If you are environmentally friendly, like me, you probably want to share your passion with your friends and family. Ecological awareness is contagious.
I’m always asked for my opinion on environmentally friendly gifts, so I thought with the holidays approaching it would be a good idea to share my own sustainable gift guide.
I truly believe that people are becoming more aware of the need for more sustainable products. Everyone wants to be more active, but some don’t know where to start.
Well, with this eco-friendly gift guide I’m going to share some of my favorite sustainable products. Spread the love and the message that it’s time to say goodbye to single-use waste.
7 sustainable gift ideas
#1 – Pajolera
In the United States alone, 500 million plastic straws are used once and thrown away each year. That’s where Strawsome comes in.
First of all, I can say that that name deserves a round of applause.
Second, if you’re thinking “I can’t give away a straw,” think again.
Strawsome is not just any straw. It is made of durable glass and comes in a range of fun designs, from clear glass to the most eye-catching and fun. Or if you are unique, you can create your own design. Just use the drop down menu on their website to choose the length, decoration, color and function.
Of course, these straws are non-toxic and reusable, just like our HankyBooks.
Even better, your purchase of Strawsome products can have a direct impact on the world:
If there’s an issue you care about, Strawsome has a range of straws for a cause. Strawsome donates 33% of these sales to organizations that support conservation, fight human trafficking, conserve marine and coastal life, and many other good causes.
There are 25 causes and more to support.
I’m not sure what is more clumsy than that.
#2 – Bamboo brush
Bamboo toothbrushes are all the rage right now, but I think the Bamboo Toothbrush was the first to hit the scene.
Their goal is to live a simple, waste-free life, and their toothbrush, with a bamboo handle and castor oil bristles, is the perfect gift to make a loved one smile.
Proud to be the first and only plant-based toothbrush, it is the perfect excuse to do without plastic toothbrushes, which never break down!
Even the packaging is sustainable.
This is an excellent place to start if you need to refresh your memory on your green credentials.
#3 – To-Go Ware
Speaking of bamboo: single-use utensils and food containers place a huge burden on the environment.
Items to Go excels in this department with a range of practical kitchen items that look great and make beautiful and practical eco-friendly gifts.
For example, they have attractive bamboo utensils that you can use over and over again. The advantage of bamboo is that it does not need to be replanted when harvested. These hardy, fast-growing plants will create a new shoot from their root system, making them a more sustainable option.
Bamboo does not stain or absorb flavors into its grain. It is a durable, non-petroleum-based material that is light, strong and beautiful to look at.
We love bamboo, but To-Go Ware has a few other tricks up its sleeve, like stainless steel food holders that retain heat, are easy to clean, and will last you for years.
Unlike plastic, it does not deform in the sun or the dishwasher. It works great for retaining heat, especially when used in conjunction with one of their cotton bags, custom made for the containers.
To-Go Ware is a favorite of mine, and I have a feeling you’ll agree.
#4 – Coffee Joulies
I’ve added something new to my gift guide for 2019; it’s a little bit of a zag.
That’s right, while other brands on this list wear their eco-credentials on their sleeve, Coffee Joulies is a little more subtle.
Essentially, when placed in your coffee cup, they absorb heat to reduce tongue burns, but also maintain heat so your coffee stays hot longer.
This means less waste, less microwaves, and more praise from people like me who love coffee almost as much as they love sustainability.
I gave them to my father years ago and they still work.
If you have a coffee lover in your life, this will make a great eco-friendly gift for the holidays.
#5 – Bee Wrap
Goodbye to plastic packaging. Hello, Bee Wrap !
Okay, I already feel the rejection coming.
“I can’t give a plastic wrap alternative as a gift…maybe I can use it to WRAP the gift, but that’s it.”
I hear you, but you’re wrong.
Bee’s Wrap is more than functional – it’s innovative and, most importantly for a gift, it’s SO CUTE.
Look at these designs.
For. Go dead. For.
If you need to wrap your food in a cooler, or your lunch to take to work or on a picnic, then Bee’s Wrap is the best (sorry!).
Bee’s Wrap is made from GOTS certified organic cotton, sustainably sourced beeswax, organic jojoba oil and tree resin. Together, this combination of ingredients creates a malleable food packaging that can be used over and over again.
All you have to do is use the heat of your hands to shape the stamp you want. Fold some Bee’s Wrap over the top of a bowl, or over any food you want to preserve. The Bee’s Wrap will seal and hold its shape when cooled.
That half lemon that’s in your fridge. The piece of cheese you want to save for later. Anything and everything.
#6 – NaturaPure wool dryer balls
NaturaPure wool dryer balls are great.
Put them in the dryer and you will see that your clothes can dry in half the time (a great energy saving), they will come out with fewer wrinkles and you can even stop buying fabric softener.
Every ball is created by hand using Canadian wool that is ethically and cruelty-free sourced. They are non-toxic and free of harmful chemicals to make your clothes smell “baby.”
Dryer balls work by keeping clothes separated in the dryer. This allows the hot air from your dryer to circulate more effectively, reducing the time and energy required to dry your clothes by 30% to 50%.
If your clothes come out fluffy and full of static, it means you are overdrying them. Remember that with these dryer balls, you will have to set the dryer on a much shorter cycle than you are used to.
The wool in dryer balls absorbs moisture. As an added bonus, static is less likely to survive in this environment, so more delicate clothes don’t come out of the dryer with a halo of lint.
Dryer balls last about 1000 loads. Assuming your cats don’t get infected…
#7 – HankyBook
Last but not least, I think HankyBooks (my attempt to improve on the traditional handkerchief) make great eco-friendly gifts for Christmas and the holidays.
Sustainability is nothing to sneeze at. But, if you have to sneeze, you’ll want to have a soft, organic cotton tissue on hand.
I created Hankybooks to address my irritable nose, but also to address the tissue problem. It takes half a gallon of water to produce a single piece of tissue paper. So, consider the loss of trees. All so that, ultimately, it is just one breath of the nose away from ending up in a landfill.
HankyBooks are reusable, machine washable and very cute.
To put it succinctly: the ideal present that both benefits the environment and a loved one.
Have a fabulous eco-friendly vacation
I hope you liked my gift guide and let me know what great items I missed. Next year around this time, I will add more items to the list.