Two years of election campaigning has let an important transition sneak up on us: the holiday season. As the stores begin to discount products and the malls begin to optimistically hire seasonal employees, it is important to keep in mind your obligations to the environment.
In the next month and a half, shoppers will scramble around the city searching for the perfect gift to give to their significant others, family members or friends. According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, holiday shoppers will spend roughly $800 in gifts and produce 25 percent more waste.
This year, students can stay true to themselves by being smart consumers. Students should be wise in their buying choices, shop locally whenever possible and always take into account the environmental impact that results from the production of each potential purchase.
With the range of environmentally conscious items available in Eugene, that isn’t too much to ask. From the annual Holiday Market to the downtown boutiques, the selection of products available to the wise gifter is near infinite. Having such vast environmentally responsible options obligates shoppers to put some serious thought into where each swipe of the debit card goes.
If students simply must go to the mall, they can reduce their carbon footprints by taking the bus. Buses from the University and Eugene stations travel to both Gateway Mall and Valley River Center.
Unique and meaningful gifts are no rarity in our immediate area. Spending dollars locally generates much-needed revenue for local businesses. When you’re at the cash register, remember that each dollar you spend is an endorsement of a product.
Much of the store-bought gift wrap is often unrecyclable and ends up in landfills. Think creatively when considering gift wrap. Maps, newspaper and leftover fabric make good alternatives.
Homemade gifts can also reduce waste. By using old or hardly used items, students can create personalized gifts without adding another piece to the waste stream.
Gifts that encourage reusing also work well. Reusable mugs, batteries or bags help minimize the waste of their one-time use counterparts.
No matter how you decide to go about your holiday gift hunting, be sure to consider Mother Earth.
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