Gift Cards to the Rescue?

What is your personal holiday shopping style? 

Are you a year-round planner who has been leisurely doing your holiday shopping throughout the year so by Thanksgiving Day you have your Christmas and other holiday gifts purchased, wrapped and neatly labeled?

OR are you a holiday shopping enthusiast who consider the weeks after Thanksgiving to be the best time for holiday shopping?  The weather is chilly, snowflakes may have started to fall, and holiday decorations abound.  For you, the hustle and bustle of shopping with others intent on finding just the right gift is part of the fun of the season.

OR are you a last-minute shopper who ends up having a long list of gifts to buy in an alarmingly short amount of time?

Whether you have just started shopping, have one more name to scratch off your list, or plan to wait until the last minute to begin your hunt, gift cards may be the “one size fits all” solution.  People enjoy receiving gift cards plus it makes your shopping experience quick and easy.

But all this convenience comes at a cost.  Most gift cards are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic which is toxic to produce and difficult if not impossible to dispose of safely. 

Although plastic manufacturers continue to attempt to fool us with promises of plastic recycling, plastic gift cards are not recyclable.  According to Eve Fox, digital director of Beyond Plastics, “No type of flat plastic is accepted in curbside recycling bins because flat plastics are sorted with flat paper and cardboard and contaminate those bales.”  When discarded items are not recycled, whether due to poor financial return or difficulty in sorting, they head straight to the landfill.

With more than 50% of holiday shoppers purchasing plastic gift cards during the 2024 holiday season, this is not an insignificant issue.  However, it doesn’t have to stand in the way of a great idea.  One option is digital gift cards which have become popular in the last several years, especially with younger shoppers.  They can be purchased and used online to completely avoid waste.

But perhaps you prefer to spend your holiday dollars locally instead of with national brands and Big Box stores.  Many area businesses offer paper gift certificates in whatever amount you wish.  If you like the idea of the recipient of your gift certificate being able to choose where they redeem their gift, the Viroqua Chamber of Commerce offers Viroqua Bucks which can be used like a check at most businesses in the Viroqua area.  Shoppers can purchase Viroqua Bucks at the Chamber of Commerce office at 220 S. Main Street, Suite 162 (in the Western Technical College/McIntosh Memorial Library building).

And if you are a tried-and-true traditionalist and love hunting for the perfect gift for your loved ones, be sure to revisit Philothea Bezin’s blog about sustainable holiday shopping in Viroqua.

https://www.viroquaplasticfree.org/post/plastic-free-holiday-shopping-in-viroqua

Sources:  https://www.beyondplastics.org/news-stories/beyond-plasticsbp-urges-consumers-avoid-plastic-gift-cards