Whether it’s the holiday season, a birthday, anniversary, or you’re just searching for a perfect gift for that special someone, check out Green That Life’s Best Eco Friendly Gifts for ideas that both your recipients and the planet will love.
Before You Start Shopping, Read This!
How this List Was Put Together
The most eco friendly gifts are the ones that leave the minimum environmental footprint. In compiling this gift list, I’ve adhered to these guidelines:
- Identifying reasonably-priced products that your gift recipient will love.
- Selecting products that avoid generating waste in every aspect of production.
- Researching the product manufacturers to ensure they receive high marks for circular-focused and sustainable business practices.
That said, before you purchase anything new, consider other ways of giving–detailed below–and use this gift list as a supplement to your holiday gift-giving.
Green Gift Giving Tips
For an exhaustive overview of how you can green your gift-giving, see Green That Life’s Gift Giving Guide. It includes sustainable shopping tips, eco friendly gift wrapping options, ways to minimize packaging and waste, and eco friendly gift ideas for everyone on your gift list.
Green Gifts that Give Back
For a complete list of green gifts for a cause, see Green That Life’s post on Gifts for Good that Support Environmental Causes.
Green Reading
For environmentally-themed book suggestions, see Green That Life’s list of fiction and non-fiction books.
Certifications and Eco-Partnerships
This guide references a number of certifications and eco-partnerships, including Cradle-to-Cradle, Forest Stewardship Council, and Certified B Corporation. For detailed descriptions of certifications and why they’re important, see Green That Life’s post on greenwashing and how to avoid it.
Table of Contents
Planet-Friendly Gifts for Home and Homebody
Weighted Blankets, The Natural Way to Sleep Well
Description
There are weighted blankets and then there’s the Bearaby weighted blanket–completely natural and impossibly soft, Bearaby weighted blankets are ideal for all seasons.
Weighted blankets have been shown to be a natural sleep aid by stimulating the production of serotonin, reducing cortisol, and increasing melatonin. The Bearaby Cotton Napper blanket is made of Fairtrade International Certified organic cotton, hand-knit, and is filler-free. It’s available in four weights (10, 15, 20, 25 lbs) and eight colors.
Why It’s Eco Friendly
Bearaby uses only quality, sustainable materials and weaves sustainability into every step of the supply chain. Products are made from recycled marine plastic, organic, biodegradable cotton, and/or TENCEL Lyocell, a fabric derived through a closed-loop process from Eucalyptus wood. The company has received Forest Stewardship Council and Global Recycled Standard certifications.
A Plush Bamboo Robe for Lounging
Description
Cariloha’s bamboo bathrobe is sure to please the homebody on your gift list who loves to lounge. Its ultra-plush fabric will wrap them up in luxury softness that feels as comfortable as it looks. Choose from white and graphite colors.
Why It’s Eco Friendly
Cariloha’s list of sustainability certifications and awards from reputable entities is extensive and impressive. Focusing on a material — bamboo — that is completely biodegradable, Cariloha’s commitment to sustainability starts at the source, with its sustainably run, organic bamboo farm. In addition, as part of its White Glove Service, Cariloha will remove and dispose of customers’ older mattresses in an eco-friendly fashion via recycling or charity donation.
Stylish Socks Made From Recycled Wool
Product Description
These whimsically mismatched wool socks are sufficiently thick to wear as cozy at-home slippers, yet attractive enough to show off outside the home. They’re made in the USA from 100% recycled wool blends and are machine washable.
Why It’s Eco Friendly
Solmate Socks is a Certified B Corporation. All Solmate Sock products use recycled fabrics and the company employs a zero-waste policy throughout its business practices.
Naturally Namaste: Eco Yoga Mat
Description
Eco-Friendly and biodegradable, the eKO mat has a natural rubber grip to prevent any slips, and with its sustainable construction, this naturally harvested rubber mat will support the body and the planet. Mats can be recycled through Manduka’s partnership with The Renewal Workshop.
Why It’s Eco Friendly
Manduka’s design approach is rooted in principles of conservancy — creating responsibly sourced products while minimizing environmental waste. Their products are made using sustainable business practices and environmentally responsible materials, including recycled polyester and organic cotton.
Low Waste Personal Care Products
Description
By Humankind’s shower routine set is made from all-natural, sulfate-free ingredients that are formulated to nourish your hair and skin. It’s also planet-friendly, with all products packaged in recyclable aluminum bottles. Choose from two sets: Cool (Lavendar shampoo, Eucalyptus conditioner, and Tea Tree body wash) or Warm (Grapefruit shampoo, Grapefruit conditioner, and Bergamot body wash).
