Time is creeping toward the annual season of gift-giving. Whether for Hanukkah, Christmas, Winter Solstice, or other festive holidays, appropriate and thoughtful presents are always appreciated. So what are the options?

One possibility is a gift basket that can be tailored to the recipient. After all, the variations are endless, allowing plenty of leeway. That’s pretty handy especially if you don’t know what to include. However the typical gift basket is a lavish affair with imported items, lots of filler materials, and a huge swath of plastic wrapping. How many people go on to reuse the baskets too? But there may be a more sustainable way.

Saul Good Gift Company is a Vancouver-based business that provides carefully chosen items with minimal packaging. Products are sourced locally with about 90% coming from British Columbia. High quality items including organic, artisan, and fair trade products are available. These standards are intended to promote environmentally friendly suppliers.

Choosing local products is both stimulating to the local economy as well as incurring fewer shipping costs and emissions. However, it doesn’t mean making any compromises. The wide range of possibilities include gourmet foods, chocolates, cleaning products, and body care items. Crafts such as tool boxes, wine boxes, money clips, and cuff links are listed. Traditional First Nations masks are also available.

Saul Good provides corporate promotional items with a sustainable twist. Logo-branded products include Laken and Klean Kanteen water bottles, organic cotton shirts, and wooden pens.

Rather than using the conventional basket, the company ships with less packaging. By eliminating unnecessary layers, there is 66% less waste. In addition, their boxes have recycled content. Packaging and wood products are supplied by Tradeworks Custom Products, a social enterprise based in the Downtown Eastside part of Vancouver. Tradeworks trains women in carpentry, giving them valuable skills, experience, and a path out of poverty.

In addition, the company supports other ethical causes. Camp Moomba is a summer camp program for children infected with or affected by HIV and AIDS. The BC Adoptive Families Association supports adoptive families across the province. Ethics in Action recognizes businesses with environmentally sustainable corporate practices. Feast of Fields is an annual celebration that promotes local and sustainable food production. The Social Purchasing Portal uses supply purchasing to advance corporate social responsibility.

While this company is not operating on a huge scale, it is establishing a new business model. As eco-conscious choices and sustainability become increasingly imperative, other companies may follow similar priorities.

Photo credit: Curtis Rogers