a greener alternative to mass-produced items.

Choose gifts made from natural materials like bamboo, cork, coconut wax, or organic cotton. Look for products with minimal packaging and avoid plastic whenever possible. Wooden toothbrushes from The Eco Shift (₱89) are a durable and biodegradable option. For great-smelling hair sans plastic bottles, Magwai’s Shampoo bars (₱300) are your best bet.

Expand eco-consciousness beyond steel water bottles and tote bags by gifting other durable, reusable items. Help your loved ones reduce their plastic waste in the kitchen with food wraps from Milea (₱475) to replace disposable cling film. Even paper trash can end up in landfills, so give a reusable travel coffee cup from Eco Shop (₱325).

Give the gift of greenery with houseplants. These can help purify the air and bring life to any space. A low-maintenance vine, like a golden pothos (₱200) from Unbeleafable PH, is a great way to learn the basics of plant care. Explore Naty’s Garden for tools and small trees, which are ideal for more experienced gardening enthusiasts.

If you want a truly meaningful gift, donate to a charity in a loved one's name! It’s a thoughtful way to give back to the community and support a cause they care about. You can use Globe Rewards points or GCash to donate to causes like The Hapag Movement, which aims to end hunger for 100,000 Filipino families by ensuring access to food. And this Christmas, you can donate a noche buena pack that includes nutritious food and a special gift for every child. It’s a heartfelt way to show you care, with an impact that goes way beyond the holidays.

Dive into the thrifting trend and explore pre-loved accessories and clothing for the fashionistas on your list. By choosing secondhand items, you reduce the demand for new production and conserve valuable resources. Thrift stores like Glorious Dias, nirvanacollective.co, and It’s Vintage Vintage offer curated selections and one-of-a-kind apparel, making your gifts more memorable.

If you’ve got people on your list who love to create, consider a DIY kit for making candles, soap, or other crafts. The Madonna and Child Painting Kit from papemelroti (₱498) is a favorite among the devout. Candle making is made easy with The Craft Central’s Candle Kit (₱600). DIY kits often use natural ingredients and include just the right amount of materials needed, minimizing waste compared to pre-made products.

Choosing products made in your community is a win-win: you support local businesses and reduce transportation emissions. Assemble a fruit basket or purchase one ready-made from knots.ph or flowerstore.ph (from ₱1,800). Other local stores like humanheartnature.com and ritual.ph provide practical gifts that every family needs (like hand soap for ₱250). Consumable presents will also ensure your gifts don’t end up collecting dust throughout the new year.

Consider digital gifts, which don’t require physical materials, wrapping, or delivery, making them environmentally friendly. For example, you can help your elders stay safe online with a password manager like 1Password ( ₱160 per month). You can also protect them from malware and other cyber threats like phishing with Malwarebytes Premium (₱1,770 per year).

Balikbayan relatives who are home for the holidays would love a digital SIM card. Globe’s Traveler eSIM comes preloaded with 80 GB worth of data and unlimited calls and texts for 30 days, so you can keep in touch during their stay. They’re easy to purchase on your GlobeOne app for ₱1,750.

Everyone on your list would appreciate the gift of knowledge or entertainment with an e-book, online course, or subscription to a streaming service like Disney+. Most platforms offer monthly, quarterly, or annual plans, so you can choose what works for your budget.

According to a 2023 study, Christmastime waste is estimated to increase from 0.7 to 1.2 kilograms in Metro Manila. Help reduce this burden on the planet with these tips:

• Reuse extra table napkins, scarves, or hankies for Furoshiki. This traditional Japanese cloth wrapping technique eliminates the need for wrapping paper and is meant to be re-gifted.
• Avoid glossy or metallic wrappers, which are non-recyclable. 
• Replace the ribbon with twine and jute. GagMax Packaging has a good selection of plastic-free embellishments. 
• Try wrapping with just one piece of tape. This handy video shows how. Plastic tape will outlast even your youngest gift recipient, so avoid it when you can.

This Christmas, choose durable, locally sourced items, or opt for experiences and app subscriptions to reduce waste. These thoughtful gift ideas show you care for your loved ones and also reflect a commitment to protecting the planet for future generations.