When I did my poll on Instagram asking what kind of gift guides folks wanted to see, if any, one of the most Intriguing to me was eco-friendly! I definitely attempt to live a greener life. My family is super strict about recycling, we have switched to all LED lights, and I don’t think I’ve ever thrown away a usable piece of clothing, opting to donate or consign instead.
But when I told my friend, Jess, that I loved her idea for a green gift guide, she told me to make sure my picks weren’t green-washed. To put it simply, green washing is when something seems environmentally friendly, rather than actually being environmentally friendly. An example would be plastic reusable water bottles vs glass or stainless steel. (If you’d like to check out the impact of plastics, I suggest this article, published earlier this year.)
When I was creating this guide, I made sure that the companies, ingredients, and packaging were considered eco-friendly. Honestly, what’s a better gift than going an extra step to take care of our planet?