Gifting is a fine art, but not something you need to break the bank or hurt the planet for. According to a 2019 Finder’s survey, 60.8% of Americans don’t like the gift they receive, with 4% ending up in a landfill and 15.2 billion dollars wasted on unwanted gifts. We’ve scoured the internet to find some of the best eco-friendly gift ideas and sustainably sourced items out there so you can give a wanted gift with a clear conscience.
Table of Contents
For the Homebody
Glassware and Dinnerware
A set of unique vintage glasses for their bar cart or a local, hand-made ceramic mug for morning coffee make thoughtful and interesting eco-friendly gifts. If you have access to a local thrift store, these items can be good to source second-hand and in person, if not there’s plenty of online sellers to choose from.
Best Places to Buy Online
Framed Photos or Drawings
Photo frames often come in sustainable materials like wood or bamboo and are another great item to thrift and gift – bonus points if you print a memorable photo or create some art to go in it.
Candles
Naturally scented and environmentally friendly candles made from soy and beeswax can make a great eco-friendly gift for almost anyone’s home. Candles that have been poured into glass jars can also be recycled or reused afterwards. Bonus points if you make it yourself but plenty of companies have already perfected the art of eco-friendly candle-making.
Best Candles to Buy Online
For the Nature Enthusiast
Plants or Plant Cuttings
Give the gift of (plant) life! An easy to care for plant or some propagated cuttings from one of your plants can be a great eco-friendly gift for a friend with a green thumb. Many cities have plant swaps online where you can pick up all sorts of species, everything from small cuttings to full mature plants. Pay extra attention and avoid plants that might be toxic to pets and animals.
Best Places to Buy Online
Wildflower, Vegetable or Herb Seeds
If you don’t want to commit to a full plant, some seed packets can help inspire a friend to start a window sill herb or wild flower garden. If they have more outside space, some easy to grow vegetable seeds like radish, tomato or carrots can be the eco-friendly gift that keeps on giving.
Pass to a Local Conservation Area or National Park
Most areas have a designated conservation area for local flora and fauna to thrive and for the public to enjoy. A day or annual pass to your local conservation area or national park can be a great eco-friendly gift to share some of your area’s most beautiful scenery.
Best Places to Buy Online
Botanical Art
A beautifully painted botanical art piece can make a plant room pop! Check out thrift stores in your area and search your local art galleries or artists online to find some greenery of the paper variety.
Best Places to Buy Online
For the Travel Fiend
Weekend Bag
If your friend is always on the go, an eco-friendly weekend travel bag is perfect to help them transport their things in style. If you’re planning on gifting a bag for international travel, keep in mind carry-on size limitations so they can bring their new back with them everywhere!
Best Places to Buy Online
Travel Kits
Travel kits can range from minis of your favourite toiletries to cutlery sets on the go. Do they love coffee and hiking? Maybe they’d also love a travel coffee kit or a reusable travel flask. Whatever they’re into, chances are you can find or make a handy little travel version to go along with one of their favourite hobbies for the perfect eco-friendly gift.
Best Places to Buy Online
Reusable Water Bottle
Help them stay hydrated on their travels with an eco-friendly reusable water bottle. Gen Z have made Hydro Flask a household name in the water bottle space but there’s plenty of options out there to choose from. Be extra thoughtful and opt for an insulated water bottle to keep their water cool in summer and warm in winter.
For the Animal Lover
An Experience with Animals, like Goat or Llama Yoga
Animal experience gifts generally go over well with an animal lover. Many petting farms have started offering more ways to meet and spend time with their animals, like goat yoga or even movies with the animals. Check out your local farms and see what kind of experiences they have on offer for a unique eco-friendly gift.
Adopt an Animal (Symbolically)
Supporting a conservation-focused organization through animal adoption is a thoughtful gift that can also make a real impact by protecting wildlife for future generations. If they have a favourite place or animal, helping conservation efforts can be the ideal eco-friendly gift for an animal lover.
