Get Giving With These Green Gifts
Living a minimalist lifestyle means your sense of gratitude and appreciation stems from the things that already exist in your life. In other words, buying something new does not provide you with any more joy or fulfilment than the things you already own.
However, some occasions call for a meaningful gift purchase. So how do you find a present that the gift-receiver will cherish, but is still sustainable? Few gifts are more generous than those that give both to the recipient and the environment.
Why Is Sustainability Important?
Years of not caring for the Earth have had real, tangible consequences. Droughts, heatwaves, forest fires, hurricanes, and other kinds of inclement weather are all growing more extreme and dangerous. Time is running out to make impactful positive changes, as the UN predicts that much of the damage done to our climate will be irreversible by 2030, but there is still time.
We can make that positive impact by living a more sustainable lifestyle. Though it may sound overwhelming at first, there are a large number of simple ways that we can alter our daily life to make them more environmentally friendly. If we all commit to helping our planet bounce back, we can still successfully avoid catastrophe.
How Can I Be More Sustainable?
Looking into the climate crisis can at times seem staggering, but there are things we can do to help. Luckily, nearly every aspect of our lives can be changed in some manageable way to be made more eco-conscious.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
By reducing, reusing, and recycling, we make the most of our items and dispose of them properly when they reach the end of their natural life cycle - Buy only what you need, find new uses for what you have, and only purchase recyclable, biodegradable, or compostable products!
Ditch Plastic
Single-use plastic is one of the worst contributors to pollution across the globe, so removing it from our daily routines is integral to the continuation of our planet. It doesn’t stop at just single-use plastics, though.
Even plastic objects that claim to be “recyclable” are not always as they appear to be. It isn’t always clear what plastic materials should be categorized as recyclable, and kinds of plastic that are biodegradable or compostable are few and far between. This confusion leads to plastic being improperly disposed of, leaving it to pollute our oceans and landfills.
Unlike biodegradable ingredients, most plastic lasts indefinitely. Plastic’s chemical makeup doesn’t allow it to break down naturally, so it ends up in bodies of water where unsuspecting marine life may eat it, choke on it, or get trapped in it.
Avoid Single-Use Products
This principle extends to nearly all single-use products. Anything worth using is worth reusing, so find items that can be used for multiple purposes on different occasions. When the item finally breaks, make sure it is made of materials safely and naturally broken down.
Shop Mindfully
Shopping mindfully is one of the most powerful tools we have as consumers. By doing research and being careful to only patronize stores with sustainable practices in line with our morals (plastic-free, zero-waste, biodegradable packaging, etc.), we can help others stay informed about environmental standards.
What Are the Best Sustainable Gifts?
Gifting something that is both thoughtful and sustainable shouldn’t be a binary decision.
The most sustainable gifts are purchased second-hand and can be given a second life by their new owner. If second-hand gifting isn’t an option or if the intended gift recipient doesn’t need any items that could be bought used, there are still options.
Look into zero-waste, plastic-free, and environmentally conscious companies committed to helping the environment. By finding a gift that is just the right combination of thoughtful, useful, and sustainable, you could even help them form new habits that are great for both them and the environment!
When thinking of gifts that are guaranteed to be used, consider what people use every day. Our favorite everyday ritual is brushing our teeth, but we definitely aren’t biased. These oral-care gifts are perfect for the teeth-having, sustainability-minded person in your life.
Whitening Gel Teeth Whitening Kit
For those who want to simultaneously take their oral care routine to the next level while helping their smile reach new heights of shininess, Bite’s Whitening Gel is absolutely perfect.
Our whitening package is 100% plastic-free and is the only plastic-free teeth whitening system on the market.
The formula is peroxide-based, meaning that it’s effective for brightening your smile, but still gentle enough for those with sensitive teeth. It’s also completely vegan and cruelty-free - meaning it doesn't contain any animal products, and it has never been tested on animals.
Each package includes the whitening serum and a totally compostable applicator. The whitening serum contains all natural ingredients with no harsh chemicals (again, ideal for those who experience teeth sensitivity). It is flavored with peppermint oil to leave a refreshing and pleasant taste behind.
Luckily, the application process couldn’t be any simpler:
- Dry your teeth with a cloth.
- Use the compostable applicator to scoop up some of the whitening serum.
- Generously apply the gel onto each tooth.
- Smile and allow the serum to work for two minutes.
- Spit out any excess product.
- Repeat twice daily for 14 days.
A Bamboo Toothbrush
What tooth brushing routine is complete without the perfect, sustainable toothbrush? That’s where Bite’s Bamboo Toothbrush comes in, ready to save the day. Not only is this toothbrush eco-friendly, but it’s 100% plant-based. The brush’s handle is crafted out of Moso Bamboo, which is renewable and never contains any chemicals or pesticides in the growing process. This wood is also naturally antimicrobial, making it the ideal material for a toothbrush.
