Today, the concept of gifting is evolving. With the rise of experiences, subscriptions, and digital gifts, it's time to rethink the traditional notion of gifting as "buying something new and material for someone". Let's explore how the sharing economy is transforming the way we give and receive gifts.
The Shift from Owning to Accessing
In the sharing economy, access is often valued more than ownership. Instead of gifting a physical item, consider offering access to shared resources.
Libraries of Toys: The Perfect Gift for Kids
A membership to a toy library is the perfect sustainable gift for kids. Libraries of toys allow members to borrow and explore a wide variety of toys on a weekly basis. So, instead of playing with the same toys all year round, they can play with new toys every week - without breaking the bank. How cool! Such libraries exist in Lewisham or Leytonstone for instance, and you can find more of them on Ganddee by selecting the "Toys" filter.
Access to Unique Spaces: Great Gifts for Teenagers and Adults
A pass to a local gym, a climbing center, a swimming pool or even a co-working space, is a very useful gift. Receiving such gifts provides you with access to a unique environment and a community that benefits you all year round.
All in all, gifting access to shared resources promotes sustainability, flexibility, and a sense of community.
The Rise of Experience-based Gifts
Experiences have become increasingly popular gifts in the sharing economy. They create lasting memories and foster deeper connections between the giver and the recipient. Examples of experiences to gift are:
A cooking class or wine tasting session
Tickets to a concert, play, or sporting event
A day trip or weekend getaway
There is a near infinite set of experiences you can gift. Experiential gifts shift the focus from material possessions to shared moments with your loved ones and personal growth.
Subscription-based Gifts: The Gift That Keeps on Giving
As for gifting physical space access, subscriptions offer ongoing access to products or services without the need for ownership. In fact, gifting access to a service with a large shared offering is a great and affordable way to gift access to items that couldn't be purchased otherwise. Examples of such subscription-based gifts include:
Streaming service memberships (e.g., Netflix, Spotify)
Yearly subscription to / or credits for a clothes rental service (like Hurr, Devout or By Rotation for instance)
A few months of bike rental membership (like Swapfiets or a Lime/Santander bike subscription), so the recipient can ride across London with the chosen (e-)bike.
Subscription-based gifts provide the recipient with a steady stream of enjoyment and discovery over an extended period.
Bonus: Other Sustainable Gifts
If none of the gifts listed above fit, you can always gifting pre-loved or upcycled items. Local charity shops have plenty of pre-loved items to choose from for a unique gifting experience.
Likewise, if budget is a significant constraint, you can also gift borrowing and sharing. For example, if you have a little brother who's always wanted extra time on your gaming console, consider gifting him borrowing access for a couple of months. Sharing access to your own possessions can be a heartfelt, sustainable gift that doesn't cost money but is worth the world to the recipient.
By embracing sustainable gifting, we can show our love and appreciation while minimizing our environmental impact.
For more tips like these, download Ganddee - the Google Maps of sustainable shops. Ganddee is the easiest way to find sustainable shops in your local area (in the UK).
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