Best Places to Buy Online
Eco-Friendly Dog or Cat Toys
A dog or cat owner will always welcome a gift for their furry friend! Whether you’re looking for a new ball or a catnip toy, there are plenty of companies offering eco-friendly toys for pets in 2022. Keep in mind the size and the age of their furry friend when picking out your gift and remember that pets love squeekers, but their humans might not!
Best Places to Buy Online
For the Reader
Antiques and Classics
Adding an old antique classic to a book collection can make a wonderful eco-friendly gift for an avid reader. Whether it’s one of their favourites or a favourite or yours you want to share, you can’t go wrong with a good book. If you don’t have time to spend searching through local thrift and bookstores, the internet also has a plethora of options at your fingertips.
Best Places to Buy Online
Travel Books
If you happen to be getting a gift for a reader and a travel enthusiast, books on slow travel and how to travel sustainably might be the way to go. Don’t forget about e-books and kindle versions to lighten the load if they also like to read on the go.
Best Travel Books to Buy Online
Cook Books
Cook books can be a good option, even for those that aren’t huge readers – everyone needs to eat! There’s a few zero-waste and eco-friendly cook books out there that can help inspire new recipes through a sustainable lense. If you’re also gifting fruit or vegetable seeds like earlier in the gift guide, a recipe book on how to cook your home grown produce could be a thoughtful accompaniment.
Best Cook Books to Buy Online
For the Fashionable
Clothes that Plant Trees
Clothing production isn’t generally eco-friendly but some brands have started producing items from more sustainable materials and they plant trees for every product sold to help offset their footprint. You get two gifts in one, a new clothing piece and more trees in the world!
Best Places to Buy Online
Watches
Watches are a timeless (pun intended!) and a thoughtful gift, made even more thoughtful if they’re also environmentally friendly. Watchmakers have been making innovative eco-friendly designs for the past few years with sustainable options in materials and mechanics now on offer.
Sunglasses
Protect eyes from the sun and help save the planet at the same time with a pair of stylish, eco-friendly sunglasses. Some brands offer sunglasses from more sustainable materials like bamboo, wood and recycled materials helping to reduce the impact of staying sun safe on the planet.
Fun Socks
Whether you’re gifting for a new acquaintance or a life-long friend, everyone loves a cool pair of socks. Help them keep their feet warm and their outfit pop all while caring for the environment with a pair of fun, eco-friendly socks.
Best Places to Buy Online
For the Playful
Puzzles
Get back to basics with a traditional and sustainable jigsaw for hours of eco-friendly entertainment. Encourage a few hours of relaxing no screen time with a jigsaw or wooden puzzle, that also cares for the planet.
Best Puzzles to Buy Online
Video Games
Not the first option you might think of when it comes to an eco-friendly gift, but some video game makers out there have focused on environmental awareness themes designed to educate while entertaining.
Best Video Games to Buy Online
Brain Teasers
Brain teasers can be a great eco-friendly gift for the puzzler in your life and can be another ideal opportunity for some no screen time entertainment. Gift the gift of problem solving while caring for the planet with an eco-friendly brainteaser.
Best Brain Teasers to Buy Online
For the Wrapping!
Recyclable Wrapping Paper
Not all wrapping paper is created equal and many gloss coated paper can’t be recycled at all. When shopping for an eco-friendly wrapping paper, try to stick to recycled and recyclable paper options.
Best Places to Buy Online
Wrapping Scarf
Using a Japanese style Furoshiki wrap can be a beautiful way to sustainably wrap your gift. You might not even have to buy this one if you already have a nice scarf that you don’t mind parting with.
Best Places to Buy Online
Beeswax Paper
Not to be confined to just food wrapping, beeswax paper can be used as an eco-friendly and reusable wrapping paper. Try to keep your beeswax wrapped presents in a cool environment to stop the wax melting on your gift!
Sustayn is designed to present the most useful recommendations for environmentally friendly approaches and items. We update links when possible, but note that links can be broken and pricing, where noted, can be subject to change.
