The Most Sustainable Holiday Gifts For Your Zero-Waste Friends And Loved Ones
This post contains affiliate links which may earn us a commission.
The 2021 holiday season is all about sustainable gift giving!
Times are changing, and consumers are more willing to pay for environmentally friendly products that not only help save money in the long run, but also help minimize plastic pollution and lower their carbon footprint. Simply put, more folks are going ‘green’ to help save the planet!
That’s why this holiday season, eco-friendly gifts and zero-waste gift wrapping are going to be a huge trend. And thankfully, there are a ton of eco-conscious brands that make some really cool zero-waste and environmentally friendly products which help jumpstart and facilitate a greener lifestyle.
An eco-friendly gift can be anything that’s organic, non-toxic, reusable, upcycled, recyclable, compostable or helps minimize pollution and save energy—stuff that’s great for both you and the planet.
You also don’t have to limit your gift options to just reusable straws and mesh produce bags—there are a lot of eco-friendly gift options that are alternatives to trendy mainstream products—just made more ethically and sustainably (like clothing, jewelry, home decor, beauty products and more) and that’s because people are finding new ways to make everyday items more green.
To help you find that perfect sustainable Christmas gift for a friend or loved one, we put together a thoughtful list of environmentally friendly gift options that help lower one’s carbon footprint, save money in the long run, and improve one’s overall health and wellbeing.
Wooden World Wall Map
For the travel enthusiast in your life, consider this unique 3D wooden [wall] map that comes equipped with push pins so that you can document your travel journey. Not only is this map hand-made from sustainable birch wood, it’s also incredibly beautiful and looks fabulous in any room of the house! A Glow in the dark version is also available on their direct website.
GreenUP Subscription Box
With the GreenUP subscription box, your loved ones can unbox an assortment of zero-waste goodies every quarter! And if you love the thought of this eco-friendly essentials box, but don’t want to commit to recurring payments, you can do a one time purchase! We personally love this box and thinks it’s one of the best zero-waste subscription boxes on the market!
Indoor Hydroponic Garden
With this ‘smart’ indoor hydroponic garden, you can grow 6 different herbs (included) completely without soil—just water. This hydroponic system is especially great for beginner gardeners because the control panel notifies you when it’s time to add water and nutrients (included), and the LED light turns on and off automatically. This is a very sustainable gift and great way to save money on herbs!
Reusable Glass Spray Bottle Set
These days it’s all about natural hand-made cleaning solutions and having a non-toxic home. These cute reusable glass cleaning bottles with silicone sleeves by Freaking Essential help you accomplish your DIY cleaning goals! They even come packaged in a giftable and compostable cardboard box and include a silicone funnel plus label sheets.
Indoor ‘Smart’ Compost Bin
You don’t need a huge outdoor compost bin to compost! The Vitamix 068051 Food Cycler sits comfortably on your kitchen counter and turns food scraps (including chicken bones) into fertilizer in just hours! Countertop compost bins are a great way to divert food waste from heading to the landfill and makes a fantastic gift for someone who wants to have a more sustainable kitchen.
Coconut Bowl Set
It doesn’t get any better than eating out of organic dinnerware. These reclaimed coconut bowls by Jungle Culture and wooden utensils are ethically sourced and hand-carved by local artisans in Vietnam. They are absolutely stunning and make perfect eco-friendly gifts for really just about anyone.
Luxury Bamboo Towel Set
We use towels on a regular basis, which means that we can never have too many. And if you’re considering giving someone a new towel set, go for bamboo fabric! Bamboo towels have a luxurious, soft feel. They’re also more durable and absorbent than cotton. Mosobam makes beautiful bamboo towel sets which includes two jumbo sized towels. It’s the perfect addition to anyone’s sustainable bathroom.
Foldable Reusable Cotton Grocery Bags
For a more eco-friendly shopping experience, consider these reusable cotton bags by Eco Friends. These reusable bags make excellent zero-waste gifts because they’re fairly large, can fold into a small soda-can sized shape (with a snap button that secures it in place), and can be washed and reused endless times.
