These ideas are amazing! Here is my problem: out of everyone I know, I am the only person who would appreciate such things. Everyone else I know would not know what to do with any of it and it would all in the end go to waste. The oils, the tea, the pretty packaging. Everything. Unfortunately. So I decided i'm just not giving people gifts because it seems no one in my life appreciates any of this stuff. everyone wants new new new and plastic plastic plastic or so it seems..
You could try give online gift cards! or print those gift cards on recycled paper so that way, the receiver would receive a lovely gift card to a place they would enjoy (restaurant - dine in of course, movie, an amusement park, concert). Another thing is to give them an experience that you would both enjoy. Also, who doesnt love chocolate and candy? Some bulk stores (like sprouts if you live in the US), sell gummy worms, taffy, candy. You can put them in a re-used mason jar and give it to them.
A S as much as I hate to admit it... Because you sound like a jerk (or someone named Susan) I have to agree with you on this one a little bit. The soap was cute,the candle was nice, and i actually like the socks... But otherwise a lot of these items look like something that wouldn't be worth the effort.. And i avoid gifting oils unless I'm 100% sure of the quality (i.e. not from earthbound or heb) and know the person receiving them is well educated on their safty.
i have a hydro flask myself and it is the best investment ever!! you can get cute carriers with straps for them to carry around and you can switch out the tops to get straws n stuff. you can get them engraved too (makes for a more personalized gift). and i've left water with ice sitting in my car all day and/or overnight and the ice was STILL there. highly recommend
My favorite gift guide on RU-vid this year! I'm trying to avoid the mall this year and only buy sustainable, natural items from artisans and farm stands, as well as making my own bodycare products and baked goods to give away. I'm also making homemade doggie treats for my friends who have dogs. :)
Each gift is so pretty and thoughtful:) maybe it’s just me , I always like small packages , could be associated with tasteful, and carefully picked out. Also thinking of switching out my plastic bottle with the thermal flask , so that I can enjoy warm water at all times
For laundry you can buy Indian soap nuts from a local market or online and using a guppy friend laundry bag will prevent the microfibres from the materials of your clothes going into the water
I love getting gifts in reusable pouches. I usually refill them with art supplies or toiletries. Cute jewelry. I'm a new subscriber as of New Year's day!
Great video! Your friends and family are very lucky to receive such thoughtful gifts. I know it's a fair while until Christmas, but these will be good for birthday gift ideas too. Some of the best gifts I have ever been given are of this nature, including homemade incense in a small jam jar which my friends had carefully decorated.
Great ideas. Never heard of bamboo socks but just ordered some for pressies. Also ive ordered an eco soya wax candle as i usually have yankee so this is new for me. And im just searching handmade soaps for presents too m yours looks amazing x
So I watched a How It's Made episode on toilet paper and they said that most toilet papers are made of recycled paper. But in order to make this happen, they remove the ink in the paper by soaking it in something. I want to say it was soapy water. And then they're able to recycle it. I wonder if we could do something like that with the paper packaging thats not immediately considered recyclable.
I bought a 'SIGG Unisex Outdoor Hot and Cold Brushed Water Bottle' this year and it is THE most amazing bottle I have ever had. The quality is amazing. It also comes with a removable tea "filter" (for lack of better word. It stops loose tea from coming out of the bottle and therefore, stops you from drinking bits of tea!) I would recommend it to everyone! And amazing as a gift too. If I make tea and pour just-boiled water into it straight from the kettle, I'm not able to drink it for hours! That to me is a great testament to how well-insulated it is. I just make tea in a water jug and after a couple of mins, I pour it into the flask. I haven't tried cold drinks with it but it is AMAZING for hot drinks. The size is also perfect. 0.5 litres last me half a day, and if I'm out longer than that, I make tea in it again (I carry tea with me everywhere!). I think if it was larger, the weight would stop me from carrying it with me, so for me, this size is perfect. HOWEVER.... The packaging isn't completely recyclable because the front of the cardboard box has that little plastic window/film that lets you see the product in the box. It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make, as the quality of the bottle & reusing it makes up for the packaging. I can have hot drinks poured into it if I go to coffee shops for example and never use unrecyclable coffee cups etc! P.S. (edit:) I bought it on Amazon! Search for the name and you'll find it. Not sponsored, but wish Sigg would pay me for how much I rave about this bottle to people!!
Blue Ollis you are amazing! I have just started watching your videos and you are such an inspiration and so eloquent in the way you put forward your thoughts. I have just ordered some of the soap from your link - it says the nettle and other plants in it are good for inflammation and painful joints, so I am hoping my arthritis will benefit a little - worth a try. I went vegan a month ago after many years of feeling an uneasy, hypocritical, vegetarian. I am now, thanks to you, also looking into the rest of my lifestyle eg. Reducing waste. Love your ideas soooo much xx
This is so wonderful to hear! I really hope you enjoy the soap and, a little tip for arthritis, I'd recommend making some golden turmeric paste. It's really helped with my joint pains and inflammations. So happy to hear you're leading a life with more compassion and consciousness 💙
Hi, this is the first video I have watched of yours and love it! Really helpful gifts suggestions. Will you be making an updated gift guide for this year? Thank you🙏🏼
Where can I find those organic cotton bags shown in 4. minute of your video? They are not listed in the description below and I am really interested :)
I'm a year late to this video but it just popped up in my recommended:) I picked up quite a few gifts from charity shops this year. I also made a couple. I purchased some more 'traditional gifts' but made sure everything is ethically made and good quality so it lasts. I also favour consumables as a good generic gifts - some nice locally made sweets, tea or coffee or alcohol for the drinking folks;)
Great video. As a note on less waste I am begging everyone to stop giving teacher's presents of "stuff". Every year I watch as the teacher's I know throw all the gifts in the garbage or thrift stores...more stuff for other people or waste. A teacher cannot keep 30+ gifts, and often your taste as a parent is not their taste. A zero waste gift is best like tea or soap.
