These thoughtful, green gifts will not only delight them, but also the planet
Since time immemorial, exchanging gifts has helped us maintain social bonds, express love and appreciation, celebrate festivals and build relationships. Rakshabandhan is one such special occasion where we can show our sisters how much they mean to us through thoughtful gifts. With the growing awareness about environmental issues and the need to promote eco-friendly gifting practices, there is nothing better than a perfect green gift to make her feel special and loved.
Here is our curated list of sustainable gift ideas that not only express your affection but also leave a minimal carbon footprint.
Green decoration for couch potatoes
Soy wax air fresheners, recycled fabric bunting, hand-painted tea coasters, crocheted flowers, macrame wall hangings, beaded curtains, sabai grass mats, copper bottles, pottery and bamboo lamps are perfect for your home-proud sister who loves to create cosy corners at home. You could also gift her glassware made from recycled wine bottles or artefacts made from reclaimed wood, embroidered cushion covers and hand-woven dhurries. Incense sticks made from rotted flowers, handmade soy candles and aromatherapy gift boxes can fill her heart and home with fragrant joy.
Trees for nature lovers
For the sister who wants to give back to Mother Earth but doesn’t know how, here is a gift that keeps on giving. With just a simple click on grow-trees.com, you can turn a personal celebration into an environmental project and dedicate a tree or even a grove to her virtually. In this way, you also support planting projects that increase green spaces in wildlife sanctuaries, urban areas, degraded forests and rural areas. By advocating for tree planting in the country, you also help to secure the livelihood of local communities. Your sister can oversee the project. Your sister can also monitor the growth of the tree through the website.
Stationery for the writer
If your sister loves to doodle and take notes, choose stationery with seed paper and plantable pencils/pens, cork journals, bamboo desk organizers, handmade diaries, perpetual calendars and also make sure that the gift wrapping is plastic-free. Stationery stores also stock handmade paper with flower petals incorporated, which is suitable for arts and crafts projects. For your art-loving relatives, you can even choose recycled canvases and cadmium-free watercolors.
Gifts for the green kitchen
For the sister who wants a plastic-free kitchen, choose bamboo cutlery, terracotta utensils, reusable water bottles made of copper, steel or clay, eco-friendly tableware, kansa thali sets, bamboo fruit baskets, coconut bowls, reusable copper straws and composting kits. Look for table and kitchen linen that is vegan, plastic-free, pollution-free and waste-free. Compostable bagasse plates and biodegradable paper cups will also come in handy at a party.