Beeswax Wrap Kit
Anyone will appreciate beeswax wraps as a gift because it’s a fantastic plastic alternative to cling wrap and is foreign to a lot of people—so they’ll be intrigued! This beeswax kit by HoneyAlley contains 7 wraps in various sizes and comes in a cute giftable package.
Luxury Shampoo Bars
Shampoo bars are an eco-friendly alternative to bottled shampoo and make excellent gifts for both men and women. To make a great impression, choose hand-made shampoo bars from Apple Valley Natural Soap—a family owned brand that makes beautifully scented shampoo bars for both genders that leaves hair so conditioned, you won’t need a conditioner. You can buy several and arrange them in a gift basket.
Zero Waste Lunch Kit
Help a friend or loved one save both money and the environment with this zero waste lunch kit, put together by Earth Hero. This eco-friendly kit contains all the essentials that are needed for a zero-waste meal when you’re on the go! We love zero-waste kits as gift options because a lot of the time, people don’t know where to start when it comes to sustainable living, and zero-waste kits are a great introduction to sustainable products.
Tankless Water Heater
Help a loved one save 50% on water heating costs with the EcoSmart tankless water heater. This tank alternative delivers endless hot water, while at the same time saving space, time, money, and allowing you to reduce your overall energy and water use. It’s a great gift for someone who wants a more energy efficient home.
Travel Utensil Set
You’d be surprised how many people have invested in portable utensil kits this year! Consumers have purchased reusable travel utensils not only to eliminate their dependence on single-use plastic cutlery, but to also protect their health when eating out! Travel cutlery comes in all types of eco-friendly forms, but we really love this stainless steel reusable utensil kit by Toobooc (and it’s offered in many more colors).
Portable Mini Washing Machine
Get the camping enthusiast in your life a portable ‘mini’ washing machine. This portable washer by Laundry Alternative is great to use at camp sites, small apartments and for times when the power goes out. It does not require electricity and a small load of clothing can be cleaned in 2 min.
Natural Scrub Brush Set
This natural scrub brush set by Hello Nature is a wonderful eco-friendly alternative to traditional kitchen sponges that pollute our oceans with micro-plastic and have to be replaced on a regular basis. This natural brush set contains bamboo handles and durable plant-based scrubbing fibers.
Compostable Phone Case
Compostable phone cases are rising in popularity not only because they’re plant-based and great for the environment, but because they’re made with non-toxic material that won’t harm you (unlike mainstream phone cases). Pela cases are one of the best biodegradable phone case brands on the market, and donate 1% of all proceeds to environmental nonprofit charities.
Zero-Waste Dental Kit
The bathroom produces a lot of plastic waste—especially when it comes to our dental routine. This zero-waste dental kit by Leafico comes equipped with bamboo toothbrushes, biodegradable floss and a stainless steel tongue scraper. It’s a great gift for anyone who’s been curious about bamboo dental products.
BEE HOUSE
Save the bees and pollinate your garden with this charming hand-crafted bee house by Beaks And Paws. It’s the perfect eco-friendly gift for a gardener and helps attract a wide array of insects that help pollinate your flower and vegetable garden!
Zero-Waste Laundry Kit
We spend a lot of time in the laundry room, and doing laundry uses up a lot of energy, produces quite a bit of micro-plastics, and detergent itself is made from harmful chemicals. This zero-waste laundry kit contains all the essentials for a non-toxic laundry routine. The bundle includes plant-based laundry strips, a Cora Ball that traps micro-plastics, a laundry stain removal stick, wool dryer balls and a natural mesh bag—making an awesome zero-waste gift.
Reusable Tumbler
The Beast is by far my favorite reusable insulated tumbler because it’s massive, and allows me to ditch single use water bottles and helps me save money on coffee by NOT stopping at that one popular coffee shop. This reusable tumbler also comes in a giftable box and comes in a variety of colors to choose from.
Cork Lunch Bag
Cork is the new vegan leather, and items made from cork, such as this lunch tote by VonNova will last an incredibly long time. This eco-friendly lunch bag is perfect for both men and women and also comes with a free stainless steel spork!
Eco Mom Diaries 