Anya Hobbs If you want to make tea follow these steps 1. If you are making for three boil half cup water. 2. When it's start to boil add 1 table spoon for each person. 3. Add sugar according to your taste. 4. Add milk 1 for each 5. When it's start to change it's light to dark quickly turn it off. 6. Stain it 7. Enjoy it.
I'd suggest studying RTRS standard for Responsible Soy production before choosing soy wax over, say, electricity or beeswax. It states clearly: "Expansion of soy cultivation is responsible", and this is exactly what you're supporting. Not every government is strong enough to protect their wildlife against this sort of dollars and soy cultivation is indeed responsible for deforestation.
Well I try to be minimalist, however I don't want to be radical, I just suggest don't give gifts, send a nice e-card or, give experiences, gifts cards from supermarket, manicure, restaurant, one day in a park like Disney, massage, cinema, go a Balloom ride, Starbucks, etc. .... First the plastic card or paper will belong for your friend or family. But, Think to give something the person really likes it. No what you like. For last, cook something and give to your friends. I receive all the time fudge , brownie, any kind food gifts. I prefer than tea in a jar or soap. Experience is the best! You are vegan, minimalist, maybe the others are not. Sorry, I am sincere. My friend every year in the birthday, donates some money in the name of her friend to a shelter, social adoption animal in the zoo, child treatment in a hospital, it is a good way as well.
Hey I have a question! I really love chai too! Although I can't seem to find any chai tea mixes not to mention loose chair tea mixes! It would be so so helpful if you could tell me or give me a link to where you got your chai loose mix! Thank you so much! ❤️❤️
Random question... would hot glue be zero waste? Or... glue in general. (Im new and slow DON'T JUDGE ME) I'm pretty good at origami and I was thinking about making little toppers for the gifts I give? So gluing the toppers on would be how I'd do it. This would be my first waste free Christmas. Any suggestions? Naked presents are weird! I know you said something about paper ribbons or idk I cant find that part now.
Hi. Great question! I always like to use tie methods or puncture holes instead of glue as it is full of harmful chemicals and usually comes in plastic. I know that origami doesn’t require glue, instead it uses folding methods to attach itself. Perhaps just puncture a hole and tie a ribbon to hang or place the ornaments instead of hanging altogether.
@@blueollis My local zero waste shop sells it in bulk. But still it comes in large plactic bags and then they are put in nice glass jars for the display. Same with spices. They are open about it, i guess for now this is just as good as it gets in here. Im just saying in general for anyone who reads this, it's worth to ask and know before making a decision.
love ur videos, been watching for only a few days - thoroughly enjoying what you presented and hauled. when u mentioned ur partner has been using plastic bottle, i suddenly got a question for you - does ur partner's choice of purchasing and using products conflict with your value of going absolutely zero waste? if you guys live together, how does that work when it comes to little things which bring disagreements in terms of some household items or handing things around? just curious, if you dont mind sharing. thanks!
awesome. love to hear. i live with my partner and we do argue a little abit over some stuff because we have different ways of using and disposing household items. look forward to the video! also, i know u live in london, but accent wise, im a bit curious whether you originally from london or elsewhere?
Bamboo is the fastest growing grass in the world so you can easily plant some more if you feel like it's destroying habitats. Plus when you buy bamboo material things, most can be recycled which is why people but it so there is no waste
You should always look out for bamboo products that state that the used variety aren‘t the one that‘s eaten by pandas etc. It‘s still a difficult matter but as the only bamboo thing I own is my toothbrush and that will last for at least two more years, I just don‘t really think about it until then
by the way, i love the socks they have beautiful patten on them and the green colour is nice. very comfy and also very sexy :) i personally love candles and skin care items. i fell in love with ur minimalistic DIYs for skin care stuff, simple looking bottles but with quality. keep doing videos like those pls x
Check out Rhimani on Instagram for a fair trade company who work with ladies in Nigeria to produce lovely authentic jewellery with their funds going towards a new charity every month! Honu jewellery is also another good one - they save the turtles!
Zero waste is an industrial term. Creating zero impact doesn’t exist. But doing our best to make pockets of circular design within the linear economy does and it’s what’s going to help save our planet.
Blue Ollis since your interested in the subject, watch “Adam Ruins Everything”, episode “Going Green”. It’s a nice introduction to the facts and reality that most of us are not aware of. We are being marketed and targeted to believe that by something like owning a “Prius” is saving the environment, when in fact it is doing the complete opposite. That’s just an example. Hope you watch it.
