Sustainable Christmas Gift Ideas
From Skin Care Products to Yoga Mats to Coffee, We've got you Covered This Holiday Season
Having a hard time finding the perfect gift this holiday season? While there isn't a one-gift-fits-all for every person on your shopping list, we've curated our own list of products that are both unique and environmentally conscious. Keep reading to find out what hot, low impact items you should consider this December.
Christmas can be stressful.
We can sympathize with the struggle of finding the perfect gift, we all know people who are hard to shop for. They either have everything already or have particular taste that's hard to quench. Well, your in luck because we're happy to share our Sustainable Christmas Gift Giving Guide for 2021.
What makes a great gift?
You want to get someone something unique. Something that they will use and love. For most people, it's something practical, premium and/or something they'd never think of getting for themselves. So what is that?
We've put together a group of thoughtful items that your loved one would be so excited to unwrap AND the best part is, each item on this list has a uniquely low environmental impact or sustainable aspect behind it.
Something to use every day
Bamboo toothbrushes from Roman & Bold Co.
Did you know that every plastic toothbrush ever created since the 1930s, when plastic toothbrushes were first produced, still exist. 50 million pounds of toothbrushes are dumped into landfills annually in the US alone and plastic toothbrushes take about 1,000 years to decompose.
Dentists recommend changing your toothbrush every 3 months and these come in packs of four. That means you'll have someone covered for an entire year! A perfect stocking stuffer and something they'll use every. single. day.
Available in four colors and with two different bristle styles (flat head and narrow tip), they've got a little something for everyone.
Something handcrafted and simply beautiful
Beeswax candles from Bees Wax Works
"Traditional beeswax chandlery is the alchemy of turning flowers into light"
Beeswax is a natural and renewable material that can be utilized in many different ways. These unique, handmade pieces are a great way to add a cozy ambiance to any room and feature different colour variations in the wax that change from season to season, depending on what flowers the bees gather pollen and nectar from. Naturally sourced, beeswax candles burn longer, drips less, and smells wonderful.
Available in a bunch of different shapes and sizes, check out the collection available at Bees Wax Works.
Something for people with dry skin
Natural eczema relief cream from Satya
"Sometimes the most difficult problems have the simplest solutions"
Satya is a natural product that uses ingredients like beeswax, organic oatmeal and organic sweet almond, jojoba and calendula oil to help soothe and relieve dry, itchy and irritated skin caused by eczema.
As well as making an awesome all natural solution to a complex problem, they also make efforts to ensure their environmental footprint is small and look for ways to give back. They're carbon neutral, make refillable/reusable packaging and have sustainable development goals. They're a true eco focused company worth your support.
Something for anyone who washes their clothes
Laundry detergent by Tru Earth
I bet you know someone who does this - maybe even a few times a week!
Tru Earth makes pre-measured strips of liquidless laundry detergent that you just toss in your wash. This idea cuts waaay down on plastic packaging since the strips come in zero-waste compostable packaging. It's hypoallergenic and great for sensitive skin. They offer various quantities per box ranging from 8 loads - 384 loads. No more need for giant plastic containers!
Something for anyone
Bamboo bet sheets from Vearthy
If you thought a lot of people washed their clothes, just wait until you hear how many people sleep. Turns out, everybody does. Every single day. This is a gift that works well for anyone.
Vearthy opts to use a highly sustainable manufacturing method that uses organic compounds instead of harsh chemicals to turn bamboo, one of the most renewable resources on the planet, into unbelievably soft bed sheets. It's like silk, but better.
Most people don't really pay attention to what they're sleeping on, so this is a gift that will be a noticeable upgrade to something they use everyday. To top it off, all orders shipped from Vearthy HQ are sent in 100% compostable shipping bags and the sheets are packaged in a reusable bamboo lyocell bag.
For anyone who caffeinates
Coffee from Birch Bark Coffee
We all know someone who can't even speak before they've had their morning coffee so why not get them something they're definitely going to use and support a great cause at the same time.
Birch Bark Coffee Company is an innovative social enterprise that offers fresh roasted, Cerified Organic, Fair-Trade and SPP (Small Producers) Certified coffee, with set proceeds going to provide clean drinking water to homes in First Nations communities.
They have 6 amazing flavours to choose from so it doesn't matter if you like a light or dark roast, they have you covered!
https://birchbarkcoffeecompany.com
For someone who does yoga
Cork yoga mat by Corq
Corq makes anti slip, easy to clean, eco friendly yoga mats that give the perfect balance of traction to cushion. Where man yogay mats find themselves quite thin and made of plastic, this company makes a comfortable and carbon neutral product.
Harvesting cork is a renewable process and can be done sustainibly every 9 - 15 years. This practice has resulted in thousands of acres of protected forests in Portugal and this increases anually by about 4%.
Cork resists the growth of any bacteria or mites, so it never smells - which is great for someone you'll probably sweat on.
For someone who likes custom goods
Handmade wood goods by Autumn Woods
Autumn Woods makes uniqly personal, handmade wood products. Beautifully crafted and with a wide veriety of things to choose fromt, there's a good chance you'll be able to find something that stands out. Our personal favourite is thewooden notebook.
They've partnered with Trees for the Future and have a goal to plant half a million trees by 2025 and so far, they're at over 110,000.
To sum it up:
It's companies like the ones listed above that we should all consider supporting this consumer holiday season; companies that are trying to keep their impacts low while offering practical and useful items.
We need to take into consideration the grander impacts our purchases have, especially during busy buying times. We all need things, but those things don't have to come at a large enviromental price. There's so many amazing alternative options for the things we use, it's just a matter of spreading the word and letting people know.
Whatever you end up getting your loved ones this holiday season, be sure to be on the lookout for companies who use good environmental practices and support them if you can - our climate is important. Note companies who use things like re-usable, recyclable, compostable packaging, organic ingredients, green alternatives, low water consumption practices, who give back where they can... or who just seem to care about the natural world we all live in.
Happy Shopping
