“Elite gift giver” is a title we all strive to achieve in life. But I’d argue that finding a unique eco-friendly gift is the final boss of thoughtful gifting — thoughtful because you clearly carefully considered what’d make them happy, and because you made a conscious effort to not fall into the wasteful overconsumption trap.
I mean, consumerism really puts a damper on holiday cheer, particularly as it applies to waste and ethics. Consider how much non-recyclable packaging will be used, how many old tech devices will be trashed to make room for new ones, or how many underpaid workers put in extra hours to get those Shein prices so sketchily low. Of course, there’s always the question of whether your giftee will even use that gift you bought in a hasty scramble, or if they’ll gift it to the trash can to keep the peace in their junk drawer.
Outside of voting, using your dollar to shop and gift sustainably is a tangible way to get involved at the individual level. I’ve gathered a list of the best unique sustainable gift ideas below, including several items that I personally use and tell loved ones about. This isn’t your average list of fancy reusable grocery bags and succulent gift boxes: There are affordable stocking stuffers that simply act as a less-wasteful version of something people already use regularly, as well as more creative, premium eco-friendly gifts like comfiest comforter ever that happens to be made from recycled plastic bottles. There’s a gift for every point (and budget) on the journey to create less waste.
Topics
Sustainability
Gifts
