25 Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas

As I get older, the gifts I buy people become more and more practical, haha. I am becoming more conscious about the waste and clutter in my own life, and therefore don’t want to be buying people things that they don’t want or need and will eventually just end up in a landfill. This year, nearly all of the Christmas gifts I’ve purchased for friends and family are pretty practical items that I know they’ll get a lot of use out of!

In this post, I’ve rounded up a whole bunch of eco-friendly gifts (a lot of which are also very practical and useful if you’re of the same mindset as me!) if you’re stuck on what to get someone this holiday season. Most of these items are available on Amazon Prime too, so you can order now and get them in time for Christmas! Make sure to always recycle (and encourage others to!) product packaging wherever you can to minimize environmental impact as much as possible. Small efforts can make a difference!

Here are 25 eco-friendly gift ideas:

Dr. Bronner’s Organic Lip Balm // This four pack can be split up into several gifts (I won’t tell if you keep one for yourself!).

Reusable Straws // Whether you prefer silicone or stainless steel, a set of reusable straws will help cut down on the waste caused by single use plastic.

Organic Chocolate // Because who doesn’t love chocolate?

Wool Dryer Balls // I started using these instead of dryer sheets and fabric softener a couple years ago. I put a few drops of lavender on them every couple loads and they make my clothes smell nice without all of the nasty chemicals!

Beautycounter One-Step Makeup Remover Wipes // If you know someone who insists on using makeup wipes, then these ones are the way to go! They are biodegradable (just throw them in the compost) and the majority of Beautycounter’s packaging is recyclable.

Beeswax Wrap // I first bought this stuff at a local farmer’s market and fell in love with it. It’s a sustainable, natural alternative to plastic wrap and is washable, reusable and compostable!

DIY Sugar Scrub // These are so easy (and inexpensive) to make yourself!

Reusable Bamboo Cotton Rounds // A great gift for a makeup-wearer! I use these washable, reusable rounds to remove my makeup every night and they save me a ton of money on cotton rounds as well as help to reduce my waste.

Ethical Jewelry // AUrate not only has stunning fine jewelry, but their ethics are amazing as well. They use 100% recycled gold, their pearls are sustainably made by family-run farms, and they make sure the mines that their diamonds come from have decent working conditions, offer fair pay, respect local indigenous communities and protect the environment. SO amazing.

Kjaer Weis Makeup // A lot of the Kjaer Weis products are refillable (so cool!) and I’ve heard numerous rave reviews about the brand.

Stanley Vacuum Insulated Growler // A regular glass growler is also a great gift for the craft beer lover in your life, but this one is even better in that it’ll keep beer cold for up to 24 hours and Stanley products have been known to last for years!

Dr. Bronner’s Organic Hand Sanitizer // I carry this lavender scent in my purse and use it often.

Organic Bamboo Utensil Set // Bamboo is a renewable resource that is a great alternative to traditional plastic utensils. This set is super affordable, too.

Pela Biodegradable Phone Case // These phone cases are 100% compostable and are delivered in plastic-free packaging.

BAGGU Reusable Shopping Bag // These are super lightweight and easy to stash in your bag, but are super durable and will hold up to 50 lbs of groceries. They also come in tons of different prints!

DIY Bath Salts // Another super easy DIY that looks really impressive and is a great way to reuse old jars!

Antonym Cosmetics Makeup // Antonym is one of my most favorite clean beauty brands. Their products are beautiful and all of their packaging is made from bamboo! You can read my review on their products here.

Natura Soy Candles // There are SO many nasty chemicals in regular candles and as soon as I learned this, I stopped burning them… until I discovered Natura Soy! Their candles are made from 100% soy wax (cleaner and longer burning) with pure cotton or paper cored wicks and they are only scented with pure essential oils and isolates. You can also get $7 off your first purchase if you shop through my link!

Patagonia Worn Wear // Shop Patagonia’s Worn Wear section for great prices on used Patagonia clothing and gear that’s still in great condition.

Reusable Silicone Food Bags // Single use sandwich baggies be gone! The initial investment is a little pricey but if you think about how much you’ll save over time by not buying sandwich bags (as well as how much less waste you’ll be producing), it’s absolutely worth it.

Corkcicle Triple-Insulated Tumbler // Cut down on waste by gifting a Starbucks addict a reusable travel mug!

Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap // This is a certified organic and vegan soap that has no synthetic detergents or preservatives in it. I LOVE this stuff. I dilute it with water and use it as hand soap and also wash my makeup brushes with it!

Audible Membership // Book lovers will appreciate this one! Audible has tons of books to choose from and it’s great to listen to while driving, working, cleaning.. everywhere! The best part is that it helps avoid the physical clutter that books bring (though some people do love that, too). Using my link gets you two free audio books!

Succulents // I think these are a really cool gift for plant lovers, especially if you use a clipping from your own plants!

Quality Time // It can’t be beat. Go to a movie, get lunch together, do a paint night, go for a hike. The options are endless and quality time with people you love is always a great gift.

I’d love to hear your ideas for eco-friendly gifts, so please leave them in the comments!