These 35 Sustainable Gift Ideas Will Actually Impress the Picky People in Your Life!
Welcome to my annual guide to the best sustainable gift ideas, now in its fifth iteration for 2025!
Consider this your cheat-sheet of the best sustainable gift ideas for very picky people. I mean both picky gifters (I see you) and picky people doing the unwrapping.
If you want to give gifts that are high-quality, useful, beautiful (maybe even luxurious) and support ethical companies, then you’re in the right place.
And if this post looks familiar to you – welcome back! I’ve updated this list of my favorite unique, eco-friendly gift ideas with new products and discounts every year since 2021.
That being said, MOST of the brands remain the same year-to-year, and this is very much on purpose!
Because for the most part, the brands that are actually worth spending money on don’t change every year, so my recommendations don’t either.
Gift With Your Values
I don’t want to waste your time – so let’s quickly figure out if this sustainable gift guide aligns with your values and is what you need.
Are you nodding your head YES to any of these?
- You don’t want to read another boring, poorly-researched gift listicle. (This guide is CURATED. I’ve personally seen, used, eaten or touched almost every item.)
- You want to avoid giving people things they don’t want or need, or low-quality stuff that will end up in the back of a closet or the bottom of a donation bin.
- You despise the over-consumption-promoting media frenzy telling us what to buy, the obligation to give gifts, and the ensuing waste of money and resources. (Pssst – see my strategy for truly sustainable Black Friday deals and how I approach the shopping season for more on this topic.)
- You’re looking for gifts for eco-conscious friends and you have NO IDEA what they would appreciate, “approve of,” or actually use.
If any of those ring true, then read on!
Who Wrote This Gift Guide?
Just a quick hello – I’m Ketti, a real human being, not a bot! I have a master’s degree in sustainability, and started Tilted Map in 2019. It’s now an award-winning blog about sustainable travel and sustainability.
The way I see it, we might as well put our gift budget to work supporting small, sustainable companies that are using business to change the world.
And I hate seeing people get scammed by fake reviews and gift guides written by people who’ve never touched the products they recommend.
So after reviewing lots of sustainable products over the years, I’ve compiled what I consider the most wrapping-paper-worthy ones (or furoshiki-worthy ones), into this list of sustainable gift ideas for your inspiration.
Most of the companies on this list have meaningful sustainability certifications and practices, and ship in minimal, plastic-free packaging.
Sustainable Gifts Ideas Guide
Black Friday Deals & Other Discounts:
I have a separate post about my favorite Black Friday deals from sustainable brands, so be sure to check that out! It also includes the rules I use to stop Black Friday from turning into a guilt-inducing overconsumption marathon.
But lots of these brands are having sales this time of year! So I’d recommend clicking through the links if you’re interested in an item, because there might be a sale going on that I didn’t highlight.
(Note: This also helps support Tilted Map, at no extra cost to you. So if you’re going to shop anyway, please use our links and discount codes – it makes a big difference! If you’re curious, here’s more on how that works.)
Tip: Minimizing Shipments
To minimize shipments and the energy and packaging they require, many of these gifts are available from EarthHero, which is one of the most sustainable online retailers. They also ship with plastic-free packaging – recycled paper padding, paper tape, and no plastic-y marketing inserts!
Earth Hero
For any kind of sustainable products – toiletries, yoga pants, tech, you name it – this Colorado-based start-up is my favorite shop. They have the best selection, and the best sustainability credentials compared with other online stores for sustainable products.
Sustainable Travel Gifts
These are my favorite, thoroughly tested, travel gift ideas that your eco-conscious friends will appreciate. (And many are useful both at home and on the road!)
1. A Water Bottle that Purifies Tap Water
This bottle from LARQ has been one of my top sustainable gift ideas for several years because it’s easily one of the best ways I’ve found to avoid single-use plastics.
How does it work? A UV-C light inside the bottle cap kills bacteria and viruses in dubious tap water, and keeps the bottle from getting smelly.
I’ve now been using mine for more than two years and loving it. It’s beautiful, extremely high-quality and durable, practical and easy to use, and it works.
>> DETAILS: Here’s how I used this UV bottle along with a filter travel water bottle in a destination with very unsafe tap water.
