8 Planet-Friendly Holiday Gifting Ideas
I've been very busy this weekend working on my Christmas shopping list, trying to decide what to get for everyone! I absolutely love holiday gift giving. I spend hours - seriously hours online trying to find the perfect thing for each and every person on my list.
This year I've been working on reducing the amount of waste I produce, and I've also focused on purchasing products made from environmentally friendly materials such as recycled plastic. I thought I'd try to stick to those guidelines as much as I can this year when I'm looking for gifts to give to others.
Maybe you're like me, and you are looking to reduce your impact on our environment. Or, maybe you are shopping for an earth-minded individual and want some great ideas. Have I got a list for you! Below I've compiled all the planet friendly products I've found this year while I've searched the web for holiday gifts. Let's get into it!
1. Love Beauty & Planet Gift Sets
This gift set is first on my list for a few reasons. The first is that I have used these products for quite some time, and I absolutely love them. I use the shampoo, conditioner, lotion and soap bar on a daily basis. They smell spectacular, and I'm just obsessed. The packaging of the shampoos and lotions is made from recycled plastic, and the soap comes wrapped in recyclable paper. The ingredients are all sustainably sourced. Basically, this stuff is good inside and out.
The second reason this is so special to me is that this year, Love Beauty and Planet is donating 100% of the profits made on their holiday gift sets to the Recycling Partnership. This nonprofit focuses on improving recycling programs in cities and towns around the world. They also work with large retailers and corporations, giving guidance and sharing best practices. And, they do SO much more. One of my (favorite) family members works at the Recycling Partnership, so it's especially near and dear to my heart.
I have already purchased a few of these gift sets for my friends and family (and I plan to buy a few for myself!) This is a great gift in so many ways - the scents of all the products are incredible, the packaging and ingredients are planet friendly, and the profits go to a great cause.
Read more about Love Beauty and Planet here. Learn more about the Recycling Partnership and all that they do here.
2. Adorable Lunch Bag and Reusable Silicone Food Bags
In an effort to get rid of all the single-use items in my kitchen, I've been looking for products just like these reusable silicone food storage bags (pictured on the left.) I spotted these little fellas on Amazon, and thought they'd go great with a cute lunch bag like the one above as a gift. (It's made with fabric from rifle paper company!)
The silicone bags can replace any sandwich bags, snack bags, and large storage bags you currently use in your kitchen. They are freezer safe, and most importantly they are DISHWASHER SAFE! How awesome is that?
And that lunch bag is machine washable! They'll both save you money, and do great things for our planet's future.
Get the silicone bags here and the lunch bag here.
3. Life Water Bottle
We bought these for ourselves before our last trip to Disney, and now we can't live without them! Though they aren't made from recycled plastic, they are a great way to completely eliminate the need for single-use plastic water bottles. These are the perfect gift for a hiker, or even a traveler who can fill it on the other side of security instead of buying a water bottle. I bring mine to work every day as well so I never need to use a plastic cup or bottle.
Fun fact: the filter built into the straw of this water bottle is so good, you can safely drink straight from a river. You can fill this thing anywhere and feel totally fine about the water you are drinking from it. Great gift for anyone preparing for the zombie apocalypse!
4. Green Toys
This is my FAVORITE brand of toys right now. They are all absolutely adorable, and they are made from recycled plastic! They have toys for kids of all ages. I especially love the tea set, the race car builder set, and the airplane/book combo! Scroll through the window above to see a small sampling of the wonderful toys they make.
5. 4Ocean Signature Blue Bracelet
I've been seeing these adorable bracelets in a bunch of local shops, and I think they'd make a great gift. Each bracelet equals one pound of trash removed from the ocean. The beads are made from recycled glass, and the string is made from recycled plastic. They come in a bunch of colors, but I really like this blue. Shop local, or get them on Amazon!
6. Straw Set
I'm sure you already know that reusable straws are all the rage these days. With the waves of plastic garbage we've seen washing up on shores around the world, it's no surprise that so many people have been inspired to stop using single-use straws and water bottles. This "starter set" of reusable straws is a great gift idea for your earth-conscious friend. These ethically sourced reusable straws come with a handy pair of cotton cleaning brushes, and four straws! Two straws are stainless steel, and two are biodegradable bamboo. They also come with a cute and convenient carry case.
7. Thrive Market Membership
Have you heard of thrive market? I'm obsessed with it. I've added it to this list because they sell a number of products that fulfill certain environmental and social values. Their prices are great, and everything ships fast. It's also delivered in completely recyclable packaging! This is where I buy a lot of hard-to-find ingredients for some of my more unique recipes.
You do need a membership to order from Thrive (it costs $49/year) but you can start with a 30 day free trial! Also, for every membership that is purchased, Thrive gives a free membership to a family in need through their "Thrive Gives" program.
I think a Thrive Market gift card (perhaps attached to this adorable Dr. Bronner's gift set?) would make an excellent holiday gift for anyone on your list. It's practical and meaningful, and supports many wonderful causes. (Interested in using Thrive yourself? Use my referral link for 25% off your first purchase!)
8. Waxed Canvas Tote Bag
Here's another practical and beautiful option for a holiday gift. This waxed canvas tote bag would be great to store in the back of a car for any shopping trip. How cute would this be filled with some simple things like wine, bread, pasta and sauce? What a great gift! You can buy this on Amazon (and it's only $20!!)
Ok, off to finish up my holiday shopping! Hope this post gave you some ideas. Have a favorite earth-friendly product? Share it in the comments below!
