25 Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Gifts
Fun fact about me, I’m a huge tree hugger. No shame in my game, I love the environment. I grew up in the mountains of North Carolina and was raised by two individuals who valued the earth and respected this beautiful planet we are blessed to be on.
So, while this is not photography-related, this is something I am super passionate about, therefore, it’s totally business-related. right? I think that’s how this works.
Without further ado, here’s a whole bunch of gift ideas for eco-nerds, people wanting to make less of a negative impact, and those who want longer-lasting gifts. These are also perfect if you are the eco-nerd and don’t want to contribute to environmental damage!
For the couples, the pals, and the family.
Service-related gifts.
Maybe you know someone who is in school and literally NEVER has time to clean their house. do it for them! Grab some neutral cleaner and get scrubbing.
Your mom has been talking about needing her gutters cleaned for, like, years now, right? climb that ladder.
During the fall, rake some leaves. During winter, shovel snow!
If you’re awesome at resume-reviewing, offer that to your friends that are job-hunting.
Pick up groceries for your grandma (and don’t forget the reusable bags!)
Financial assistance.
Virtual gift cards are a thing!
You can also check out local businesses that offer virtual gift cards to support local business!
Hard cash and Venmo are options as well.
If you don’t know what to get someone, moolah doesn’t get returned, let’s just say that. It also helps folks tremendously who are struggling through the, ahem, current 2020 crisis.
Make them something.
Who doesn’t love a good DIY? You get to get crafty, the recipient gets a one-of-a-kind piece, and you probably save a huge chunk of cash.
One of my favorite youtubers xo, Macenna does a whole series on thrift flips. you can get super earth-friendly that way! Check out lone fox, too.
Pinterest is going to be your best friend, so start clicking.
Zoom date.
I know, I know, we are all sick of video calls. So spice it up a bit!
Play a connection game like The Skin Deep or play a round of 20 questions like we all did in middle school.
Plan to cook together, find a new recipe and try it out, have a diy wine tasting at home, maybe watch a movie together. It’s not ideal, but quality time is always appreciated.
Buy them a game.
Most games are available digitally now, so spend the oddly high price on a game they’ve been wanting for a while, and I promise they’re going to be stoked.
Now, this is useful if they already have the gear they need to play the game. I’m not saying go out and buy the ps5. but if they already have a console or a computer, why not let them use it?
Invest in their education.
Education is so expensive. But there are awesome opportunities out in the world for people to learn new things!
Skillshare is one of the options, and a ton of youtubers have codes to get a free month of premium.
If they’re a creative, ask them if there are any workshops or courses they’ve been wanting to attend. There is always a digital course out there but they are often rather expensive. Maybe you can pay for the whole thing, or even just a part of it to get them started.
Reusable bags.
There are options out there that fit every personality, aesthetic, and gender. So, you know, there’s a ton.
Market bags are perfect for the sophisticated traveler in your life. They expand pretty massively and are actually incredible useful for other purposes like a beach bag! It' doesn’t trap any of the sand, either!
This adorable canvas bag is perfect for the cottagecore lover in your life.
And this one is perfect for the manly man in your life who, for some reason, needs the ability to lug 60 pounds of stuff around on one arm. one tripper for life.
Have someone who is still sort of unsure about carrying their own bags to places? Check this bag out. Perfect.
You know those produce bags that are essentially pointless and super flimsy? Avoid those and get some of these.
And this set has alllll the bags.
Reusable water bottle.
We all love a good water bottle. I have, admittedly, too many. Let’s talk about my favorites.
Hydroflask. Is it expensive? Yeah, kinda. But totally worth it, trust me!
Composting device.
Composting takes a bit of practice and research, but there is no excuse to not do it!
It’s great for the environment, your plants, and reduces your waste.
Here’s a super cute countertop bin that’s perfect for the classy human in your life.
Is your recipient already familiar with composting but maybe wants to amp it up a bit? check this one out.
And don’t forget the bags for the smaller bins!
Toilet paper alternative.
Stick with me.