This is the perfect sustainable gift idea for a traveler who visits developing nations, someone who appreciates eco-friendly luxury items, or anyone who just needs a bit of a push to trust tap water and go plastic-free.
The LARQ even improves the taste of some tap water, too. And the small bottle also fits in the water bottle pockets of my Tortuga backpack – the next traveler gift idea on this list.
Alternative Gift Idea:
Looking for a more outdoorsy option? The Grayl bottle filters out viruses and bacteria, and also protozoa, particulates (like sediment and microplastics), chemicals, pesticides, and heavy metals. Meaning you can use it to drink fresh water from rivers and streams.
If you’ll be drinking from a tap in a developed country, the LARQ is perfect. But I used both the LARQ and Grayl together while traveling in El Salvador.
2. The Best Travel Backpack
Carrying your luggage on your back instead of on wheels is no small decision. But if you know someone who’s interested in this kind of light and efficient travel, then a great travel backpack – with the organization of a suitcase and the comfort of a backpacking backpack – will be worth its weight in gold for them.
That’s just what the Tortuga backpacks are designed to be. I tested their maximum carry-on size backpack on a trip to El Salvador, and it passed with flying colors.
>> DETAILS: Here’s my full Tortuga travel backpack review and comparison with other brands. (In short, Tortuga blew the competition away in terms of comfort, organization, and security features. So basically everything.) And here’s my comparison of Tortuga’s Lite vs Pro versions of the pack.
>> Click here for Tortuga’s BLACK FRIDAY DEALS
More Affordable Option:
I’ve also worn Tortuga’s travel sling for years now! It’s a modern take on a fanny pack crossed with a small day bag. And it’s a keeper! Excellent organization for a tiny size.
And I like it a lot more than I expected to because it’s surprisingly multipurpose. (I can even fit my new Sony full-frame camera, with a small but powerful kit lens, in it. So I use the sling in place of a day pack on many travel days!)
3. A Rail Pass for Travel in Europe
EU Rail Passes are the perfect gift for anyone planning a trip to multiple European cities.
Rail Passes are extremely flexible, and let you help someone pay for a trip – or maybe give them the nudge they need to actually go.
Want to take them a step further? You can give a Byway trip, which means an entire flight-free, multi-country European vacation, with hotels and trains booked, and a concierge to take care of any trouble along the way.
>> RELATED: I took a Byway trip from London to Prague with a Rail Pass and loved it! I’ll be writing up the story soon, so keep in touch by getting on my email list if you want to hear about it! In the meantime, here are my guides to buying train tickets in Europe, and to traveling Italy by train.
Subscribe to Tilted Map's email newsletter for the next travel & sustainability stories in your inbox. (To get started, you'll also get my checklist of 10 essential plastic-free travel toiletries in the first email!)
4. Cheaper Flights
Of course, as a sustainable travel blogger, I do wish you could give someone the rail pass above, and have that cover all their travel. But if they live on a different continent, that’s not likely to happen.
An annual membership to Going or Thrifty Traveler will help someone you love find deeply discounted flights.
There’s a well-known free version of these email alerts, but the Premium and Elite memberships are where the real savings happen. They let you customize the origin and destination airports you want to get deals from, and even the class of trip.
>> DETAILS: For more on these flight alert services, see my article How to Travel with Points & Miles without Ruining Your Life and jump down to #5.
Black Friday Deal: Going’s Elite memberships – which are currently $25 off for Black Friday – are the most customizable and send the deepest discounts, including “mistake fares” from the airports of their choice.
5. The Best Travel Clothing
These clothes are one of my favorite eco-friendly gifts for any traveler.
Since I travel at least 50% of the time, most of the clothing I buy has to be travel-friendly – multi-purpose, wrinkle resistant, compact, and layerable. Unbound Merino has become a staple of my travel wardrobe because it checks all of those boxes and then some.
Their clothes look great anywhere (in the city or on the trail), stay smelling fresh for a ridiculous number of wears (meaning less water used for washing), and are really hard to wrinkle.
Black Friday Deal: You can always save 10% with the discount code TILTEDMAP, but otherwise, Unbound Merino’s only sale of the year will be Sunday November, 23 – Tuesday December 2, 2025, with discounts up to 40% off.
>> Click here for EXTRA DISCOUNT codes before you order.
