10+ Ideas for Zero-Waste, Organic, and Environmentally Friendly Gift Giving!

Give Experiences Instead of Gifts!

Years back, my New Year’s resolution was to give up goods made in China. It wasn’t a political stance, but rather a statement on all plastic things that seemed to take over my house, and the beach, and the landfills…. After months of searching for new tennis shoes for my then-toddler, I threw in the proverbial towel. Shopping with rules is hard. I compost, recycle, reuse, and don’t buy things with palm oil. I often worry about the world we are handing back to our children and how my purchases impact them.

As we begin to fall headlong into a holiday full of shipping delays and supply chain woes, I can’t help but wonder if the universe is trying to tell us something. Who needs more stuff, anyway? Shouldn't we rethink gift-giving after a long hiatus away from in-person adventures and being without our friends and loved ones?

So this year, instead of giving gifts that they won't appreciate nor use, let’s give experiences instead. The following gift guide will help you make this holiday season as environmentally friendly as possible while promoting more togetherness. Who wouldn't want that, right?!

Here are some fun ideas that are transferable to just about any city.

Spread the Cheer Nationwide!

Delicious Dining that Does Good

The fastest way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, so why not get your friends a delicious meal? For those local to Philly, some of my favorite restaurants belong to Latin American Chef, Jose Garces’ Garces Restaurant Group. Of course, my favorite of their restaurants is Volvér, here at the Kimmel where we just launched a rotating chef-in-residence program featuring emerging, minority chefs from around the region for 6-week residencies. Throughout each residency, we will raise funds to support the inaugural lineup of these chef’s current and/or future projects. Chef Phila Lorn is currently in residence through mid-January. Trust me - this is something that everyone will enjoy!

Another great gift for those not local to Philly, check out Gold Belly, whose sole mission is to bring people comfort through food. You can gift anyone with their favorite foods: from Philly cheesesteaks, New York-style pizza, delicious cookies, or even meal kits delivered to anyone wherever they are.

Bring Back Books!

Over the past year and a half, it has been so great to reconnect with my love of reading, given that we couldn’t leave the house much during the pandemic. This means I’ve been making more trips to my favorite local bookstore: Uncle Bobbies Coffee & Books. It’s in the heart of Germantown here in Philadelphia. They continually give back to the community, functioning as an event space for workshops and author talks. It is truly one of the gems of Philly. If you don’t already have a favorite bookstore in your area, I encourage you to shop locally and support small businesses like Uncle Bobbies- you can even order books and gift certificates online! These people have been through hell and back this past year trying to stay open, so skip the purchase from Amazon.com and show them some love this holiday season!

Local Flair

As a proud Philly resident, I just had to share some of my favorite gift ideas that are available right here in town. While these are specific to Philadelphia, I encourage all of you non-locals to use these ideas in your own area! Take your loved ones to a musical in your city or brighten up your holiday season by visiting art installations with friends. The options are endless! Here are just a few of my favorites ... (I could go on, but I’ll save you the rambling)

Visual Arts Appreciation

Philadelphia Museum of Art

You all know how much I love the arts, so it should come as no surprise to anyone that one of my favorite experiences to share with friends and family is a day at an art museum. Museums are such a fun way to spend time with loved ones while experiencing a variety of styles, perspectives, and mediums from around the world. Plus, the good news is that art museums are everywhere - you really can’t miss ‘em! You can give hours of enjoyment to loved ones through the gift of a day pass or gift card. For you locals, I highly recommend Jasper John’s Exhibit, Mind/Mirror, which runs from now through February 12, 2022, at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. And for all of my NYC friends, this exhibit has a counterpart displayed at the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Mural Arts Philadelphia

Another great way to give the gift of visual arts is through a gift card to Mural Arts Philadelphia. It is a community-based organization that works to educate people through collaborative art projects and create opportunities for a more just and equitable city. They engage communities in up to 100 public art projects each year, which assists in Philly earning recognition as the “City of Murals.” One visit here will make you understand why we believe art ignites change.

Shows and Performances

Musicals at the Kimmel

You’ve heard me go on and on about two shows that I can’t get enough of, both of which happen to be on the Kimmels 2021 - 2022 season: Oklahoma! And HADESTOWN. This is one of those “one for you, one for me” type of gifts—trust me.

Philandanco’s 50+1 Anniversary

It’s Philadanco’s 50+1 anniversary season since they were unable to celebrate their official 50th anniversary in 2020 due to COVID. They return to the Kimmel stage after nearly two years in December and then again in April. This makes the perfect gift for someone who loves to support local artists, and it doesn’t hurt that they’re pretty dang talented! Its founder, Joan Meyers Brown, who is turning 90 this year, is the recipient of every award known to man - including the National Medal of Arts, which she received in 2012 from President Barack Obama...wow! If you have not checked out the work of this Philadelphia legend, I cannot recommend it highly.

Philadelphia Ballet

You can’t go wrong with a classic! Give the ballet lover in your life tickets or electronic gift certificates to the Philadelphia Ballet to see favorites such as The Nutcracker and Swan Lake for the 2021-2022 season. Check out their website for other amazing performances.

Comedy Shows

I mentioned I love comedians, right? Well, we doubled down on comedy this year at the Kimmel, hoping a heaping helping of belly laughs would be the perfect thing to bring us all back to the theater. What could be better than giving the gift of laughter? Consider Tig Nataro (just announced!), Hasan Minaj, Whitney Cummings, or Hannah Gadsby - the options are endless! Or gift your special someone a bit of nostalgic comedy with tickets to Friends! The Musical Parody or Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live. I may just see you there!

Arts for the Kids

You can’t forget about the little ones...it is the holiday season, after all! Now is the perfect time to introduce them to the glorious sounds of The Philadelphia Orchestra with Bugs Bunny at the Symphony, or indulge their PBS habit with Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live, Wild Kratts Live, or even Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive The Bus (The Musical!).

Lovin’ On Our Local Theaters

If you’re unsure whether your recipient is looking for a specific show or date, you can’t go wrong with a generic gift card to your local theater! For Philly residents, theKimmel Cultural Campus has gift cards available for purchase on their website. It’s the perfect way to give someone the gift of live entertainment, even if you aren’t sure what they’ll want to see! Plus, it gives you the chance to support local arts, a cause near and dear to my heart (as you all know by now)!

Membership at the Kimmel

Finally, for the person who talks your ear off about the arts (I can say that as someone who does it!), consider getting them a Membership at Kimmel. Memberships support our education and community outreach programs and earn recipients exclusive access to special invitations, announcements, and lots more perks!

See, gift-giving can be environmentally friendly AND rewarding for both parties! Take note of these unique gift ideas and share them with your circle of friends and family. Let's have a holiday season filled with fun experiences and lasting memories made together!