101 Ethical, Eco-Friendly and Zero Waste Gift Ideas For Birthdays and Christmas

101 Ethical, Eco-Friendly and Zero Waste Gift Ideas For Birthdays and Christmas

When you’re concerned about the environment, it can be difficult to justify buying more things at a time of Peak Stuff and climate change, but it can be just as difficult attending a birthday party, celebrating Christmas or a special occasion without bringing a gift(s)*can be totally awkward*.

This is why we’ve curated this list of eco-friendly and zero waste gift ideas, so you can go along with normal social conventions without looking like a weirdo or having to compromise your environmental and sustainability values.

Purchase single gift items, or buy several and make an eco-friendly gift bundle, whatever you decide, we hope the list below saves you time and inspires thoughtful and planet-friendly gift giving.

And don’t forget to share this page with your social networks and bookmark it for future reference. Here’s to conscious and sustainable living!

Reusables

1. Reusable straws

2. Stainless steel food containers

3. Reusable coffee cups

4. Reusable grocery shopping bags 

Seed & Sproud Mixed Mesh Reusable Zero Waste Grocery Tote Bag
Credit: The Clean Collective

5. Reusable produce bags

6. Reusable water bottles

7. ONYA Reusable Bread Bag

8. Black + Blum Travel Mug

Black + Blum Reusable Travel Mug
Black + Blum Reusable Travel Mug

9. Reusable food wraps (if you’re vegan, check out these vegan food wraps)

10. Parker Reusable Safety Razor

11. Reusable travel cutlery set

Gifts for Her

12. Lily Lolo Laid Bare Vegan Eyeshadow Palette

13. Warby Parker ethically-made sunglasses

Warby Parker ethical sunglasses
Warby Parker sunglasses

14. TOMS shoes

15. Matt & Nat stylish vegan bags

16.  EcoTools Vegan Makeup Brushes

17. La Lucia Recycled Cotton Mexican Beach Blanket 

Sunday Tracker La Lucia Mexican Beach Blanket
Sunday Tracker La Lucia Mexican Beach Blanket

18. Sienna Byron Bay Vegan Nail Polish

19. Hanami Cosmetics Lipstick

20. Ethical and eco-friendly underwear

21. Wool & the Gang Knitting Kit

Wool and the Gang Knitting Kit

23. Modibodi Period Underwear

24. Washable and reusable pads

25. The Global Vegan plant-based cookbook

26. USPA Daily Hydration Lotion 60ml

27. Inika Certified Organic Liquid Eyeliner

28. Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil

29. Palm Beach Collection Sea Salt Soy Candle

Palm Beach Collection Sea Salt Soy Candle
Palm Beach Collection Sea Salt Soy Candle

30. “How We Went From Sunday Best to Fast Fashion” by Clare Press

31. VETTA Ethical Capsule Wardrobe collection

32. Au Naturale’s Anywhere Creme Multistick (cruelty-free)

33. Blessed By Nature Antioxidant Soothing Eye Serum (vegan)

34. Clover Fields Zero Waste Shampoo & Conditioner Bar (vegan and palm oil free)

Clover Fields Shampoo and Conditioner Bar- Zero Waste Vegan Shampoo Bar Xmas Gifts
Clover Fields Shampoo and Conditioner Bar ‘Shampoo with Purpose’

35. Ere Perez Jojoba Eye Pencil (vegan)

36. Organic cotton activewear

37. Vanuatu Hand Woven Pom Pom Bag

38. Ethical Sports Bras and Crop Tops

39. Adidas x Parley Eco-Friendly Runners (made from recycled plastic fibres)

  1. Adidas x Parley Ultraboost Eco-Friendly Runners made from recycled plastic fibres
    Adidas x Parley Ultraboost Runners

    40. Handcrafted jewellery

    41. Ethically-manufactured jeans

    42. Stylish eco-friendly swimwear

    43. Eco-friendly hiking boots

44. “Every Woman’s Guide to Saving the Planet” by Natalie Isaacs, founder of 1 Million Women

Every Woman's Guide to Saving the Planet by Natalie Isaacs
“Every Woman’s Guide to Saving the Planet” by Natalie Isaacs

45. Peppermint Magazine subscription

  1. 46. Handcrafted scarves, beanies and gloves
  1. 47. Women’s sustainable surfwear
  1. 48. Ethical lingerie

49. Low-tox perfumes

50. Classic sandals from Brave Soles

Brave Soles classic ethically made sandals

Brave Soles ‘The Avarca’ sandals

Gifts for Him

51. Pela Eco Biodegradable Non-Plastic iPhone case

    1. 52. Eco-friendly headphones
  1. 53. Patagonia backpacks
  1. Patagonia Arbor Classic Pack Eco-Friendly Backpack54. Men’s surfwear