>> DETAILS: See my review of Unbound Merino for more. It includes a video, sizing information, my favorite styles for men and women, and what I’ve learned wearing their clothes for years.
6. Language Lessons They’ll Actually Use
Lingopie is a fun way to learn a bit of the local language before your next trip abroad!
The program turns foreign TV shows and movies into engaging language lessons! And it’s perfectly set up for gifting, too.
You can sign up for 14 different languages – including Italian, Japanese and Spanish. (I used it to improve my Portuguese before a trip to Brazil, and it’s really fun and easy to use.)
Black Friday Deal: Save 58% off Lingopie’s yearly plans this Black Friday weekend! (Friday – Sunday, with a lower discount available on Monday.)
Sustainable Tech Gifts
These are the best sustainable gift ideas for anyone who appreciates both high tech gadgets and environmental responsibility.
(For another green tech gadget, don’t forget #1 on this list – the LARQ bottle.)
7. Countertop Composter
For a friend who would compost, but lacks the space, the Lomi countertop composter is a great sustainable gift idea.
While it does use electricity, preventing food from decomposing in the landfill (which emits huge amounts of methane) makes the Lomi a net benefit for the climate for most people.
>> DETAILS: I’ve used every version of the Lomi and tested them for years. In my Lomi review, you’ll find everything you need to know.
>> BLACK FRIDAY DEAL: Right now is Lomi’s biggest discount of the year, where you can save up to $350. Details and sale dates are here.
8. A Portable Solar Panel
My husband and I have been using our 100-watt Jackery solar panel in our van for four years now. We use it to charge our battery, which means we can recharge our computers, too. (This is a big deal when you travel in a van for more than a day!)
But you don’t need a van to make good use of a solar panel.
These are great as home back-ups in case of power outages, or on camping trips. You can even use them at home, as a source of zero-emission electricity, instead of plugging into the grid.
You can also use the solar panel without the battery, and charge your devices directly from the sun, by plugging them straight into one of the USB ports on the back of the panel.
>> BLACK FRIDAY DEALS: Jackery has some HUGE discounts for holiday shopping. All their seasonal deals are listed here.
9. Phone Cases Made from Plants
Pela cases come in tons of fun, beautiful designs and are made of flax seed instead of petroleum.
That means they’re compostable when it comes time for a change. (But they still last years! My first one survived three years.)
These cases fit perfectly, never slip off, and the buttons are easy to push. Plus the lovely, soft texture offers good grip without feeling sticky.
Pela also makes smart watch bands, iPad cases, and Airpod cases from the same plant-based material. (My husband and I both use the Airpod cases, and they’ve been going strong for at least three years now.)
And Pela has a nice collection of sustainability certifications – B Corp, carbon-neutral, and 1% For The Planet.
You can order Pela from EarthHero to save 10% with the code TILTEDMAP10 . Or, for more selection, order directly from Pela.
Sustainable Gifts for Him
To be clear: Any of these gift ideas can be for any gender, obviously. “Sustainable gifts for men” is just a useful shorthand, since I usually find guys to be the hardest to shop for.
10. “Manly” Shampoo Bars
My favorite shampoo bar brand (of the many I’ve tested) makes an excellent range of bars with more masculine scents.
They’re a great way to get any guys who can’t be bothered with personal care decisions to cut the plastic (while still using great products!)
>> BLACK FRIDAY DEAL: 30% off, plus lots of free gifts from Viori with THIS LINK and the code GIVING . The rest of the time: save 10% on Viori order using the code TILTEDMAP .
>> DETAILS: Viori’s many eco-friendly gift sets (great for breaking up into multiple presents) are below at #28 on this gift guide. All the details about the bars and the small company behind them are in my Viori review.
+ The Index of Eco-Friendly Gifts for Men
There are lots of great sustainable gifts for men throughout this guide, including:
- all of the items above, #1 – 10, and
- #11 ’cause everyone appreciates a good night’s sleep,
- #13 because cashmere,
- definitely #22, the razor he’ll never need to replace,
- #24 – 27, because everyone loves good eats,
- #30 for a practical gift that’s also a practical joke,
- #31 if he’s a dog-lover,
- #33 if he’s a reader,
- and #34 if you still need to browse some more.
