‘Tis the season for sustainable gifts! If you’re looking for things to put under the tree that will help protect our planet, we’ve come up with 18 top eco-friendly gifts. But first, we’ll share why sustainable gifts are important and how to choose them.
What Gifts Are Sustainable?
If you’ve found yourself asking, “How can I be more sustainable around Christmas?,” then we’d suggest checking out our blog, How to Reduce Waste This Thanksgiving. The holidays produce A LOT of waste, and these tips can be applied on Thanksgiving and the winter holidays that follow.
Now let’s get into sustainable gifts for Christmas. But first, what is sustainable gift giving?
When the holiday buzz is in full swing, it can be all too easy to impulsively buy stuff for no other reason than to have something to be wrapped up under the tree. The best sustainable gifts, however, start out by being something your loved one is sure to use and cherish. Up to 77% of consumers return some of their holiday gifts and of these, many can’t be resold—meaning they head to the landfill.
Beyond something useful, here are some things you can keep in mind when looking for a sustainable gift:
- Natural, biodegradable ingredients or regenerative or upcycled materials
- Compostable or recyclable packaging
- Use of organic farming practices or sustainable sourcing
- Ethical Fair Trade supply chain practices
- Company give back programs that support people + planet
What Do You Buy An Eco-Friendly Person For Christmas? 18 Gifts Ideas
Now that you know what makes a gift sustainable, here are some sustainable gifts ideas. Sustainable gift boxes are a great go-to when time is limited and you don’t have a lot of time for decision-making or gift-wrapping. This list includes some of those, as well as some products that can be used in your own sustainable gift sets.
3 eco-friendly gifts for women
1. Green Eco Dream Roses Ritual Self Care Basket
Featuring everything needed for some sustainable self-care, this kit will have your loved one feeling like they’re laying on a bed of roses! It includes Rosewater Face Cream, Rose Geranium & Jasmine Organic Deodorant, Rosewater Face Toner, Natural Bath Salts, and Stasher Pocket Bags.
2. Earth Harbor Self-Care Gift Set
Like a spa day from home, this self care gift box includes a Jade Facial Roller, Jade Facial Therapy Mask, Aurora Superfood Luminance Ampoule, and Helios Anti-Pollution Youth Ampoule. All ingredients are ethically-sourced, PETA and Leaping Bunny certified, and mostly organic. Earth Harbor is a Plastic Negative company, too!
3. Elate Cosmetics Makeup Gift Set - Mauve Plush
Including an Eyeshadow Trio Palette, Essential Mascara, Eyeline Pencil, Lipstick, and Lip Pencil, this kit will help someone in your life switch to makeup that’s better for them and our planet. All ingredients are sustainably sourced, vegan, cruelty-free, and COSMOS certified.
3 sustainable gifts for men
4. Jack Henry Face Care Set for Men
Including Face Toner, Super Face Oil, and Beard Oil, this is a softening and nourishing gift set for any man in your life. Free of SLS, SLES, artificial fragrances, parabens, and sulfates, it features organic, plant-based, and cruelty-free ingredients. The amber glass jars are reusable or recyclable.
5. Little Seed Farm Organic Beard Oil
Coming from a family-owned company that’s run on solar power, this is a trendy and eco-conscious gift for a good beard. It softens hair while moisturizing skin, all with certified organic ingredients.
6. GOT BAG Recycled Cardholder
How about gifting the world’s FIRST cardholder made with recycled ocean plastic? This stylish, lightweight minimalist cardholder fits cash and 5 credit cards—and diverts almost half a pound of ocean plastic.
4 gender-neutral sustainable gifts
7. UpCircle Beauty The Winter Skincare Essentials
Help your loved one combat cold, dry air with Face Serum, Eye Cream, Face Moisturizer, Body cream, Body Scrub. Everything is COSMOS approved, vegan, cruelty-free, and made with repurposed ingredients. The glass jars can be recycled or repurposed.
