During the holiday season, Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) initiated ‘The Gift Greener Challenge’. With 30 other partners associated with the challenge, individuals were encouraged to ‘Gift Outside the Box’ to reduce waste. Five areas were focused on: buy local, gift experiences, gift greener, give back and reduce, reuse, and recycle.
“Giving greener gifts is a wonderful way of promoting sustainability and helping save our planet! We should definitely continue this idea now and well into the future,” Northwest High School sophomore and MCR Environmental Affairs Coordinator Srihitha Akula said. “Greener gifts are a great way to encourage sustainability and the use of environmentally-friendly materials!”
By buying locally, small businesses struggling with the effects of the pandemic are supported. Products produced from Montgomery County businesses are labeled with a ‘MoCo Made’ logo as seen in the Montgomery County Food and Beverage Guide. Individuals can support local farms with a Community Supported Agriculture membership, which offers fresh products from local farms, through the Montgomery County Farm to Table and Montgomery Countryside Alliance, buying products from local farms will promote the local economy as well.
Instead of gifting tangible items, gifting experiences instead is also an idea promoted by the DEP, such as online classes that the Montgomery County Department of Recreation offers year-round. Brookside Gardens, is another option that DEP lists as a greener gift, as these gardens offer individuals the experience of walking through nature. Moreover, the many trails and parks that Montgomery Parks offers, allows for a refreshing and active activity to partake in with family and friends under safe COVID-19 precautions.
“The environment has been affected in both good and bad ways due to the pandemic. A good way being decreased air pollution levels,” Akula says, “A bad way being people starting to use more single use items, such as disposable masks, in fear of cross contamination. This results in more pollution and litter, harming the environment and our planet.”
Considering gift items that encourage a greener living, such as LED light bulbs or reusable materials makes a positive impact on the environment, not solely during the holidays but throughout the year. It is important to think about the ‘impact to the environment of what we buy, as well as, how we buy’ the gifts we give (DEP).
Giving back to local charities and organizations is another idea of a greener gift, as it does not have to be wrapped with wrapping paper or placed in a decorated bag. Volunteering time with family and friends or donating blood will make both a positive impact on the participant and the recipient. Especially during this time, with an ongoing pandemic, assisting those in need with food security or other important needs that are prevalent in our local community can also be a gift to others.
Finally, reducing, reusing and recycling is one of the most common phrases that is used to inform the public about the importance of being environmentally friendly. Regifting a gift or item that was not used the year before, and wrapping the gift in another material that can be used again serves the same purpose, while reducing the amount of waste that is gathered. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, household waste increases 25% from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, due to the heavy amount of decorations and wrapping paper used, in addition to the leftover food that is wasted. The gifts given are also a factor in the accumulation of waste.
It is important to think about the ‘impact to the environment of what we buy, as well as, how we buy’ the gifts we give (DEP).It is important to remember that it is the thought that counts, so hand making a gift can show more personalization compared to a store-bought gift.
“The holidays are a time of giving, and what’s better than giving back to our planet?” Akula said, “Giving greener gifts is a great way to promote sustainability during the holiday season, and also a great way to inspire your family and friends to live sustainably as well!”
Article by Sarasi Gunasekara of Richard Montgomery High School
Photo by May Pham of Walter Johnson High School