As I mentioned in my eco-friendly Thanksgiving post, it is especially important to remain aware of your actions during the holidays, when waste and excess are far too common.  In no arena is this more important that gift-giving, which is the source of a great deal of expenditure and waste every year.  The following tips should help you make more responsible choices.

Shop Locally: Items made in foreign countries incur huge amounts of pollution not only in their transportation to your local store, but also in their manufacture.  Most production-heavy countries do not have the same environmental standards that the United States does and their factories take advantage of this laxity.  Check websites such as Still Made in the USA and Americans Working to find products made in the U.S.—you can find versions of most common products, and often they are popular brands.  If you are looking for something more unique, try using the local search function on Etsy, a site that helps artisans sell their products.  Another option is to search Yelp for stores that make their own products in your city.

Show Low-Waste: This can mean a variety of considerations.  Try to find gifts without a lot of excess packaging that will only be thrown out.  Also, look for presents that will last for years, rather than something that will be quickly consumed and replaced.  It can also mean buying used products rather than new ones to prevent virgin materials from being wasted.  A vigilant shopper can find quality used gifts for significantly less money at Goodwill, on Craigslist, on FreeCycle, or at vintage stores.

Shop Sustainably: If you have a particular type of gift in mind, search the internet to see if it is available in a recycled, repurposed, or renewable version.  For example, if you know that you want to buy someone jewelry, look for some made from repurposed glass and metal, or recycled gems.  Another way to give truly sustainable gifts (for those who would appreciate such things) is to plant a tree, buy carbon credits, or donate to an environmental foundation in the recipient’s name.