‘Tis the season for giving! With the holidays quickly approaching, many of us are busy shopping for the perfect gifts for family and friends. But this year, why not consider gifting something a little more sustainable? To help get you started, we’ve compiled a list of top 4 sustainable gift ideas for you to choose from.
Being environmentally conscious doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style, thoughtfulness, or convenience. Plenty of eco-friendly options make excellent gifts and support sustainable practices. Whether you’re looking for a special present for your loved ones or a special something for yourself this holiday season, you’re sure to find something special in our sustainable gift guide.
Sustainable Clothing
The dress you’re wearing right now could significantly impact the environment. Choosing ethically sourced clothing made from organic fabrics is an easy way to incorporate sustainable practices into your daily routine.
Sustainable clothing brands often use planet-friendly materials like hemp, bamboo, and organic cotton, which require less water, pesticides, and energy to produce than synthetic fabrics.
When it comes to fashion, ethical and sustainable can also be stylish. You don’t have to sacrifice your personal style for sustainability — there are plenty of options for every taste and occasion, from casual to formal.
When gifting clothing, look for brands that offer long-term use and versatility. One great option is Tentree, which offers premium sustainable fabrics like organic cotton, hemp, and cork; all ethically manufactured.
Reusable Coffee Mugs
There are plenty of reasons to switch to a reusable coffee mug. The most obvious is that this sustainable gift can help significantly reduce the amount of single-use plastic items you consume.
If you’re gifting a coffee mug, make sure to choose one that’s both stylish and functional (no one likes a cheap, ugly, novelty mug!). Some of our favorites include Circular & Co. travel mugs and FEBU reusable coffee mugs.
If you’re looking for a gift for someone who drinks lots of iced coffee, we recommend looking for a double-walled stainless steel or insulated mug. If you already own a coffee mug, there are plenty of ways to make it reusable. You can gift your friend with a stylish bag or decorative box made from recycled materials to protect their new reusable coffee mug from the elements. Or, you can take a more DIY approach and gift them a reusable coffee sleeve or coffee filter.
Reusable Shopping Bags
For many, the act of shopping has become a totally unsustainable experience. The amount of waste created by our collective shopping habits is alarming. With many major retailers not taking their environmental responsibilities seriously, the best way we can fight back against mass consumption is by making a few simple changes at home.
One of the best ways to reduce your shopping bag footprint is by switching to reusable shopping bags. Not only are they better for your health (they don’t use harmful plasticizers like some reusable bags do), but they’re also better for the environment.
There are plenty of reusable shopping bags out there, but finding the right one really depends on what you’re gifting. If you’re gifting a friend or family member a gift that requires multiple reusable shopping bags, we recommend giving a large reusable canvas tote bag like this one offered by Public Goods.
Reusable Beverage Bottles
Many of us own reusable beverage bottles, but how many of us actually use them? A reusable water bottle is a fantastic type of a container, but not very helpful if it’s collecting dust in your kitchen pantry or cupboard.
A great way to encourage sustainability at home is to ensure that your family members always have access to reusable water bottles. This can be as simple as gifting reusable water bottles to your loved ones.
There are plenty of reusable water bottle options on the market, but the best reusable water bottle really depends on the person you’re gifting. If you know your loved one prefers cold beverages, we recommend gifting them a stainless steel vacuum insulated bottle like the YETI Rambler 20 oz tumbler. If they prefer hot beverages one moment and cold beverage the next, we recommend gifting them a double-walled ceramic bottle like the Stanley classic vacuum insulated wide mouth bottle.
In a future blog post, we’ll discuss eco-friendly home goods, organic beauty products, plant-based gift baskets, home composting systems, and subscription boxes.