If you’re looking for the “sustainable gifts for women” section, it’s pretty much everything on this list. (You can blame my bias as the Tilted Map gift curator. 🙋🏼♀️)
Luxury Eco-Friendly Gifts
11. The Best Quality Bedding
Avocado Green Mattress makes sustainable, vegan latex mattresses and super soft organic sheets – the kind of present that will be used every single day for years, if not decades. How many gifts can you say that about?
We’ve had their 600-thread-count organic cotton sheets on our bed for two years now, and they’re fantastic.
They continue to get softer with use. (We noticed some pilling after a few months, but it’s gone away with additional washes, which, as I learned from Unbound Merino, is a normal process for natural fibers.)
This is a great item to splurge on for luxury and quality, because I’ve looked for companies that match Avocado’s sustainability certifications for good sheets, but haven’t found any that measure up.
They’re a B Corp, carbon negative, a member of 1% For The Planet, and use GOTS certified organic cotton and linen.
>> BLACK FRIDAY DEAL: 20% – 50% off at Avocado through Monday, December 8, 2025. Click here to see the sale items available in the US, or here for Canada.
12. Plastic-free Shampoo & Conditioner (NOT bars)
While I’m a die-hard shampoo bar evangelist, these are a great sustainable gift idea for people who don’t love bars.
The concentrated, waterless shampoo and conditioner from Everist are excellent, with a light citrusy scent and a luxurious rich feel.
>> DETAILS: Here’s my full review of Everist’s concentrated formulas, and who they’re best for.
>> Deal: You can save 10% on any Everist order with the discount code TILTEDMAP10 . (Even if it’s not your first order with them – so save the code to reuse!)
13. Cashmere Sweaters with Recycled Wool
To me, a good cashmere sweater feels like the ultimate luxury Christmas gift for anyone.
Everlane is a great place to look for high quality, sustainable clothes that last and are still affordable.
They have good collections of alpaca and cashmere sweaters (men’s and women’s), made from a blend of recycled and responsibly sourced fibers.
The alpaca collection is a bit more affordable than the cashmere side. (And alpacas are gentler on the land than other herd animals, like sheep. They cause less erosion and soil degradation.)
In addition to sweaters, Everlane carries: shoes made with recycled leather (in women’s and men’s sizes), outerwear for men and women made with recycled materials, and men’s and women’s jeans – which are a steal for organic cotton denim.
>> BLACK FRIDAY DEAL: Many items in the Everlane shop are up to 50% off.
>> DETAILS: Everlane is on my sustainable clothing brand guide, too, because they have some of the best sustainability practices of any brand with such a wide selection and affordable prices.
For starters, the brand doesn’t use any virgin plastic. They use mostly certified organic cotton (and are working toward 100%). And they have science-based climate targets.
14. Sustainable, Luxurious, Practical) Winter Bags & Boots
Poppy Barley is a certified B Corp whose slogan is “luxury for the people.” While I haven’t gotten my hands on any of their products yet, this small Canadian brand has been recommended to me by so many real-life friends that I’m confident in passing on the tip anyway.
Their shop is full of lifetime-quality belts, boots, shoes, and sweaters that are designed to weather a cold Canadian winter with style.
I’ve had these beautiful walking boots for years and love them. They’re well built, warm, and let me walk many miles around whatever city I’m visiting.
While leather is their main material, Poppy Barley does make a few vegan products, and are very transparent about the factories that make every item. (That may sound like a small thing, but it’s actually a huge factor I look for in sustainable and ethical clothing brands.)
Gift Ideas for Vegans
To be clear, most ideas on this gift list are vegan-friendly! (Unbound Merino and the cashmere and alpaca sweaters from Everlane are the main exceptions.)
The ideas in this section are products that are often not vegan, so these gifts might win you a bit of a surprise factor.
Also, keep in mind here that “gifts for vegans” and “sustainable gifts for vegans” are not necessarily the same thing. (Plenty of vegan products are still packaged in plastic, for example.)
15. Refillable Candles
Many candles aren’t vegan (if they’re made with beeswax or stearic acid, which can be derived from animal fat).
And most candles are unfortunately wasteful. (They come in those theoretically “reusable” jars, but how many of those do we actually reuse?)
That’s why Everly has invented brilliantly refillable candles that are non-toxic, low-waste, and vegan!