If you choose to purchase a subscription (the most eco friendly option to reduce excessive packaging) for your gift recipient, refills are discounted 10%. You can also add to the gift with a purchase of plastic offsets.
Why It’s Eco Friendly
By Humankind’s business model is designed to radically reduce single-use waste, particularly plastic waste. The company uses refillable containers and refills made with recyclable aluminum or paper that can be recycled or composted. Only natural ingredients are used in products, which are vegan and cruelty-free. By Humankind is a carbon-neutral company as of 2019.
A Luxurious Eco Friendly Fragrance
Description
Customize your Henry Rose selections by pairing any full-sized fragrance with a travel spray to create the perfect gift. Choose from a wide variety of Henry Rose fragrance selections, including Jake’s House, Queen’s & Monsters, and Fog. There’s a scent for every person on your gift list!
Why It’s Eco Friendly
Created by actor Michelle Pfeiffer, Henry Rose is committed to the highest standards in ingredients and environmental responsibility. The company pledges to source its materials from sustainable or renewable resources wherever possible. Products are made from recycled materials and are 100% recyclable. In addition, every single ingredient has been vetted against the strictest standards for health and safety, and every Henry Rose fragrance is EWG Verified and Cradle to Cradle Certified.
Green Gifts for Lovers of the Outdoors
Planet-Friendly Outerwear
Product Description
Houdini specializes in outerwear for men and women that’s rugged and wearable. Any of their products would be a welcome gift for lovers of the outdoors, but the Alto Halfzip will keep them warm on any adventure. This warm, cozy, and lightweight half-zip is made with Woolly Treemerino, a Swedish-made warm, stretchy and lightweight fabric of 60% merino wool and 40% Tencel.
Why It’s Eco Friendly
Houdini is a leader in sustainable business practices. Just a quick peek at their dedicated sustainability page reveals how the brand incorporates low waste and sustainable initiatives into every aspect of its business. To minimize waste, 100% of all Houdini fabrics are recycled, recyclable, renewable, biodegradable or Bluesign certified. In addition, Houdini Reuse, the company’s second-hand service, lets customers buy and sell used Houdini garments, extending the lifetime of their clothing and reducing their overall environmental impact.
Solar Powered Lamp for Patio or Back Country
Product Description
The SolarPuff lantern is a handy accessory for any outdoor activity. This attractive solar-powered lamp is conveniently foldable and light, making it ideal for a backyard gathering or a campout in the woods. The SolarPuff is water-resistant, emits 8-12 hours of light, and charges within 8 hours.
Why It’s Eco Friendly
The SolarPuff is made of recyclable, biodegradable fabric and needs no batteries or external power sources. It’s made of heavy-duty, recyclable PET, and utilizes minimal waste packaging for a low environmental impact. Solight donates 10% of its profits to charitable causes.
For the Compost (and Worm!) Lover
Product Description
Eartheasy’s composter is designed to be a perfect home for composting worms, who work around the clock to turn kitchen waste into nutrient-rich, organic fertilizer for the garden or potted plants. This stylish composter is a great option for small spaces, is easy to set up, and comes with a moisture meter as well as a hand rake to make taking care of your worms easy. It can consume up to five pounds of waste each week with its odorless operation.
Need worms? Eartheasy has those too.
Why It’s Eco Friendly
Composting is an excellent way to lower your carbon footprint by transforming food waste into nutrient-rich soil.
Eartheasy offsets any greenhouse gas emissions created by their office, servers, and transportation by purchasing carbon offset credits through Terrapass.com. In addition, Eartheasy’s commitment to sustainable business practices is evident with their minimal packaging of products, an office environment that is energy efficient and virtually paper-free, and their sourcing of materials from suppliers with fair trade policies. Eartheasy is a partner of Trees for Future Foundation and EPA WaterSense.
A Garden for the City Dweller
Product Description
Know a city dweller with dreams of gardening? The Indoor Gardening Essentials 6-Plant Bundle will set them up with a mini garden on their windowsill, packed with all the essentials: 6 organic grow kits to grow their own mushrooms, chili pepper, cherry tomatoes, basil, mint, and cilantro! All 100% Organic, Non-GMO, and Guaranteed to Grow! Just add sun & water.
Why It’s Eco Friendly
Back to the Roots, a Certified B Corporation, is the fastest-growing organic gardening brand in the U.S. The company diverts agricultural waste (coffee grounds, sawdust, wheat bran, rice straws, corn cobs) from landfills to create soil for their organic seeds. All packaging is made of 100% recyclable materials.
