Ethical & Eco Gift Ideas for This Holiday Season and Beyond

Do you remember when the pandemic started back in March 2020 and the world shut down for weeks? Do you remember how Mother Nature exhaled from all the carbon monoxide and produced clear blue skies in places like Delhi? If there is any silver lining to COVID-19 ravaging the planet for three years, it has to be the fact that humanity has finally become more aware of the cruel impact our seemingly limitless consumption has on the environment, and that Mother Nature will eventually strike back.

At this point, sustainable living should be a priority for everyone? Therefore sustainable gift-giving is at the top of our list for this holiday season. We have compiled our favorite waste-free, eco gift ideas that are thoughtful, ethical, and keep on giving without further damaging our already fragile eco systems.

Disclaimer: This is not your typical fashion & beauty gift guide. 

 

Hairstory New Wash Original Shampoo, $94

This is the perfect gift for those looking to find more sustainable products to add to their hair routines. Hairstory products are detergent-free, creamy and moisturizing and are made specifically to restore the scalp’s natural balance without stripping it of its good oils or protective barrier. In addition to their products being made with gentle essential oils and naturally-derived ingredients that won’t damage your hair or the environment, the brand also promises to donate 1% of New Wash sales to 1% for the Planet. BUY NOW!

Dieux Skin Forever Eye Mask, $25

The Dieux Skin Forever Eye Mask  is the only reusable eye patch on the market. It lasts well beyond one use and encourages products to fully sink in, leaving skin prepped, hydrated and looking amazing. These masks allow for you to treat yourself daily without accumulating unnecessary waste. It helps you get more out of your products, and holds gels, serums and creams close to the skin for maximum absorption. BUY NOW!

 

Rothy’s Limited Edition Merino Slipper, $155

San Francisco-based start-up, and eco shoe brand, Rothy’s, whose mantra is to create beautiful and comfortable shoes for women on the go by reimagining everyday classics, recently launched The Chelsea – a fashionable retake on an iconic classic. The most exciting thing about Rothy’s is the brand’s carbon footprint, or the lack of it, really. The shoes are made from 100 percent post-consumer water bottles, which are hot washed, sterilized, then fused into a fiber that is then knit into yarn. So far, the company has repurposed more than 17 million water bottles, and counting. Oh, and their shoes are machine-washable too!  BUY NOW!

 

Zero Waste Paper Towels, $26.99

Did you know that paper towels were invented by an accident in the early 1900s when a railcar full of tightly wound toilet paper had to be saved, and instead of sending it back, it was cut into larger sheets to make paper towels? A century later, in the U.S. alone we use more than 13 billion pounds of paper towels each year. Globally, discarded paper towels result in  more than 250 million tons of trash every year. And that’s not all. To make one ton of paper towels 17 trees and 20,000 gallos of water are polluted. As many as 51,000 trees per day are required to replace the number of paper towels that are discarded every day. If every household in the U.S. uses one less 70-sheet roll of paper towels, it would save 544,000 trees each year!!! Imagine that! Do you need more convincing that a cloth, reusable paper towel is an awesome eco friendly gift? BUY NOW!

 

Audible Membership, $14.95 per month 

Audio book membership is not only a thoughtful gift, but one that offers a constant array of entertainment. Amazon offers the world’s largest library of audio books but if you are not a fan of the company you can try Google’s audio book library.  Whichever one you choose, the recipient of this gift will love it. They can get two or three titles each month,  listen on the go, exchange books and so much more.  BUY NOW!

 

Plant a Tree in Honor of Recipient, $9.99 per tree

It doesn’t really get more eco-friendly and waste-free than this, does it? Planting a tree in honor of a friend or a loved one is one of our favorite eco gift ideas on our list and we cannot wait to give this to someone. You can plant a tree in celebration of birthdays, anniversaries, new births, or any other special occasion. The recipient will receive a personalized card to commemorate the tree planting. Multiple trees can be dedicated. BUY NOW!

 

Recycled Wine Bottle Platter with Spreader, $24

Val Huegerich revives wine bottles so they can join the revelry once more. Her one-of-a-kind glass platters are kiln-formed from recycled bottles gathered from the roadside and national forests near her home in Wyoming. She then cleans and strips the vessels of their labels before melting them into gorgeous, glossy trays. Paired with cork-topped cheese knives, each functional work of art makes a polished backdrop for cheeses and passed hors d’oeuvres. BUY NOW!

 

Stainless Steel Straws, Set of 8 $24

Please stop using plastic straws. Please? They are terrible for the environment and our oceans. Every year Europe goes through a staggering 25.3 billion plastic straws. In the U.S. it is said that we use 500 million plastic straws a day. A massive 8 million tons of plastic enter our oceans, and major rivers around the world carry an estimated 1.15 – 2.41 million tons of plastic into the sea every year. These numbers are simply staggering. On top of everything, plastic straws are not biodegradable. Please replace your plastic straw usage with a stainless steel, multi-use ones. BUY NOW!

Bee’s Wrap, $18

Bee’s Wrap is uniquely designed plastic free and eco-friendly reusable food wrap made from organic cotton infused with sustainably harvested beeswax, jojoba oil and tree resin. It is hand-made in the U.S. by a woman owned company in Middlebury, Vermont.  It is made from GOTS-certified organic cotton and helps foods stay fresh without the use of single use plastic. It will hold its shape when it cools, creating a seal. BUY NOW!

 

Reusable Makeup Remover Cotton Pads, $12.99 for 18 pack

The farming of cotton makes a huge impact on the environment. Chemicals can pollute rivers, damage local wildlife and severely impact our ecosystems. It also takes huge amounts of water used to produce conventional cotton. About one kilogram (2.2 pounds), the size of a t-shirt, can take more than 20,000 litres (5300 gallons) of water to make. Also, 1.3 billion wipes are used daily and it’s up to us to make sure they don’t pollute our seas and rivers or end up in landfill. Replace your disposable cotton pads with reusable makeup removing pads. It’s one of those no-brainer eco gift ideas really. Designed to last for years of use, you’ll never have to use throwaway wipes, sponges or paper towels again. Use these super-gentle wipes on their own with makeup remover, or with your favorite facial products. Then simply wash and  reuse. BUY NOW!

 

Vitamix FoodCycler, $399