This Canadian mother-daughter company’s innovation lets you turn an empty candle jar, or nearly any other vessel, into your own new candle. I haven’t seen anything like this before, and I think it’s a fantastic sustainable gift idea!
I’ve made them (here’s a short video), and you don’t need to be very crafty to pull it off! Just microwave the compostable bag, and pour the mixture into your jar of choice.
Your new candle will be free of toxic phthalates, parabens, and paraffins (a petroleum by-product). The bags that the coconut-based wax mix comes in are 60% compostable. (The other 40% breaks down too slowly to compost, but it’s made of sugarcane – much better than petroleum.)
Everly Refillable Candles
Finally – refillable candles. Non-toxic, vegan, no petroleum based ingredients, really easy to make, and in compostable packaging. Plus they're made by a mother-daughter team in Canada.
What more could you want for a cozy, guilt-free gift (for yourself or someone else)?
16. Shoes and Bags Made from Recycled Bottles
All Rothy’s shoes and bags are made from recycled plastic bottles, which they spin into a durable, comfortable thread that’s machine washable.
(And they make men’s shoes, too!)
Their bags are extremely low-maintenance and well-made, and have a unique look if you want a vegan bag without the leather look.
These Rothy’s sneakers have been my go-to travel shoes for YEARS. They’re comfortable, extremely walkable, machine-washable, and in the leopard print, they add a little flavor to my mix-and-match travel wardrobe!
Sustainable Self Care & Beauty Gifts
18. Creative, Plastic-free Makeup Kits
Another vegan brand, Axiology is one of the best plastic-free makeup brands I’ve found. I’ve been using their Tinted Dew for years, and this year they make several kits for easy gifting and color experimentation!
What makes some of these so perfect for gifting is the colors are designed by skin tone – so you can easily choose a set without having to guess what colors will be right.
Eco-friendly gift sets from Axiology:
- The Full Face Set – everything in one gift set, with 4 skin tone options, so you only have to make one choice! (Set includes a multipurpose contour/ bronzer, blush/ lipstick, and eyeshadow/ highlight.)
- Balmie Super Fan Pack – fun for anyone who loves to play with makeup (it’s giving crayons or oil pastels) or as a sustainable gift for teenagers!
- Tinted Dew that flatters every skin tone – “Infinite” is the multipurpose shade that Axiology designed to look good on everyone. Perfect as an eco-friendly stocking stuffer.
>> BLACK FRIDAY DEAL: Use the code HOLIDAY25 for 25% off everything you order from Axiology. See my sustainable Black Friday strategy for the Black Friday freebies they’re offering!
20. The EASIEST Skincare Routine
Think of this brand as skincare for people who you can never make stick to a skincare routine. It’s the most minimal skincare brand I’ve found, and my aesthetician loves their high-quality minimal formulations. (They could actually see the difference in one side of my face versus the other when I tested their brightening serum on half my face.)
If you want to give someone a simple routine they can stick with, the simple Face Wash, Vitamin C Serum, and Moisturizer are about as easy as you can get – and refills come in aluminum!
If you’re looking for a simple self-care gift, I can’t recommend Rebrand highly enough.
>> BLACK FRIDAY DEAL: You can save 20% with the code 2025FAM . Sale dates here.
>> DETAILS: Here’s my full review of Rebrand Skincare, so you can read more about each product.
21. A Customizable, Refillable Skincare Routine
Activist Skincare is another of my favorite sustainable brands – right up there with Rebrand (above) but with a few more choices.
Their formulas are effective and well-rounded, but what’s really special is that all of their products come in glass packaging that’s designed to be refilled! (With lightweight refill packets that create 99% less carbon emissions than recycled glass packaging.)
You can let a loved one test the entire line with a two-week trial kit, which makes a great sustainable gift idea.
The kit, which is also refillable for travel, is an affordable way to find what works without committing to full-size products. (Especially when you want to give a thoughtful gift, but don’t know what skin type, sensitivities, or skin concerns your giftee has.)
Activist Skincare
Unique, clinical-quality skincare in glass bottles that are actually refillable – reducing CO2 emissions by 99% and plastic waste by 75%. Activist makes several formulas of each product for different skin types, so check out my review for details!
