Isn’t it always better to give a gift with a story? We think so!
When you shop with companies that are truly proud of their products, they will want to tell you everything about the product–from sustainable features to eco-friendly packaging. Look for companies that make sustainability part of their mission. Don’t just stop at the words “eco”, “green” or “natural” though, try to find what actually makes their products great for the planet. Are they using organic, sustainably harvested materials, or do they meet fair labor standards? Not only does a sustainable story mean your product is probably better for the planet, but it’s also more enjoyable to share a gift you feel a connection to!
We’ve collected a list of our favorites below. These eco-friendly products come complete with amazing stories that you can share with your loved ones this holiday season! If you’re still looking for the perfect gift by the end, head over to to shop for gifts for her, for him, for kids, for baby, or even shop our top zero waste gifts!
Badger Beard Grooming Kit
Share the gift of self-care with your loved one! No matter what kind of facial hair they’re rocking, they’ll appreciate this all-in-one kit made by a family-owned company in the USA.
While they’re growing your beard out (think first 6 weeks), the organic beard oil uses babassu and jojoba oils to condition and nourish, reducing any itchy or patchy spots. Once their beard is an ideal length, they can use the beard balm to condition the beard, keep stray hairs in check, and add a touch of styling. They’ll appreciate a softer, tamer beard in no time, thanks to you!
Sanari Organic Candle Gift Set
Light up your loved one’s day with this heartwarming candle gift set. These natural candles are infused with certified organic essential oils in a vegan coconut wax blend, hand-poured in small batches in Los Angeles, California. Each set includes 3 best selling Sanari Candle scents, each with a different theme. No matter the scent, your friend will love the mini wine glasses left over once the candle melts down!
Plus, Sanari donates a portion of every purchase towards Breast Cancer Research, so your gift goes even further!
Treat your audiophile friend to the modern version of this classic turntable. The streamlined design is made from sustainable materials like bamboo and recyclable aluminum, with a built-in pre-amp that’s compatible with any House of Marley speaker. It features a 33/45 RPM knob, replaceable cartridge, anti-skating control, and belt-drive turntable. Plus, it’s manual, with an auto-start and stop (a big deal in the vinyl world!)
Not only is this beauty made with sustainable materials, but House of Marley plants a tree for every purchase!
4Ocean Recycled Bracelet
Fact: an estimated 16 BILLION pounds of plastic waste enters our oceans each year. 4Ocean is on a mission to stop this with their recycled bracelets. With a cord made from recycled plastics, beads made from recycled glass, and a stainless steel 4Ocean tag, this handcrafted donation bracelet doesn’t just use recycled materials–but actively removes waste from our oceans as well! For every bracelet sold, 4Ocean will remove 1 pound of waste from our seas.
Not only does each bracelet remove a pound of waste, but they also offer bracelets specific to other causes. Proceeds from this green brac
SAOLA Cannon Vegan Sneakers
This is truly an eco-shoe to look out for! These shoes are made with outdoor-friendly materials like recycled plastic from water bottles, organic cotton, and even algae–yep algae! Their BLOOM Foam, used in both the insoles and outsoles, is made with algae biomass so it’s lightweight, durable, and awesome for soles! Plus, SAOLA donates 3% of sales to various environmental non-profits that give back to t
For the Kids
EverEarth Bamboo Rocking Horse
Watch them light up when they see their new rocking horse! From its sustainable construction, to its developmental benefits, this traditional toy is a win-win. It’ll improve your kiddo’s balance and muscle development while letting them live out any old-west play scenario. Yeehaw!
eco-dough Holiday Dough Set
PlanToys Build-A-Robot
Emotions can be hard to explain–but Build-a-Robot makes it easy. This adorable robot features 4 interchangeable heads (sad, happy, mad, and surprised) to teach emotion and offer different tactile and auditory experiences to help your kiddo grow. The legs are movable for standing or sitting so your child can choose which one best expresses the emotion they chose.
All PlanToys are made from sustainably harvested rubberwood trees that can no longer produce latex paired with surplus sawdu
Under the Nile Red Striped Long Johns
Who doesn’t love a new pair of pajamas over the holidays! We love these red and white striped long johns from Under the Nile. They’re the perfect set to get your children in the holiday mood! The snug fit is perfect for keeping your child feeling secure as they drift off into dreamtime.
Janice and Mohamed Mosoud created Under the Nile based on a need for better, cleaner, and safer materials for their own daughters, so you can trust that Under the Nile gifts are safe and sustainable for your own children, too!
Wrap it up!
4 million tons of wrapping paper is thrown away annually. Since most traditional wrapping paper isn’t recyclable, we’ve been on a mission to find a gift wrap that we can stand behind!
Meet: Wrappily! Based on the beautiful island of Maui, Hawaii, the Wrappily team work together with local artists to design a beautiful collection of eco-friendly gift wrap.They offer individual sheets of wrapping paper printed with a non-toxic soy-based ink on newsprint and made from recycled content that is easily recyclable at the end of life. The sheets are printed with double-sided designs on idle news press machines that otherwise would have gone unused. We love the fact that this company is woman-owned and has a closed-loop production methodology. It’s the perfect finishing touch for your eco-friendly gift (plus, it’s just so stinkin’ cute!)
This blog was originally published November 29, 2018 and was most recently updated on October 27, 2022.
