Last-Minute Sustainable Gift Ideas

As a teacher, I’m always scrambling before the holidays to get final exams done, so holiday shopping is not my forte. Fortunately, I’ve minimized gift exchanging over the years, but I try to give sustainable items as much as possible. Here are my picks for (more) sustainable gift giving this year. 

Allbirds are the most comfortable and most sustainable shoes I own. They’ve made several new styles but I love their basic wool runners for every day wear. They’re also my go-to for travel shoes. (Review here)

This gorgeous alpaca blend sweater: this is my favorite sweater! It’s light, warm, soft, and beautiful up close. If you’ve never worn alpaca, I highly recommend it. It feels like wearing a warm cloud! And it’s a much more sustainable choice than cashmere because of the less invasive way alpacas graze. Plus, Everlane has free express shipping! (Reviews here)

A timeless choice is a piece of jewelry that feels special yet is classic and unfussy enough for every day wear. Mejuri makes beautiful pieces (like this ring) with sustainable practices at a more affordable price point. I bought this zodiac necklace as a treat to myself last year and love it! Plus, they’re offering free expedited shipping. 

Have you discovered Quince yet? If you’re looking for an affordable gift that everyone loves, check out their cashmere beanies for men and a recycled faux fur throw that anyone would love.

A Guppyfriend Bag: Experts often cite micro-plastics as the single most important cause of plastic pollution, but fortunately, you can cut down on the micro-plastics produced at your house with this laundry bag that filters micro-plastics. Just put synthetic pieces (athletic wear, fleece, etc.) into the laundry bag when you do your wash and clean out the accumulated micro-plastics every few weeks.

Last Object: I am obsessed with these products! Last Object wants to help people stop using single-use items like Q-tips and cotton rounds. I have their small laundry bag and LastRound reusable cotton rounds and love them. Check out their holiday gift packs.

Beautiful reusable cups & bottles: Frank Green make sleek reusable products. You choose the style, size, and color of the base and lid for the perfect reusable bottle or cup. They also sell French presses and reusable straws and bags. 

PJs for the whole family: Primary makes colorful PJs for adults and kids that are affordable and high quality and made from organic cotton!

Books! This is an excellent time to support your local bookstore. Check their websites to see if they offer curbside pickup or home delivery. I asked my mom to order from Sacramento’s own Capital Books for Christmas gifts. (I’m linking to Amazon so you can see the book, but please shop your local bookstores!)

Here’s what’s on my list:

Homeland Elegies 

A Pilgrimage to Eternity (armchair travel!)

Outside In and If You Come to Earth (for kids)

Chance: Escape from the Holocaust and The Talk: Conversations about Race, Love & Truth (for teens)

The Photo Ark (a stunning book for animal/nature lovers)

Read more: 8 books for kids who love adventure

For kids: It’s not easy to shop sustainably with kids because they outgrow things so fast and toys seem to come with so much plastic. I’ve been trying to find more items made of non-plastic materials, like these:

beautiful wooden toys

the cutest kids reusable drinking cups (or these for Disney fans)

colored pencils that come in a paper-based cylinder

rainbow puffer jacket made from recycled material

Species adoptions from World Wildlife Fund: This is a win-win gift that we do every year — kids get a beautiful stuffed animal of an endangered species, and WWF gets your donation for its important work in global animal conservation.

My kids love picking out an animal every year, and they always end up with something wonderfully unusual, like a pangolin, emperor tamarin, or sloth. To do this, click here, choose an animal, and choose the $55 adoption kit. There should still be time for them to arrive before Christmas!

Buying local

Of course, one of the best ways to be more sustainable is to shop locally. No matter where you live, you can support local shops and galleries, and if you’re concerned about shopping right now, look for delivery or curbside pickup.

Local makers: In Sacramento, items from local makers can be purchased at the Sacramento Shop marketplace with pickup, shipping, and same-day delivery options. Maybe your community has one too!

Local booksellers: Books are always a good idea, especially cookbooks, coffee table books and beautiful journals. (Book recommendations listed above)

Local restaurants: Gift cards to use in 2021! Tired of cooking? Order take out this holiday season!

Local wineries/breweries/coffee roasters: I have a soft spot for California wineries after all they’ve been through with the fires and now the pandemic. Gary Farrell ships holiday wine sets.

Their wines are a-ma-zing thanks to the vision of winemaker Theresa Heredia (nominated for winemaker of the year by Wine Enthusiast) and the terroir of their vineyards in Sonoma County. I especially recommend their single-vineyard. Plus, they’re a certified sustainable winery. What a wonderful gift to spoil a wine-loving loved one!

Read more: How to Keep Gift Giving Under Control

The truly sustainable way

The only sustainable way to give holiday gifts is to give nothing new. Here are some fantastic ideas:

Shop Poshmark for brand-new items being resold. Search your favorite brand and NWT, which stands for New With Tags (e.g. search Girlfriend Collective NWT). Pay the asking price or bargain by bidding lower. Most items will arrive within a week.

Give experience gifts like Airbnb cooking classes & Context Travel Conversations 

Make biscotti or another special treat, wrap them beautifully and give to loved ones

Digital subscriptions to newspapers, magazines, Spotify, etc.

DONATE in a loved one’s name: Doctors without Borders, UNICEF, ACLU, Heifer International (give an honor card!)

Tell me, how are you and your family dealing with the holidays this year? Any tips for sustainable gift giving? I’d love to hear!