You can test the entire line on your skin with their trial kit, then use the refillable minis for travel, as I do.
>> DETAILS: Check out my full review of Activist Skincare for details.
22. Top Quality Shaving & Dermaplaning Tools
This is one of my favorite sustainable gift ideas. Leaf Shave Co. makes luxurious-feeling personal care tools that will last years. (Mine already have!)
Their products and packaging are 100% plastic-free, and the blades are 100% recyclable – and much less expensive than normal cartridge blades.
Leaf makes something for everyone: The original Leaf razor is for shaving large areas, like legs. For faces, the Twig and Thorn give you everything you need. And for plastic-free dermaplaning, Leaf now makes the only product on the market.
>> DETAILS: If you’re wondering about dermaplaning, I answered lots of questions in my Leaf dermaplaner review. I also compared their razors with several other brands in my Leaf razor comparison.
>> BLACK FRIDAY DEALS: Click here for Leaf’s current holiday discounts (~25% off).
23. A Luxurious, Low-waste Face Mask
If you want to give a pampering skincare gift that’s also travel-friendly and plastic-free, powdered face masks are a great option. (Just mix them with a little water to activate.)
Dew Mighty’s powdered cleanser is my favorite one – it doubles as a gentle exfoliating face mask, and has a permanent place in my plastic-free travel toiletry kit (which you can grab by clicking that link and signing up!)
The best part? The metal tube is refillable, and refills come in easily recyclable cardboard. It’s one of my favorite zero-waste cleansers.
Dew Mighty
This small brand makes the most sustainable skincare products I've ever found – with refillable metal containers and refills in paper. Plus with zero liquids, they're uniquely ideal for travel.
Their solid Vitamin C serum is the cornerstone of my daily routine, and their powdered face wash is also fantastic.
Sustainable Food Gifts
This is probably my favorite category, because food and drink always make the best gift! Even better when they’re from ethical, sustainable, organic producers.
24. Sustainable Grocery Delivery
Instead of giving a typical food gift (like a gift basket of items that might not actually be wanted) you could do someone’s grocery shopping for them and have it delivered by a sustainable online grocery store.
Misfits Market lets you order high-quality (and mostly organic) groceries – that would otherwise go to waste – at a discount.
Here’s how it works:
- You sign up for entirely customizable, weekly deliveries of everything you’d find in a normal grocery story. (Or a one-off delivery.)
- They send you funny shaped but perfectly good fruit, snacks with outdated packaging designs, and other superficial “flaws” that often lead food to be thrown away at the store instead of eaten.
This would be a great gift if you’re spending time at someone’s home – just ask them what groceries they’ll need (at least a week ahead of time), and the order will show up at their door. Easy for everyone.
You can continue shipments for as long as you want, or change the address for later orders and keep the service for yourself.
>> DETAILS: Check out my full Misfits Market review for details.
>> Black Friday Deal: Save $24 on groceries ($12 off your first two orders of $35+) using code TILTED12X2 . (Through January 6, 2026.)
25. An Organic Wine Club
Do you have a favorite winery? Why not give a membership, or a certificate for a wine tasting experience?
We’ve visited a few of the most sustainable wineries in Napa Valley, and Tres Sabores was our favorite – for the wines themselves, the experience of the place, and their sustainable farming practices.
(It’s a woman-owned vineyard and winery, and one of the smallest in Napa Valley. It also uses the most impressive range of sustainable farming practices, including being organic, biodynamic, and using carbon farming practices that reduce the climate footprint of their fantastic wines.)
We liked it so much we signed up for a year of their Wine Club membership. We also ordered some wines to be shipped home from other sustainable wineries we’d visited – and Tres Sabores is the only one that sends their shipments in entirely plastic-free padding and packaging.
If you don’t have a specific winery in mind, you could try Kind of Wild for organic, vegan-certified wines with zero sugar, from a winery that uses organic farming as a climate solution. (Inspiring!)
>> BLACK FRIDAY DEAL: Kind of Wild is offering 30% off and free shipping on 6 bottles.
26. Local Food & Dining Experiences
Comfort food and drinks are gifts that are unlikely to go to waste, and they’re often easy gifts to source locally. (Think: jam from the farmer’s market, a bottle of something from a local distillery, a bag of locally-roasted coffee, truffles from a chocolate shop, or a gift certificate to a local restaurant.)
