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Sustainable Father’s Day Gift Guide
Father’s Day is a fantastic opportunity to show your Dad you really care, and that you’re sorry for missing his birthday. Trouble is, dads can be pretty hard to buy for. We’ve all been there - you think you nailed it with the perfect gift, but three years later that gift is still in the box collecting dust in the garage. “Could be worse,” you think, “it could be in a landfill.”
While diverting waste from landfills is obviously great, there are easier ways to do sustainable gifting than buying your Dad a gift he doesn’t want but can’t throw away. We’ve rounded up a few ideas so this Father’s day, you can give your Dad a gift he can’t refuse.
Go for green goods
A tree, shrub, or smaller plant can make a great gift for the old man. Whether it’s being planted in the backyard, or put in a pot on his desk, it’s a nice gesture and offers some environmental benefits. The biggest issue here is what plant to go for? If your dad is a bit of a green thumb already, he’s probably given you a few ideas or knows what he likes. You could look at his existing garden and find plants to complement it. If your dad isn’t really a garden guy, we’d suggest native trees, fruit, or a cactus (dads love cacti). Thankfully, the sansevieria, also known as ‘Mother in law’s tongue’, is not in season right now which will keep things from getting too uncomfortable on the day.
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An act of service
Nobody has kids for the sole purpose of free labour, it’s just one of the benefits. As you got older, got a job, maybe even had labourers of your own, you naturally had less time to help your old man out with his projects. An act of service is a great, carbon neutral gift idea. Gift your dad a voucher for a few hours of help in the garden or round the house, you could even use our voucher template. If he’s got a project that needs doing, why not offer to give him a hand? Our only advice with this one is to get clear instructions before starting any unsupervised project, just to avoid the very real possibility of messing it up and creating more work for him.
A travel mug or thermos
Dads may come in all shapes and sizes but one thing they all have in common is that they need fluids to survive. Use your dad’s biological need to hydrate to your advantage, and get him a thermos or travel mug for Father’s Day. Reusable cups and vessels are a fantastic way to reduce waste, while still enjoying the convenience of a hot (or cold) drink on hand for a long commute or a big day out in nature. There’s plenty of options available and many that come in Dad-approved colours: black, and stainless steel.
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Plant food with a difference
Some dads are absolutely full of it, so why not get him some plant food that matches? Emerge Struvite Fertiliser is manufactured by turning wastewater byproducts into an eco-friendly, odourless fertiliser, diverting nutrients back into local gardens. On one hand, this is an exceptional circular economy product turning waste into a valuable asset. On the other hand, it’s a bag of crap. This gift is definitely only relevant to those dads who love their gardens, but even then, be warned. Few human fathers will be strong enough to resist the obvious set up - they’ll tell you “I already got one of these on your birthday.” It will be devastating, but Father’s Day isn’t about you. Let him have this.
Make your own gift, Easy As
Our Easy As Guides show you how to tackle a huge number of awesome DIY projects. From bench seats to fire pits, there’s plenty of gift appropriate projects among them, with opportunities to upcycle and use common materials. Eliminating the manufacturing, packaging and logistics involved in a traditional gift, making your own is a more sustainable way to spoil your dad. There’s also a huge range of fantastic Easy As Kids projects if you’re helping a little one make a gift. If you’re an adult, and either the youngest or the “favourite”, you might be able to get away with an Easy As Kids gift but it’s a risk. This kind of thing will definitely annoy your siblings and you have to be honest with yourself, finger puppets, pop-up cards and homemade playdough aren’t going to carry you forever.
The old 9pm text
If you’re reading this as a viable option then we’re sorry to tell you this but you’ve absolutely cooked it. We’re not mad, we’re just disappointed. Yes, you should still send the text, but at this point you have two pathways to recovery. One of them is going big at Christmas (you have 116 days to plan, so don’t muck it up) and the other is...
A Mitre 10 E-Gift Card
No plastic card, no gift wrap, just the good stuff. Buy online and send it straight to your Dad’s inbox, he can use it on our website or in-store, whichever he prefers. He also gets to choose what he wants, and you can buy a gift card that suits your budget. It’s really a win-win, and winning is what gift-giving is all about, right?
From big to small, there are plenty of options for gifts that encourage low-impact lifestyle habits. It’s not just a gift to your Dad, it’s a gift to the Earth, and a gift to future generations as well. Remember that when it comes to changing your habits, or encouraging others to do so, it’s okay to go one step at a time. Find the right changes, implement them at your own pace, and before long, they start to add up.