8. Zero Waste Shaving Kit
Save the holidays from plastic pollution by gifting a reusable safety razor, Lovett Sundries Shaving Puck, and pack of stainless steel blades. This will help your loved one take care of their shaving needs with natural ingredients to keep skin smooth.
9. Green Eco Dream Bamboo Super Set
Perfect for busy adults, the Bamboo Super Set is a way to ditch plastic waste during meals on-the-go. It includes a Bamboo Infuser for coffee or tea, Bamboo Cutlery Set, and Bamboo Lunch Box.
10. Plaine Products Shampoo and Conditioner Set
Perfect for everyone, choose between Citrus Lavender, Rosemary Mint Vanilla, and Unscented varieties of refillable Shampoo and Conditioner. They’re filled with palm oil-free, silicone-free, biodegradable, and color safe ingredients. The empty bottles can be sent back to be refilled.
3 sustainable gifts for kids and teens
11. KOOSHOO Hair Bundle
For a child or teen who always loses their hair accessories, this kit from KOOSHOO is a good stocking stuffer. It’s made from totally organic, biodegradable, and Fairtrade ingredients like organic cotton and rubber. Scrunchies, Hair Ties, and Headbands are included.
12. Green Eco Dream Zero Waste Lunch Kit
Perfect for a college student or child who wants to eat their packed lunch in style, this kit is ready for a good-lookin’ zero-waste lunch. It includes an Eco Lunchbox Rectangle Food Container, Bamboo Cutlery, Stasher Snack Bag, Plant-Based Sandwich Wrap, and Marley’s Monster’s Reusable Cloth Napkins.
13. GOT BAG Recycled Rolltop Backpack
A great way to carry essentials around college campuses, this minimalist backtop is made with recycled ocean plastic. It features a separate, removable 15-inch case to protect a laptop from scratches. Each one takes 7.7 pounds of plastic waste out of our oceans!
3 eco-friendly gifts for around the house
14. Full Circle Home Chef’s Baking Set
Made with natural and organic ingredients, this kit includes plant-dyed Chef’s Apron, Oven Mitt, Dish Towel, and Trivet. There’s a roll of compostable Parchment Baking Paper, too. As an added bonus, giving this to your loved one might earn you a plate of freshly-baked cookies.
15. Meliora Dish Cleaning Set
Make one of the worst chores a little more eco-friendly with this dish kit. Everything can be composted or recycled for a zero-waste clean-up! It includes Meliora Castile Dish Soap, a Bamboo Dish Brush, a Bamboo Soap Dish, 3 Loofah Dish Sponges, and a Swedish Dishcloth.
16. Green Eco Dream Laundry Set - Divine Lavender
Help your loved ones take a load off our planet on laundry day. This ocean friendly kit includes Dropps Lavender Eucalyptus Detergent Pods, No Planet B Wool Balls, Organic Lavender Essential Oil, a Cora Ball microfiber catcher, and a Reusable Lint Remover.
Wrapping up your sustainable gifts
17. Recycled Double-Sided Eco Gift Wrap
Don’t forget your gift wrap! Choose from styles for any type of gift and you’ll get unique designs on both sides. Soy-based ink is used on recycled newsprint. Complimentary gift tag stickers are included!
18. Natural Cotton Curling Ribbon
Combining natural cotton with non-toxic water soluble dyes, this is a way to dress up any gift in a sustainable way. Choose between several colors, including striped and solid red and green options for Christmas.
Wishing You An Eco-Conscious Christmas
Remember, the best sustainable gifts are those that come from the heart and will actually be cherished by the recipient. Sometimes, this means that quality time together is a better gift than stuff.
But for the latter, Green Eco Dream is here to help with sustainable essentials for everyone in your life. As a gift that keeps on giving, 10% of every purchase from now until December 31 is donated to a non-profit of your choice.
If you enjoyed reading this Blog, please share it, and help us get the word out together. Thank you! 😊
