Please, please! Give sustainable gifts this year . If you were already doing it, keep doing it. It is more important every year. If you have never thought about it or don't know how to do it, in this post we are going to give you a few ideas .
We are already in the middle of Black Friday week , the madness of discounts and consumption that has become so popular in recent years. In fact, this year, you will have found discounts since the beginning of the month.
As a small business with a vocation for sustainability, we have thought a lot about what role we should play in this event .
Clearly, we knew from the beginning that if we joined it would not be on Black Friday, but on Green Friday . This is a movement driven by sustainable companies and brands that tries to counteract the rampant consumerism of these dates. The goal is to make the acquisition of products and services that are more respectful of the environment more accessible , thus avoiding consumption always falling on large multinational companies that do not pay attention to caring for the planet.
So, yes, we have decided to join Green Friday . As a small family business, we do it with great effort . The margins on the products we sell are already quite tight, but we want to do our part and make it easy for you to buy environmentally friendly products. We want to make sustainability accessible to everyone.
For this reason, we suggest you do your Christmas shopping in advance until next Friday, November 27. At Alma Eko you can find discounts that will allow you to get environmentally friendly products at reduced prices.
What is a sustainable gift?
Before we move on to give you ideas of things you can give as gifts, we want to reflect a little on what makes a gift sustainable . For us, the keys are these:
Origin
Before you buy a gift, ask yourself where it came from . Is it something I can easily find in my area? If not, how did it get to me? We encourage you to educate yourself on these aspects before making a purchasing decision.
Local trade
Closely related to the previous point, we urge you to buy from local, neighborhood stores . Avoid large stores and multinational businesses. If you buy from local stores, you will be helping families like yours.
Ethical practices
Make sure that the business you are buying from and the manufacturer of the product you are interested in apply responsible practices regarding the environment, their employees and fair trade.
Materials
How important this is! Avoid plastic , especially if it is single-use, either in the product itself or in its packaging. Opt for natural raw materials, obtained, processed and distributed in the most responsible way possible . Also try to make sure that they are good quality materials, that are long-lasting so that they do not have to be replaced in a short period of time.
Good for health
It is a shame that we have to talk about this point, but the truth is that there are products on the market that are harmful to our health. We are talking about objects and hygiene and cosmetic products that, more frequently than we think, contain materials that affect our health because they are potential toxins and endocrine disruptors . There is a lot of scientific evidence that proves this (we will leave you with just this example , but on the Internet you can find much more information from reliable sources) and it is a shame that institutions look the other way for economic reasons. And yes, this is related to sustainability. Health costs money and maintaining it consumes resources .
That is going to be used
This is the most important key. Make sure that the gift you are going to give is going to be used and not just stored away in a drawer . Objects that are not used, no matter how ecological they are, have consumed resources to be manufactured. If you have doubts about this point, don't worry, we will give you a few ideas in the following sections.
At Alma Eko we work to ensure that our catalogue meets these conditions . The products you will find in our online store are selected with great dedication. We try to make them as natural as possible, with ecological and organic ingredients. You will find them packaged without plastic. It is also very important to us that the production and distribution chains of the products are respectful of the environment and the people who work in them. For this reason, we collaborate with ethical companies, committed to human rights and caring for the planet. But, be careful, not everything is perfect, sometimes you have to choose between one condition or another. You can find out more about the way we select our products in this blog post .
You don't have to give the typical
Stop giving scarves and matching hats to people who already have plenty. Don't buy that cologne just to look good. Broaden your horizons, be daring and give unconventional things that you know will be used . That's the key.
Break the rules . Ask your loved one what they want or need. When in doubt, if you don't know what to give, don't you think it's better to do this than to get the wrong gift?
Giving experiences is something we are already accepting more: trips, gastronomic experiences, wellness, adventure. But let's go one step further. What if you make yourself the protagonist of these gifts? If you prepare a special meal, give a massage with your own hands or organize a getaway to a special place, you will be more successful when it comes to controlling the materials and conditions with which that gift is made and making them more sustainable.
Don't be afraid to give away consumables or even basic necessities . They're going to use them! What's wrong with giving a sustainable dental hygiene kit to someone who you know wants to try these types of products but isn't sure how to start? Is dental hygiene important? Yes. Are these products that we all need? Yes. Will your loved one be surprised if you give them something like this? Probably yes, but there you have the perfect excuse to talk about it, show your concern for the planet and the possibility of raising awareness among other people.