Brush’s bristles come from all-natural castor beans. Castor beans make for bristles that are soft on your gums but tough and deeply effective where it counts. Stains and plaque don’t stand a chance against these sustainable and powerful bristles. The head of the brush can also be detached, making travel a breeze.
When you’re done with your Brush, they can be composted in the back garden or contributed to a community compost effort.
Toothpaste Bits
Finally, we have the most integral part of any teeth-cleaning ritual: toothpaste. Bite’s Toothpaste Bits come in three delightfully natural flavors: fresh mint, mint charcoal, and berry twist. Each package of Bite’s Toothpaste Bits includes a four-month supply of Bits in a reusable glass container.
That totals to 248 Bits and one very classy jar. After that, every refill shipment provides an additional four-month supply. With our subscription model, we’ll ship out a refill of your Bits right on time. You sit back and brush, and we’ll do the rest.
Toothpaste Bits contain naturally whitening properties that are as good for your teeth as for the environment. In addition to being kind to the planet, our ingredients are also completely vegan and cruelty-free, so we never do any harm to our animal friends. Bits are composed of clean ingredients that also combat sensitivity.
As always, our Toothpaste Bits are fully plastic-free and zero-waste in line with our mission.
To get brushing, all you have to do is:
- Bite your Bit.
- Wet your toothbrush and brush.
- Activated by the water, your Bit will begin to foam up. This makes for a thorough and effortless brush.
- Repeat twice daily.
Fresh Mint Mouthwash Bits
Lastly, we have what might just be the most refreshing part of the oral care experience.
Our Mouthwash Bits come in fresh mint flavor, giving you a refreshing burst of taste that will stick with you all day or night. The delightful flavor isn’t the only benefit of our mouthwash, though.
These mouthwash tablets are the first to be made with Nano-Hydroxyapatite (also known as nHAp), a sustainable and non-toxic alternative to fluoride. nHAp works to strengthen enamel which helps tremendously to fight against tooth sensitivity.
Our Mouthwash Bits help to balance the pH levels in your mouth, both eliminating bad breath and protecting against cavities. Like all our products, they are entirely plastic-free, so they’ll never negatively impact the environment. Each shipment provides a four-month supply, equaling 124 tablets total.
Like our Toothpaste Bits, a subscription model is available so a refill will be sent right to your door. The compact nature of Bite’s Mouthwash Bits makes them perfect for taking them with you anywhere you go. Since they aren’t liquid, they’re also fine to take on any plane.
How Is Bite Sustainable?
The next best gift to something used second-hand is certainly to be used and made by sustainable means. Since the art of the second-hand toothbrush has unfortunately not been perfected quite yet, Bite turned to being plastic-free, zero-waste, carbon-neutral, and generally as sustainable as possible. From our products to our shipping to our packaging, every step of our process is done to protect the environment.
Our Bottles
When starting Bite, it was crucial that we never contribute to the eight million tons of plastic that enter our oceans and jeopardize marine life every year. In staying true to that promise, we are a completely plastic-free company. Where other toothpaste companies use plastic to store their product, we decided to think outside the tube. Instead, we use refillable and recyclable glass bottles.
Our Envelopes
We strive to be sustainable in every facet of our business, and our packaging is no exception. Bite’s envelopes are entirely plastic-free, and are made of kraft envelopes rather than the typical plastic poly-mailers. In order to protect delicate orders, we buffer the inside of our envelopes with post-consumer recycled newspapers. We are proud to say that our envelopes are plastic-free, compostable, and recyclable.
Our Boxes
As a zero-waste company, we don’t use any plastic in our materials, and the same goes for our boxes. These packages are made of corrugated cardboard for maximum durability, and now for our favorite part: our boxes are sealed with paper tape. The box and the tape are both completely recyclable.
We also make sure that we ship our orders economically, meaning that we’ll never ship just a little bit of product in a large container. While other companies may ship everything in the same sized box just to save money, we know that taking up more space means more travel, and more travel means unnecessarily adding more to our carbon footprint.
Our Refills
With Bite’s subscription plan, we will send more bits right to your door before you even have to ask for them. Our refills are also sent in completely sustainable packaging, and the glass bottles that they’re stored in can be used for all sorts of fun organizational projects.
Go Green!
Whether giving a gift to someone you care about, purchasing an item for yourself, or just looking for things to repurpose around the house, there are so many ways we can all live a greener lifestyle. Making incremental steps is better than no steps at all, and eventually, those small changes can grow into a big impact.
Sources:
We Have 12 Years To Limit Climate Change Catastrophe, Warns UN | The Guardian
Five Ways That Plastics Harm the Environment (and One Way They May Help) | Forbes
