When it comes to beauty products, which generally come with a lot of petroleum-based plastics, there are brands out there that help you recycle or reuse plastic containers and others that aim for zero-waste or sustainable packaging. You can even get vegan beauty products.

If you want to make a climate-friendly donation in someone’s name instead of making a purchase, you have a lot of options. Those include groups that focus on food waste, forest protection and restoration, girls’ education and pollution.

Gift cards can also help your friends and family avoid unwanted stuff. Or, you could make a gift of your time. For example, giving someone a day off from chores or making them a special meal.

Finally, don’t forget the wrapping paper. According to one estimate, 25 percent more trash than usual is thrown out between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. A recent study also found that Americans spent $12.7 billion on gift wrapping in 2017. A whole lot of that paper ends up in landfills because most of it can’t be recycled.

One way to bring that down is gift bags, with a note asking that people reuse them.

You could also use paper from around your home. The idea is to be creative and think colorful. That could mean using newspaper comics or old road maps. Or, you could put children to work decorating paper bags for gift wrap.

“There is nothing more aligned with the spirit of the season,” said Kate Kiely, a spokeswoman for the Natural Resources Defense Council, “than thinking about the impact our choices have on the world our children and grandchildren will inherit.”