Sustainable Gift Ideas

When climate change is on the news regularly, it’s obvious we need sustainable gift ideas! But, what makes a gift sustainable?

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First, let’s look at some factors that determine how sustainable a product might be.

• We need to consider whether it’s disposable or reusable.
• At the end of its usefulness, can it be repaired, or is it upcylable or compostable?
• Does the item use plant based materials instead of fossil fuel based plastics?
• What is the carbon cost of manufacturing the product?
• Getting it to the consumer?
• Or completing its life cycle?
• Are recycled or upcycled materials used to make the product?
• Buying from local merchants or farms increases an item’s sustainability.
• Homemade and handmade gifts from recycled or upcycled materials are very sustainable.
• Are the workers who make the product paid fairly and treated well?
• Does the purchase benefit a major corporation, small business or charity?

You can affect how sustainable your gift is too! What will you use to wrap it? Will you need to ship it to your gift recipient?

If you’re interested in ordering any of these 12 sustainable gift ideas for yourself, a loved one or a friend, please click on the product title and you’ll be directed to the seller’s website. Before you order, be sure to check the website for discount information with email sign up, or a coupon code!

Sustainable Gift Ideas for the Home

We’re all spending more time at home these days and more people than ever have adopted pets. So here are two great sustainable gift ideas for the home.

Bean Products Premium Hemp Dog Bed

These pet beds are made of 100% organic latex. Hemp bed covers are washable and come in 7 colors. Protect pets with the “Made WITHOUT list” which includes formaldehyde ozone depleters, mercury, lead and other heavy metals, as well as flame retardants.

Loomy Rugs

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Have you ever noticed how much a new rug can smell? Of all the rugs sold today, 94% are made of plastic materials that release chemicals into your home. Loomy Rug artisans craft these rugs with sustainable, non-toxic materials that are natural, eco-friendly or recycled.

Sustainable Gift Ideas for the Kitchen

We’ve been cooking at home more too. That in itself is more sustainable! Getting rid of plastic, disposables and cutting down foot waste in the kitchen is a gift, and even better with these fun, sustainable ideas.

Endurance Stainless Steel Compost Pail, 1 Gallon from Mighty Nest

Composting is an important part of living sustainably. Obviously, composting keeps food out of the landfill, but it also creates the best garden nutrients. This compost pail has charcoal filters that prevent odors so you don’t need to empty it into your compost bin every day. Dishwasher safe. $42.00

Find more ideas to green your gifts in Zero Waste Lifestyle and Earth Day Tips That Will Save You Money.

Organic Cotton Produce Bags from Earth Aloha

Four produce bags to take to the farmer’s market or grocery store come with a carrying tote. Earth Aloha will also include sustainable utensils and straws to help you take another step on your journey toward sustainability. $24.95

Glass Fermentation Jar with Ceramic Fermentation Weight and Recipe Book from Mortier Pilon

Learn how to make kombucha, kimchi, saurkraut and other fermented vegetables at home. Fermentation not only preserves your vegetables, but also supports your intestinal health. Regularly $69.98, now only $39.99.

Swedish Dishcloths from Mighty Nest

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Traditional sponges contain non-biodegradable plastic with synthetic dyes, artifical fragrances and Triclosan. Additionally, they are sold in plastic packaging. Swedish Dishcloths are made of plant based cellulose and are fully compostable.

Food Huggers Bundle Of Hugs

Food Huggers keep produce fresh longer without the use of foil or plastic wrap. Reduce food waste and your trash footprint. Silicone food huggers come in 5 different sizes to fit fruits, vegetables and small bowls and containers.

I bought these for myself. I love how well they adapt to different sized produce and keep them fresh!

Sustainable Gift Ideas for Personal Care

You and your gift recipients may already have found some sustainable personal care products. Here are some new ideas to try.

GreenUp Gift Box: The Morning Routine

GreenUp offers several curated boxes to help you say #ByePlastic. You can order boxes individually or with a subscription. The Morning Routine box helps the recipient become more sustainable. This box includes a salon-quality shampoo bar, bamboo toothbrush with travel case, toothpaste tablets in glass container, Farmer’s Touch foot cream, biodegradable dental floss in reusable bamboo containers, reusable cotton facial rounds and organic hemp soap bag. $44.95

Non-Toxic Nail Polish by Itemerie

Between working in garden dirt most days and all the chemicals in nail polish, I’ve given up on my nails. But here comes non-toxic, vegan nail polish with none of the 10 most common toxic chemicals found in traditional nail polish. It’s better for your skin and the air you’re breathing too. Not tested on animals. $14.00

allbirds Merino Wool Shoes

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allbirds makes Men’s, Women’s and Kids’ sneakers, slip ons, flats and more from merino wool, trees, sugar or a combination! Replaceable insoles make this footwear even more sustainable!

Sustainable Gift Ideas for Garden Lovers

I could easily do a complete list of sustainable gift ideas for garden lovers, since I certainly am one! Here is a book every food grower needs and a gift set every garden needs.

Fresh Food From Small Spaces

Fresh Food from Small Spaces is a fun guide to produce fresh vegetables, mushrooms, sprouts, and fermented foods as well as to raise bees and chickens. People living in apartments can grow up to 20 percent of their own fresh food using a combination of traditional gardening methods and space-saving techniques. Author R. J. Ruppenthal shows that even urban dwellers can contribute to a rebirth of local, fresh foods.

I love this book! I found a huge number of ideas to improve my efforts to grow my own food, plus several new techniques to try!

Botanical Interests Pollinator Garden Gift Set

One of the best things we can do in our gardens is support pollinators! Without pollinators, our gardens won’t produce the food and beauty we seek. This $20.00 set includes

• Save the Bees Flower Mix – Provide food for bees (and butterflies) with this colorful mix of blooms.
• Milkweed Butterfly Flower – Vivid, red-orange perennial nectar and host plant for butterflies.
• Precious Pollinators Mix – Protect our precious pollinators with this beautiful mix of food and nectar plants.
• Garden Stakes – So handy, easy to read, and biodegradable!
• I love Pollinators Sticker – Spread the word! Help make aiding pollinators #1 on everyone’s list with this colorful bumper sticker.
• 2021 Desk Calendar – Botanical illustrations of our newly introduced varieties for each month of the year with room for garden notes.

What sustainable gifts have you given or received? Please share in the comments!

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