I also love homemade food gifts – which reminds me that I need to publish my limoncello recipe! In the meantime, you could give the gift of cooking a fantastic dish of pasta for someone, or mixing them an Italian cocktail.
27. Organic Hot Chocolate & Plastic-Free Tea
EarthHero also carries a few good craft foodie gifts:
- an organic hot chocolate gift set,
- a holiday-themed, organic herbal tea gift set. (With tea bags made from corn starch, and thus microplastic-free. Yes, plastic tea bags are a common source of microplastics.)
Affordable Eco-Friendly Gifts
These are still high-quality items, but they’re the most affordable sustainable gift ideas on this list!
28. Beautiful Shampoo & Conditioner Bars
I’ve reviewed a lot of shampoo bars, but there’s one brand that specifically makes the best gift.
That shampoo bar brand is Viori, and their GORGEOUS plastic-free packaging is the most gift-worthy design I’ve seen.
Their formulas are made with rice water (sourced ethically from an indigenous tribe in Southern China, who we visited!). The rice is a traditional ingredient used to keep hair shiny, long and strong.
>> DETAILS: See my Viori shampoo bar review.
Sets for gifting:
- The Experience Bundle (10% off) – One of each shampoo and conditioner formulas (8 bars total) for $129.60. So if you try everything, each bar costs $16.20 instead of $18. Or it would be perfect to break up the bundle into four separate gifts. (And you can use my discount code – TILTEDMAP – for another 10% off.)
- The Tradition Bundle (10% off) – This also has all 8 bars, plus one of their bamboo bar holders. (An elegantly plastic-free alternative to a soap dish.) Gifts for three people, plus a set for yourself with the bar holder?
- Ritual Bundle (21% off) – For a single, bigger gift, the this bundle has a shampoo and conditioner set, plus a body wash bar, bamboo bar holder, bamboo comb, and dry shampoo to use between washes.
>> BLACK FRIDAY DEAL: 30% off, plus lots of free gifts from Viori with THIS LINK and the code GIVING . The rest of the time: save 10% on Viori order using the code TILTEDMAP .
29. Delicious Lip Balm (without the plastic tube)
There’s something people say in Italy when they give a small gift that I just love: “é un solo un pensiero.”
It’s just a thought.
I love that. Not every gift has to be flashy and expensive, and this is a great example.
Everyone uses lip balm, so this is an affordable gift that sneakily introduces someone to the world of plastic-free toiletries.
I’ve tried at least a dozen brands of lip balm in cardboard tubes, and this is my favorite. (I’ve been using mine nightly for years, and it’s nowhere near finished.)
It’s like a vegan, plastic-free heir to the Lip Smackers I used to love getting in my stockings as a kid. (A great sustainable gift for tweens or adults.)
I have the Orange Tangerine flavor, which is more grown-up than it sounds. The scent isn’t 100% fruity, because the formula contains a little rosemary extract.
These are available from EarthHero. (Remember, use the code TILTEDMAP10 for 10% off anytime.)
Sustainable Gifts for the Home (& Pets)
30. Sustainable Toilet Paper
For the home that has everything? For a sustainable gag gift? Or to apologize for overstaying your welcome at the in-laws? At least you know this eco-friendly toilet paper is a gift that will actually get used.
Reel uses bamboo (a much more sustainable alternative to cutting down trees for TP) to make the best toilet paper I’ve tried (and yes, I tested it for a review).
It’s soft and smooth, doesn’t fall apart, and uses zero dyes, perfumes or other irritants. From the first box, it’s become a staple in our house.
Plus, it’s totally plastic-free! Not like the plastic-wrapped kind from the grocery store.
Black Friday Deal: You can save 30% on your order from Reel using THIS LINK and the code HOLIDAY from Nov 22 – 27. The rest of the year: Use discount code TILTED for 20% off at Reel.
31. Climate-Friendly Dog Food
This is a shocking stat: If dogs and cats in the US had their own separate country, that country would be the 5th biggest meat consumer in the world.
That’s what makes Virginia-based Chippin unique. Their food and treats are made using 80% fewer resources (including land, water and carbon emissions) than normal dog food. Plus, the company is plastic-neutral and has carbon-neutral shipping through offsets.