Toilet paper is one of the most wasteful things we have on this great planet of earth.
There are lots of options that don’t involve ditching the roll, so don’t freak out!
Instead of listing every single one out here, check this article out by Sustainable jungle. If you choose the cloth option, head to the beloved thrift store to find some old flannel or cotton and cut it up into nice squares that can be easily tossed into a bin to be washed.
A lunchbox kit.
Cute, right? I love a good lunchbox.
Get a little nostalgic with this waxed canvas lunch bag that looks like a rolled up paper bag.
Loose leaf tea kit.
I’m a huuuuge tea drinker. I love it. I hate coffee, so this is the hot drink I have a weird obsession with.
If you aren’t sure what tea to get, an English black tea is usually a good option! You can also totally get a sampler kit and the person getting the gift is going to be super stoked and probably spend 20 minutes smelling them all.
Did you know there are multiple ways to steep tea? Well, there are. If you aren’t sure if they have a little thing to hold the tea leaves, here’s a super cute kit that comes with a bunch of tea, a super cute spoon, and a leaf holder!
And if you really want to have the full deal, check this out. Even comes with the mug, so you are set.
Simmer pot kit.
You can make these yourself, or buy them! They’re great for the folks that like a good smelling home and is a solid alternative to candles.
Zero waste spa kit.
You can compile elements for this yourself, or buy a set.
Etsy has something for the lavender lovers, For the woodsman, the makeup guru, and for the folks who need an underarm assistant.
For the adventurers.
REI Adventures.
I cannot say enough how incredible it is to gift experiences over material items.
REI Adventures is an incredible resource for finding once-in-a-lifetime deals and opportunities. Is this probably the most expensive gift option on here? Yes, yes it is. But maybe you roll with cash like that. and if you do, hi, hello, i would like to be gifted one of these adventures. okay thanks, moving on.
if you can’t gift a trip, let them know about this service. And then get them a REI gift card.
Every single item on this list is great for the adventurous person. So this is going to be the only block specific to this population.
For the kiddos.
Now we can’t forget about the little ones. they’re the ones that are going to change the world when we’re gone. hopefully before we’re gone! start them young and teach them skills that they can carry with them forever.
Reusable snack packs.
Fill them up with apple sauce or whatever you want, and you’re set! Perfect for those kids (like me) who have to eat constantly or they’ll waste away.
You can also find ones like these for their school lunches or on-the-go snacking.
Reusable water balloons.
You heard that right.
I’m not sure how they work exactly, but best believe i bought a pack and can’t wait to use them.
Plastic-free toys.
This food play set is so stinkin’ cute I can’t stand it. Here’s another that’s oh-so-adorable.
This narwhal baby rattle is also so cute. I CANnot.
Kindness alphabet cards?? This is too much. i need them.
I don’t know much about the Montessori world, but this little wooden play set is clearly useful for those motor skills little humans are always learning about.
Okay I have to stop looking at these toys because the baby fever is too real right now.
Trampoline park passes.
Want a sure fire way to wear a kid out? Take them to one of these parks. They’re insane. you’ll have fun, too, so make sure you find an adult-friendly one so you can jump around like a maniac.
Just google “trampoline park near me” and you’ll probably be shocked at how many exist!
Donate to a future fund.
Some kids have college funds, some have safety funds. Either way, chuck what you can towards it and get them a super fun card!
Meditation for kids subscription.
Honestly I wish I had known about meditation when i was a kid. It would have totally helped the baby introvert!
Headspace has a subscription specifically for kids, which is so amazing. Here’s a little background to how meditation works.
Virtual cooking lessons.
The kids’ table has some really cool virtual lessons to get the little ones started on their food journeys.
as a former personal trainer, i can’t stress how important nutrition is. get them started young and get them on the right track early!
Music lessons.
Now this is something i can’t recommend enough. Whether you use this site or you use your facebook or google to find someone, music lessons are so incredible for little ones (and adults!).
If you’re wanting to know more about how music affects child development, read what Carnegie hall has to say.