Best Eco Friendly Gifts For People on the Go
For All Your Shopping Needs
Product Description
For the gift recipient who’s always on the go, this durable and attractive market tote is ready to transport anything and everything from trips to the farmer’s market and grocery store. Printed with environmentally friendly inks and made with robust waxed canvas, this limited-edition tote is handmade in Grand Haven, MI. Offered in three colors: Black, Dark Green, or Dark Blue.
Why It’s Eco Friendly
Aldea Coffee, a Certified B Corporation, is a fully integrated coffee company. From its non-profit in Honduras to its roastery and cafes in Michigan, Aldea works with individual farmers seeking to develop, grow, and process some of the world’s most unique and intimately sourced specialty coffee.
Aldea works to reduce its impact on the environment by offering reusable cups at their cafes, using to-go products and packaging materials that meet high environmental standards, and recycling whenever possible.
Luggage That Removes Plastic Waste
Product Description
The Paravel Aviator is a beautiful gift for the sustainably-minded traveler. It packs 2-4 days’ worth of clothes and 1-2 pairs of shoes and fits into the overhead compartment of any airline.
Your gift recipient can enjoy her trip knowing that at least her luggage is eco friendly. The Aviator has a recycled polycarbonate exterior, recycled zippers, a lining made from 15 upcycled plastic water bottles, vegan leather details, and a recycled aluminum handle.
Why It’s Eco Friendly
Sustainability is a core part of Paravel’s business model as it strives to be the first 100% sustainable travel brand by the end of 2021. A recipient of numerous accreditation and sustainability-focused awards, Paravel has upcycled over 3.5 million plastic water bottles to date, offset 8,150 tonnes of CO2 through its carbon-neutral shipping program, and planted over 35,000 trees through Eden Reforestation Projects. For the Aviator, it offsets all carbon emissions generated from sourcing, assembly, and final delivery. It also offsets the estimated emissions of its first journey with the end-user.
A Solar-Powered Backpack/DayPack
Product Description
Solgaard’s flagship product, the Lifepack solar-powered, anti-theft backpack is designed for the on-the-go lifestyle–whether it’s hiking in the woods, relaxing on the beach, or traveling the globe. Made from Shore-Tex, Solgaard’s very own fabric made from upcycled ocean plastic, Lifepack helps organize and protect belongings while providing the capability to charge devices anywhere.
Why It’s Eco Friendly
Solgaard gear is made from Shore-Tex, a textile fabric made entirely from ocean-bound plastic. The company has partnered with groups in The Philippines, Indonesia, and China that work with local teams in creating jobs for locals to remove plastic from the ocean to be upcycled into useful goods. For every item sold, the company removes 229 ocean-bound plastic bottles.
Clean Water On the Go: Filtering Water Bottle
Product Description
Anyone can now enjoy clean, filtered water on the go with Aquasana’s Stainless Steel Insulated Clean Water Bottle. Through its filtration device, the Clean Water Bottle reduces more than 99% of lead, chlorine-resistant cysts, chlorine, and bacteria while retaining healthy minerals. Rather than spending money and creating needless waste by using plastic single-use bottles, use a water bottle with a filter for clean water that’s healthy for people and the planet. Made of stainless steel, the 17 oz bottle comes in two colors.
Why It’s Eco Friendly
All Aquasana water filter components are engineered for minimal waste including its reusable outer filter casings and filter cartridges, which are made of recyclable parts and compostable materials.
Best Eco Friendly Gifts for the Foodie
Gifts for the Home Chef
Check out Green That Life’s extensive list of 25 Green Kitchen Gift Ideas. There’s something for every home cook on your shopping list.
For the Chocolate Lover
Product Description
French Broad Chocolate’s Merry & Bright Gift Set offers a selection of decadently delicious chocolates and peppermint bark that anyone would enjoy. Festive seasonal fillings include eggnog, champagne, cranberry, gingerbread, and more. This gift set will definitely delight the chocolate lover on your list.
Why It’s Eco Friendly
A Certified B Corporation, French Broad Chocolate makes delectable, small-batch chocolate bars, confections, bonbons, and more. In their small factory in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, the company roasts, cracks, winnows, grinds, conches and tempers chocolate in small batches. By directly sourcing fine flavor cacao, they create a deeper connection to the source.
For the Coffee Lover
Product Description
Who doesn’t want a coffee gift? Stumptown’s Holiday Trio features the perennial holiday favorite, Evergreen blend flanked by the blend’s components: Ethiopia Duromina and Honduras El Puente. Along with delicious flavors, this handsome threesome has festive vibes. Snag this gift set before it’s too late; no wrapping paper required.