Consider another thing: don't give gifts . This is shooting ourselves in the foot. But, if you don't know what to give, if that person already has everything, if they are going to receive a lot of gifts from somewhere else, if you don't have time to organize one of the experiences we have suggested, or if you don't feel like giving basic necessities, don't give gifts. You don't have to do it and it is the most sustainable gesture of all. And, again, it can be a very good excuse to talk about the importance of caring for the environment.
Gift ideas you can find at Alma Eko
We are now going to give you concrete ideas of possible gifts that you can find at Alma Eko.
First of all, we want to tell you about the packs . They are designed to get you started in the zero waste movement or to buy sustainable products that go together very well and, in addition, at a lower price. Take a look at our kitchen starter pack or the Golconda shower pack , for example.
And, as always, a twist. How about one of these options as a Christmas basket for your company's employees?
At Alma Eko we have a series of very 'giftable' products that are not only useful but also very pretty. They are gifts that make a good impression. They are a sure hit in 99% of cases. We are going to give you some specific examples of objects for the kitchen or for eating out that are really cute.
Of course, we had to mention the Chilly reusable bottles . They are the best stainless steel bottles on the market and we are not embarrassed to say so. They really do keep your drink cold for hours and hot for 12. Word from Alma Eko! We know this because we have tried them and we are very happy. Plus, they are so cute! There are tons of models , including some that both boys and girls will love. We assure you that you will have a hard time choosing.
Another lovely option for coffee drinkers (and for those who like hot infusions) are bamboo cups . They are beautiful, we have different models and they allow you to replace plastic cups when you have coffee to go at the office or simply drink your hot drink from a container that you love.
Other 'giftable' options are wooden cutlery and reusable straws . They are very nice and reusable alternatives to use outside and inside the house. And if you combine it with coconut shell bowls you have the perfect pack. They are things that we all use and a great detail.
Let's move on to the cosmetics section . We could talk about hygiene products, but we understand that some people don't think this is a gift. But natural cosmetics... now that's a great gift! You'll be giving away products of the highest quality, health and respect for the environment. All in one! In this line we suggest you take a look at Matarrania products and Zorro d'Avi soaps and clays . Both brands are Spanish and work in sustainable local productions, producing cosmetics of the highest quality, paying scrupulous attention to skin care and the environment . Their products are true gems.
If you have a yogi friend who loves to meditate and is an Eko Soul, but also calm, we have things that they will love. We have a wide variety of incense, burners and candles to create cozy environments and relaxing aromas. Among the candles, we cannot resist highlighting those made with soy and coconut wax inside a coconut shell. They are beautiful and have an amazing aroma. You will find them in three varieties: toasted coconut , tropical fruits and coconut and lime . Combine it with a Tibetan bowl and you already have the perfect pack for this person so connected with their spirituality.
A small kit of essential oils can also be a great gift for these people . These small bottles may seem like a small thing, but with them you are giving the gift of health and well-being. They have so many uses… A few weeks ago we launched essential oils at Alma Eko and we told you about all the varieties we have and what uses you can give them. We recommend that you visit our social networks, Facebook or Instagram , to review all the information we shared at the time and that can help you decide which ones to buy.
Is there a new member in the family? Usually, Babies have everything from before they are born. We find it very difficult to contain our desire to give these special little people something. At Alma Eko you will find less conventional options. This way your gift will be different, original and, above all, useful. You can choose from natural cosmetics or other bath accessories such as sponges and combs specially designed to respect the delicate skin of babies.
Hey! And don't forget about your pets . It's great that our furry friends have a little package with their name on it along with the rest of the gifts. We suggest this recycled rag fabric teether , but on our website you will find a whole section with more options.
If you're still not sure about it even with all the ideas we've given you, but you know you want to give a gift, we suggest the Alma Eko Gift Card. With it, the person who receives it can decide what to buy and you will have had a nice touch by ensuring that what that person finally buys will be sustainable products.
There are no shortage of ideas! And you will surely come up with more if you take a look at www.almaeko.com . This year, there are no excuses: GIVE A SUSTAINABLE GIFT!
