Now that there have been non-stop signals that our Earth is struggling and about to get much worse, now’s the time to choose eco-friendly gifts for the holidays. And I mean not just for your family and friends who are already into that stuff, but for everyone! Let’s hope that this is the year that many more people say “no” to single-use plastics and make other more environmentally responsible choices. I’ve had my eye on quite a few products lately, so let’s take a look at possible gifts to help your loved ones lead more eco-friendly lives and show your respect for the environment:
First up: household basics for a more eco-friendly home
This is my idea of a great present because, truth be told, it’s sometimes hard to buy a bunch of these items because there’s much more of an upfront cost than buying paper napkins or a box of baggies. Of course, it’s completely worth it, not only because of the environment, but also because having good quality reusable items means less shopping and so much less waste for you in the long run.
Do your friends and family a favor and buy them a few of these handy items! I include links to online retailers so you can see the products, but please check if your local stores sell them first.
If I could recommend one thing, it would be this Guppyfriend washing bag (or buy one from Patagonia here). It catches all the nasty plastic microfibers that shed from our synthetic fabrics and are now the major source of plastic water pollution worldwide. Just throw your synthetics (those microfiber and synthetic blend undies, shirts, socks, fleeces, etc.) in the bag before putting it in the washing machine. Every once in a while, you can take the fibers that have built up inside the bag and throw them in the trash.
Metal straws: They’re cheap and so easy to use. We have a set of four and keep one in the car for those (rare) times that we get drinks to go. This metal straw kit comes with both straight and bent straws and two small brushes for washing, and this set has silicone tips and cleaning brushes.
A few reusable tumblers are a must for everyone.
How cool is this? A reusable stainless steel kids’ sippy cup and stainless steel kids’ sport cup
I hate plastic wrap and am constantly figuring out how not to use it so I can never buy it again. These reusable silicone lids and reusable food wraps seem like the answer.
I stopped buying baggies a while ago (I use various containers instead), but these reusable baggies are so handy!
So you never have to use plastic utensils again: a cute bamboo utensils kit
and because giving up paper napkins and paper towels is easy: pretty cloth napkins
Plastic produce bags at the store drive me crazy. Why can’t supermarkets switch to paper, and why don’t more customers stop using them? I just throw my produce right in the cart, but I’m excited to start using these reusable produce bags!
We all have our reusable shopping bags but I often wonder if I should get some nice ones and ditch the big bundle of oddly-shaped bags I’ve collected over the years. These reusable shopping bags not only look nice but are supposed to be easier to use, too. A set of 2 or 4 would be a great gift.
Next: Sustainable clothing!
Almost everyone loves to get beautiful clothing for the holidays. It’s so nice to feel spoiled with a special new item and even better when you know it’s ethically produced. Everlane’s alpaca sweaters feel luxurious and are super warm, and alpaca is a more sustainable choice than wool or cashmere because alpacas are more gentle on the environment.
Another luxurious choice is Everlane’s clean silk shirts, which are made using much cleaner production methods than traditional silk. I have one of these shirts and loooove it, but note that you may want to size down. And bonus points to Everlane for using paper bags and occasional tissue paper instead of more unnecessary plastic.
(12 more ethical clothing brands)
For kids:
Green toys! Made from recycled milk jugs, these toys are super cute and safe for your kids. Plus, the company is serious about sustainability–all products are made in the U.S., which means factories are monitored and there’s no shipping from half way across the world, soy inks are used, and all products are packaged in 100% recycled cardboard (hallelujah!). I wish I had known about this company when my kids still asked for toys.
And responsible choices when you don’t want to shop:
A membership to their local art museum
A digital subscription to the New Yorker
A year’s worth of Spotify or Audible
A gift certificate to a nice restaurant that uses local, seasonal ingredients
A box of homemade biscotti (yum!)
What ideas do you have for eco-friendly gifts for the holidays?
P.S.
This wood block photo set, perfect for sharing memories with family
How to keep gift giving under control (and still have fun)
8 books for kids who love adventure
This is a great list and such an important topic!
Some of our favorite items or easy switches have been;
1. the 3-in-1 ECOlunchbox, which our kids use at school, but also on the weekends when we are out and about.
2. Yeti tumbler for keeping coffee warm.
3. Cloth napkins, which we use in place of saran wrap to drape over leftovers in the fridge (sometimes securing with a large rubber band).
4. Kitchen towels to replace paper towels.
5. Reusable organic cotton rounds (on Etsy) for removing makeup or applying toner
6. Reusable silk and nylon bags from Kootsac (etsy) for bulk bin purchases. The nylon ones are ideal for bulk flours/spices and they weigh the same as a plastic bag and you can close them with a twisty tie. We have been using the same two sets regularly for years and they are in perfect condition.
7. Compost bin – by far the easiest way we reduced waste, and particularly easy if you have curbside compost pickup in your city.
Thanks for sharing these tips! We do many of the same things but I still need to get reusable baggies (i.e. not reusing the Ziploc bags a bunch of times but actual real reusable ones) and reusable produce bags. We also compost but have worms so can’t compost everything–they can eat only so much and can’t eat bread, onions, citrus, and a few other things.