Best for the World Gifts: Ways to Make a Positive Impact This Holiday Season

The holidays for many are one of the most joyous times of the year. From creating everlasting memories, enjoying festive activities, and packing on the holiday pounds (gingerbread cookies, anyone?), there is much to relish during December. 

However, there can be too much emphasis in Western cultures on getting caught up in the “hoopla” of the holiday season—engaging in mass consumerism, stressing about finding the “perfect gift,” and focusing on what we want. While this isn’t true for every individual, the narrative of “me” has become commonplace in many developed societies worldwide.

Although, what if we took a different approach? Instead of asking, “what can I get?” or “what can I buy?” – what if we instead asked ourselves, “what can I do to make a positive impact on others?” 

This holiday season, we’re going to take a gander at ways you can spread cheer as a Best for the World Leader by: 

• Making your purchasing power count with gifts that give back (to the planet and more)
• Organizations to support during the holidays (and year-round)
• Other food for thought
  
  

Conscious Consumer Gift Ideas

Let’s be real; most of us will be purchasing gifts in one form or the other during the holidays. But that doesn’t mean the gifts we buy can’t positively impact the planet, society, and individuals. To start, we will explore conscious consumer gift ideas that will leave more than just the recipient of the present(s) happy. 

• Keep Nature Wild: Keep Nature Wild is all about the outdoors. With products designed in Arizona and made for the wild, they pick up one pound of trash for every product sold. They also host nationwide community cleanups with their dedicated “Wild Keeper Ambassadors,” who spend time tidying up their communities each month.
• 4Ocean: Ocean lovers rejoice! If you’re someone who loves the ocean (and loves the idea of keeping it clean), then 4Ocean offers a wide array of practical products to choose from. Every purchase is accompanied by their “one pound promise,” which guarantees that one pound of trash will be pulled from the ocean as a direct impact of your purchase. 
• Ivory Ella: Who doesn’t love elephants? Ivory Ella is a compassionate brand that makes responsible, sustainable designs to support its mission of protecting elephants from the ivory trade.
• Lush Cosmetics: We all know of Lush’s wildly popular (and equally relaxing) bath bombs, but they also sell a wide array of other cosmetics and self-care products. Even better? Their products are all-natural, vegetarian, and fight to impact animals, underserved communities, and the planet positively. And their products work exceptionally well. So, it’s truly a win-win. 
• Selfless by Hyram: Keeping with the theme of self-care, “Selfless” by Hyram is a great skincare line that works hard for your face and even harder for the planet! Each product purchase supports an environmental or social impact cause—all while taking care of your skin. 
• tbh (to be honest): If you’re a fan of Stranger Things (I mean, who isn’t?), then you’ll love this brand founded by Stranger Things actor Noah Schnapp, who serves as their “Chief Snacking Officer.” tbh is a snack brand that emphasizes reducing their carbon footprint and doing what’s right through ethical sourcing, using fully recycled materials, and advocating for the reduction of palm oil.
• PANGAIA: Pangaia is changing up the game with their Earth-positive clothing. As a materials science company on a mission to save our environment, they design products with smart technology and use as many innovative & recyclable elements as possible—creating clothes for everyday life that are as practical as they are impactful. 
• Jubilee Coffee: Everyone loves coffee—especially when it serves a purpose outside of just waking you up in the morning. African Bible College’s “Jubilee Coffee” includes a handmade mug and some of Africa’s best coffee, with every purchase supporting African Bible Colleges’ mission of helping students in underdeveloped countries earn a college education. 
• Who Gives a Crap (Toilet Paper): We use (and need) a lot of toilet paper, but it can be hard to find an eco-conscious brand. Even fewer toilet paper brands have a powerful mission to help others. Who Gives a Crap is an environmentally (and B corporation certified) brand that provides eco-conscious toilet paper options to consumers—while also using 50% of profits to help build toilets in underserved countries across the globe.
• Stasher Bag: Single-use plastic is an item that causes mass pollution and waste and is currently an issue that many in the world are working to solve. Stasher Bag is a practical reusable, non-toxic silicone storage bag that’s preventing over a billion single-use plastic bags from entering oceans and landfills.
  
  

The Gift of Giving Back

Outside of purchasing presents, one can choose to donate their money and time. Below are some exceptional organizations promoting change that is Best for the World. 

• Thirst Project: Water is the most valuable resource in the world. It should be a fundamental human right, but unfortunately, that’s not the truth everywhere. The Thirst Project is a nonprofit organization that works with the support of young people to end the global water crisis by building freshwater wells in developing communities that need safe, clean drinking water.
• Wags & Walks: Ok, everyone loves dogs. I mean, how can you not? They are the happiest, friendliest, and most loving creatures on the planet. Every dog (and animal) deserves a happy and healthy environment. Wags & Walks was founded in 2011 and aims to break the stigma that rescue dogs are damaged goods and wants to help decrease the number of dogs euthanized in local shelters. There are numerous ways you can get involved, including potentially adopting a forever friend of your own!
• Baby2Baby: It can all be agreed that every child deserves and should have access to simple things such as diapers, clean clothing, food, and more. Baby2Baby provides children living in poverty with these necessities and is backed by various celebrities with a large platform who focus their time on giving back. 
• The LA Mission: Los Angeles is a city that continuously raises the cost of living and suffers mass homelessness because of price increases. The Los Angeles Mission breaks the cycle of homelessness and poverty by stabilizing people in a safe and spiritual environment, connecting them to solutions, and walking with them on their journey.
• Children International: It’s important to give back, especially as a Best for the World Leader. Children International is trying to end poverty for good by giving children in poverty the tools they need to create brighter futures for themselves and their communities.
  
  

Other Food for Thought

Aside from eco-conscious gifts and impactful organizations, there are other things to consider.

Make Regifting Cool

If you genuinely care about minimizing your carbon footprint and increasing your positive impact on the environment, consider regifting. Whether it’s an item you’ve never used (still in the box) or something a little more seasoned, repurposing a gift is a fantastic way to spread holiday cheer without bringing more waste into the world. 

Spend Time, Not Money 

One of the most critical aspects of the holiday season is friends and family. Spending time with those you cherish most is what the true spirit of the holidays is all about.

Wrapping up (pun intended), it’s important to remember what’s most important in life during the holiday season—family, friends, food, and fun. Regardless of how you choose to spend time, remember that spreading cheer and doing good in the world is never frowned upon. Being a Best for the World Leader isn’t about what you can do for yourself, but what you can do to impact others positively—and a gift like that is truly priceless.