Happy Almost Holidays! Without a doubt, 2020 has been the WEIRDEST year ever. Time is very nebulous. How are the holidays already here? And, at the same time, how are they not here YET?
If you’re starting on your Christmas shopping but want to find ways to keep it more sustainable and less wasteful this year, I’ve got you covered. I’ve pulled together an eco-friendly holiday gift guide so you can delight others while being kind to the earth. These are all gifts that I would be excited to receive myself or that I would/have/plan to give to others!
I’ve even got discount codes for y’all on some of these items!
1. Pela AirPods case.
Y’all know I love my compostable Pela phone case. This is a fun gift idea for that tech-y or on-the-go someone who has to take their AirPods with them everywhere (aka me). These cases allow you to attach your AirPods to a keychain for greater portability in addition to keeping your AirPods protected. And, they’re compostable, so very eco-friendly! There are two models, one for regular AirPods and one for AirPods Pro.
2. Cozy, sustainable sweatshirt.
Cold temperatures + a pandemic = lots of time spent cozied up at home! I know I personally would be thrilled to receive cute new loungewear for Christmas this year. My top pick is the recycled polyester Panama Hoodie from Thread & Supply. It looks so soft! You also can’t go wrong with anything from PACT, which offers organic cotton basics at affordable prices (use code fairly20 at checkout for 20% off your first Pact order). Both of these brands offer men’s and women’s styles.
3. Reusable silicone bags.
While I love eco-friendly alternatives, they are sometimes pricier than what I’m used to spending on myself. I love it when someone buys them for me! Reusable silicone bags are a sustainable alternative to plastic Ziploc bags. While they require more upfront investment than plastic bags, they save money in the long run and definitely save on waste. This is a practical purchase that will be much appreciated! You can find reusable silicone bags from quite a few vendors, but I really like these and these from Boon Supply – super cute. They also have a reusable bag drying stand, which looks incredibly useful; may have to grab one of these for myself!
4. Phlur fragrance.
Next up in the eco-friendly gift guide is another item on my own personal wish list. I have heard wonderful things about this brand! Phlur’s fragrances are clean, sustainably sourced, vegan, and hypoallergenic. This would be a great gift for someone you’re wanting to spoil and/or surprise! I’ve got my eye on the Moab scent for myself. (Use this link for $5 off your first purchase from Phlur.)
5. Pandemic supplies.
For stocking stuffers, embrace a pandemic theme! These times call for sanitizer, masks, protective gloves, and the ever-coveted toilet paper! This type of gift may just elicit a chuckle from your gift recipient. My top picks in this category are:
Pura Vida masks.
These reusable masks feature two layers of fabric and an opening for a disposable filter for ultimate safety. Pura Vida is committed to sustainability and utilizes biodegradable packaging.
Eco Gloves.
These compostable gloves are both practical and eco-friendly. The individual packets are especially handy for on-the-go situations, and work well as small little stocking stuffers. (Use code FAIRLYSOUTHERN at checkout for 10% off your purchase of Eco Gloves. You can read my full review of Eco Gloves here.)
No. 2 Toilet Paper from The Flourish Market.
These TP rolls are made from 100% bamboo (a very renewable resource!) and are wrapped in 100% recycled paper printed with soy ink. I love the fun prints. I may or may not have already purchase some of these as gifts for people. If you had told me a year ago that toilet paper would be the fun gift of the year in 2020, I would have thought you were a mad person, yet here we are. (Use this link for 15% off your first purchase from The Flourish Market.)
100% Pure Hand Sanitizer Spray.
I’m not gonna lie, I would be thrilled to get some hand sanitizer in my stocking this year, especially with how much I’m going through it! 100% Pure’s sanitizer has enough alcohol in it to meet the CDC’s guidelines for effectiveness, yet also contains non-toxic ingredients like tea tree oil and organic aloe vera.
6. Reusable water bottle.
Staying hydrated is more fun when you have a cute water bottle that helps you kick plastic bottles to the curb. I’ve got this LARQ water bottle on my own holiday wish list this year. LARQ bottles self clean and purify water using UV LED lights. This saves water, because you don’t have to dump and start over when your water starts to taste/smell funky from bacteria growth after a few hours. You also don’t need to wash it as often! And, LARQ is a member of 1% for the Planet, which means they give back to clean water initiatives.
7. Non-toxic body cream.
With winter creeping in, my hands, feet, and basically everything is dry, dry, dry. I love when someone gets me fancy body care products that I can use to pamper myself. I would be so excited to receive the Karite Creme Corps Hydrating Body Cream (made with sustainably sourced, organic ingredients) or the Erbaviva Relax Body Lotion (infused with organic essential oils).
8. Organic cotton socks.
According to Wes, his favorite gift to receive at Christmas is socks. I’m not sure what that says about him and won’t speculate, ha! But in case we have any other holiday sock lovers, I’m including this in the gift guide. Wes’s favorite socks are the black Shorty Socks from PACT. If you’re wanting to gift something a bit more fun and colorful, try the Holiday Socks or Premium Crew Socks in Parrot Party. (Use code fairly20 at checkout for 20% off your first order from Pact.)
9. An all natural candle.
I love candles in the fall and winter–they set such a cozy vibe at home! And since we’re spending lots of time at home these days, we need all the cozy we can get. I love the catchy names and scents of Anecdote Candles. They have 2020 and 2021 scents that are super on point and sure to bring a chuckle to your gift recipient! I’m also majorly crushing on Coffee Table Book, Quarter-Life Crisis, and Spiked & Spiced. And of course, these candles are made out of earth-friendly materials like coconut-soy wax and cotton wicks.
10. Plant trees in someone’s honor.
Rather than purchasing more stuff that someone doesn’t need (creating useless production waste), why not make a donation to an environmental organization in their honor? There are so many nonprofits to choose from! I really like the idea of planting trees in someone’s honor and having a notification or certificate sent to them. There are multiple organizations that do this, including the National Forest Foundation and Friends of Trees.
11. Experiences.
Last up in my eco-friendly gift guide is experiences! The sky is the limit here. You can do something informal on your own (i.e. present them with a gift certificate for an activity you have planned yourself), or purchase an experience from a service like Viator. You can gift someone anything from an adventurous scavenger hunt to a romantic carriage ride!
Alright y’all, that’s a wrap for this eco-friendly gift guide! Are you planning to gift any of the above items this year, or some other eco-friendly present? I’d love to hear about it; drop me a comment below!
xoxo Laura
P.S. – This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you purchase a product using a link from this post. Read more here about my disclaimers/disclosures.
I added many of these to my Christmas list. Thanks Laura!! I also have these slippers on my list: https://www.madetrade.com/products/kyrgies-w-low-back-port-molded-all-natural
Yay, so glad it was helpful! Slippers are another great idea!
I have a iPhone case from Pela and love it! I”m also thinking about getting extra bands for my apple watch from them too!
I don’t have an Apple watch but would definitely get a Pela band for it if I had one! Their stuff is the best!