I don’t have a dog to test Chippin on, but I think they’re a great gift idea for an eco-conscious friend with a dog!
The protein comes from crickets, spirulina and silver carp (an invasive species in North America, which they source from a fishery in Kentucky. And as the Washington Post explained, dogs don’t actually need to eat chicken and beef.)
32. The Best Pans in the WORLD
That’s a bold statement, but these pans are actually amazing. They’re the kind you only buy ONCE – true heirloom quality, and a gift your favorite home chef will use and appreciate for decades.
They’re non-stick but without the forever chemicals.
They’re un-scratchable (you can use metal utensils on their titanium pans).
And they’re low-maintenance (dishwasher friendly) and can go in the oven.
We have this titanium one, and we deliberated for a year before buying it, but we haven’t regretted it for a second.
Eco-Friendly Marketplaces for More Sustainable Gift Ideas
33. Books – that aren’t from Amazon!
Bookshop is my favorite Amazon alternative for new books. They’re unique because they share a portion of sales with local independent, bookstores, and are also a certified B Corp.
You can shop my gift recommendations on Bookshop here:
The lists below contain my favorite books on everything Tilted Map is about! You’ll find great travel writing, food culture, sustainability and sustainable travel books. (Or click here for all of the Tilted Map book lists.)
[Details: I reviewed most of the travel books in my post about traveling vicariously through nonfiction.]
You can also search Bookshop’s entire selection for a specific title or author in the search bar below:
Alternative Gift Idea:
For new and used books, Better World Books is my go-to.
In addition to reselling books, they donate them, recycle what can’t be used, and raise funds for libraries and literacy programs. Better World Books has warehouses in the US and UK, and free shipping everywhere. (And, like Bookshop, they’re also a certified B Corp.)
34. Sustainable gift shopping, for when you just want to browse.
These are two different marketplaces, that both have high sustainability standards, and two very different vibes: Uncommon Goods and Novica.
- Uncommon Goods leans a little more toward hip and upscale. (Think: Creative cocktail sets. Gorgeous (high-quality, not cheap) modern fine jewelry.) They’re also a certified B Corp.
- Novica feels much more artsy-craftsy, with items (many Fair Trade certified) made by artisans in developing countries. (You can even shop by region of origin.) They have a massive selection, and are partners with National Geographic and Intrepid Travel (one of my recommended sustainable travel companies).
35. Don’t Forget: Green Gift Wrapping Paper & Alternatives
Most wrapping paper is frustratingly not recyclable if it has any hint of plastic or metal. (Sparkles, glitter, sequins, foil, gloss, laminate, velvet, stick-on plastic tags, lots of plastic tape still attached, etc.)
I’ve read that wrapping paper has to pass the “crumple test” to be recyclable – if you crumple it up and it stays in a ball, it’s recyclable (as long as it doesn’t have any of those fancy decos). If it doesn’t hold the shape, it’s not.
Ribbons and bows also generally can’t be recycled. (Same goes for twine, string, and anything else long and stringy that will get caught in recycling machines.)
(All those criteria are probably why the city of Boston, where I live, says to put all gift wrap in the trash. Boston has a search tool to check what we can recycle in the city. If you live in a large-ish city, you probably have a similar website.)
That’s why I look for recycled and recyclable gift wrap.
This brand is made from recycled newsprint, and can be recycled again. Seal it with paper tape, otherwise plastic tape has to be removed before recycling.
They also make paper ribbon that’s recycled and should be also recyclable.
Furoshiki – traditional, reusable Japanese gift wrapping clothes – are another great option. You can find lots of handmade furoshiki here.
I hope this gave you some helpful sustainable gift ideas! If you have any questions, drop them below in the comments. Happy holidays and happy new year! 🙂
For more inspiration, check out my other sustainable product reviews!
- My Sustainable Black Friday Strategy (that doesn’t take the fun out of it)
- Leaf razor review (compared with three other safety razors)
- Lomi countertop composter review (lots of lessons after 6 months of use!)
- Thinx period underwear (and other brands that are more sustainable)
- My full less-waste toiletry routine (that’s also travel-friendly)
- The best toothpaste tablets (some great, some never-again)
Save these sustainable gift ideas for later on Pinterest!