Why It’s Eco Friendly
Stumptown, a Certified B Corporation, adheres to a number of sustainability practices that include measures to reduce energy and water consumption while minimizing landfill-bound waste. Stumptown’s Direct Trade sourcing aims to deliver a higher quality of life to producers around the world and they invest in origin-led, sustainability-focused projects in coffee-producing communities.
Sustainable Brew: Non-Alcoholic & Alcoholic
Product Description
Get the best of both by pre-ordering the 2022 Advent Calendar & Dry January Survival Kit, all rolled into one.
The Advent Calendar includes 24 different beers which range from vibrant IPAs to decadent stouts, including 10 amazing box exclusives — the perfect gift for the craft beer enthusiast or an opportunity to dip your toes in the craft beer scene.
The Dry January Survival Kit is the perfect gift for any near beer lover. With 12 unique non-alcoholic beers, 2 of each, they’re all set for 24 days of na-beery-bliss.
Why It’s Eco Friendly
Brewdog, and a Certified B Corporation, is the world’s first carbon-negative brewery. For every beer they brew, we remove twice as much carbon from the air as we emit. They also give back 10% of their annual profits to staff.
Sustainable Wine
Product Description
The lovely, pale pink A to Z Bubbles is a festive hostess gift or a welcome one for any wine lover on your gift list. Primarily Pinot Noir with a bit of Chardonnay, the fruit was left in contact with the skins to get the perfect color, a traditional, natural technique preferable to blending back red wine. The result is a delicious sparkling wine with fruity notes, joined by white flowers and a hint of creaminess.
The bottle is pretty enough to present unwrapped, but if you’re looking for a wine bag, make it reusable, like one of BAGGU’s wine bags.
Why It’s Eco Friendly
A to Z Wineworks is pretty much the best a company can achieve when it comes to sustainable business practices. Ranking the best since 2015 in numerous Certified B Corporation categories (including Best for the World), A to Z adheres to the highest standards in environmental and social practices, including using organically grown and locally-sourced grapes, carbon-neutral shipping, and paying all workers above the local living wage.
A No-Waste Veggie Cookbook
About the Book
The No Waste Vegetable Cookbook will help you cook your way through greens, beans, roots, and herbs with seasonal recipes that utilize every edible part of the plant. Author Linda Ly shares a wide variety of recipes, from creative pickling to perfect pestos. Whether you’re excited to make the most of the farmer’s market or use every bit of your garden’s bounty, this is the book that keeps the food on your table and out of the trash can (or compost bin)!
About the Author
Linda Ly is the author of The New Camp Cookbook, The Backyard Fire Cookbook, The CSA Cookbook, and The No-Waste Vegetable Cookbook, and the blogger behind the award-winning Garden Betty, a lifestyle site devoted to modern homesteading, green living, and adventure traveling. Linda has been featured in national and regional media including Country Living, HGTV, Better Homes & Gardens, and Heritage Radio Network.
Best Eco Friendly Gifts for the Eco Kid
Plantable Colored Pencils
Product Description
What child – or adult, for that matter – wouldn’t want a set (or more!) of sprout-able pencils? Write, draw, doodle and design until the pencils become too short to use. Then simply turn them upside down, plant the stub, and enjoy watching them grow into fragrant herbs, beautiful flowers or fresh vegetables!
The Sprout Special Edition contains eight biodegradable Sprout pencils: six colored and two graphite pencils containing plant seeds capsules for herbs, flowers or vegetables.
Why It’s Eco Friendly
All Sprout pencils are non-toxic, biodegradable, made from sustainably sourced materials, and use sustainable production techniques. All pencils are made of PEFC or FSC certified wood, ensuring that every time a tree is harvested, another one is planted.
A Go-Kart That Your Kid and The Planet Will Love
Product Description
Set your kid off on the BERG Buddy, knowing she’ll be safe zipping around the yard or neighborhood. This model has been completely retuned, featuring beautiful rims, new tires, and an adjustable bucket seat. All Buddys come with large, rugged wheels and tough pneumatic tires, and thanks to the swing axle, you can take sharp corners without tipping over. With BERG’s unique patented BFR (Break, Freewheel, Reverse) system, your child can brake using the pedals and then immediately reverse. All of this adds up to an exhilarating experience for your child that’s flexible and safe.
The BERG Buddy is designed for ages 3-8, but BERG offers go karts for all ages, including 10-30 months, 2-5 years, 2.5-6 years, and 5+ years.
Why It’s Eco Friendly
BERG is Cradle-to-Cradle certified, Silver level, and considers the environmental impact of its products at every phase in the production process, even the paint. Employing a circular approach, BERG takes a critical look at the impact of production and use, along with waste disposal. Most of their products are recyclable.