    55. Ethical sneakers

  1. 56. Men’s ethical clothing

57. Fair-trade and organic cotton socks

Ethical Christmas Socks Gifts for Men
Thought Clothing Ethical Christmas Socks

58. Will & Bear wide brim hats

59. Reusable “Surf Socks” (zero waste way to get in and out of your wetsuit)

60. Two Good Co. grooming care pack

61. Eco-friendly wallets

62. Worthy Handcrafted Skateboards

Worthy Skateboards recycled handcrafted skateboards
Worthy Skateboards

Gifts for Home

63. Guppyfriend Microfibre Laundry Bag (stops synthetic plastic fibres from clothing entering our oceans)

64. SOL Organics Organic Cotton Bedding Sets

65. Stylish coconut bowl

66. The Clean Collective Plastic-Free Kitchen Bundle

The Clean Collective Plastic Free Kitchen Bundle
The Clean Collective Plastic-Free Kitchen Bundle

67. Zero Waste Organic Laundry Soapberries

68. Ettitude Organic Bamboo Bedding Sheet Set

69. WILD Tasmanian Oak Marley Bench Handmade in Australia

70. Dumbo Feather magazine digital subscription

71. Bokashi Composting Kit

Bokashi One™ Kitchen Composting System Giveaway

72. Cora Laundry Ball (to catch clothing microfibres in the washing machine)

73. Crema Joe Stainless Steel Reusable Coffee Capsules/Pods

74. “Zero Waste Home” book by Bea Johnson

75. Love Tea Certified Organic Sleep Loose Leaf Tea 

76. The Swag food storage bags (keeps produce fresher for longer)

The Swag Food Storage Bags keeps produce fresher for longer
The Swag Food Storage Bags

Gifts for Babies and Kids

77. Shellamy Baby 3-Piece Hairbrush & Comb Set

78. Pure Baby Organic Cotton Clothing

79. Organic children’s wear

80. Reusable cloth nappies

Reusable Clothing Nappies - Magic-Alls Aio (All-In-One) Velcro - Flutterby
Magic-Alls All-In-One Velcro Reusable Cloth Nappies in Flutterby print

81. Bamboo Organic Kids Adhesive Strips (Band-Aids)

82. One Chew Three Keys To My Heart, Silicone & Beechwood Teether 

83. Handmade handpainted wooden dummy chain

84. Organic Muslin Swaddle in Golden Sun

Organic Muslin Swaddle in Golden Sun - Eco-friendly baby gifts
Organic Muslin Swaddle in Golden Sun

Gifts for Cooks and Food Lovers

85. Eat Me Chutneys Mini Trio Gift Pack 

86. Warndu Native Thyme Olive Oil & Wattleseed Balsamic gift set

87 .”Love Real Food” cookbook by Kathryne Taylor features more than 100 Feel-Good vegetarian dishes

88. “Minimalist Baker’s Everyday Cooking” cookbook by Dana Schultz features 101 Entirely Plant-based, Mostly Gluten-Free, Easy and Delicious Recipes

Minimalist Baker Every Day Cooking Plant-based Vegetarian Cookbook
Minimalist Baker Everyday Cooking Plant-based Cookbook by Dana Schultz

89. “The Oh She Glows Cookbook” by Angela Liddon includes over 100 vegan recipes 

90. “World Vegetarian” cookbook by Madhur Jaffrey

91. “One-Dish Vegan” cookbook by Robin Robertson

Gifts for Pets and Pet Owners

92. Nest Bedding made in USA eco-friendly wool/canvas/recycled plastic dog bed

Wool Dog Bed made with 100% green waste recycled plastic fill, natural canvas and certified wool panel top
Nest Bedding Wool Dog Bed

93. Eco Max Biodegradable Pet Brush

94. Ensopet Pet Waste Bokashi Composting

95. “Greening Your Pet Care” book by Darcy Matheson

96. Honest Pet Products Eco-friendly pet toys made from 100% all-natural, hemp fabrics and other sustainable materials

Honest Pet Products Dog Eco Tugger
Honest Pet Products Dog Eco Tugger

Gifts for Travellers and Outdoor Lovers

97. Samsonite ECO-NU luggage bags made from recycled materials

98. Vivobarefoot outdoor and adventure footwear, hiking and running shoes (makes vegan ones too)

99. People4Ocean ocean-friendly sunscreen

100. Bamboocycles custom-made bicycles made of bamboo

101. Organic Dynamic Eco-Friendly Surfboards made of recycled polystyrene

Organic Dynamic Eco-Friendly Surfboard
Organic Dynamic Eco-Friendly Surfboard

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Disclosure: The curated list is based on the writer’s research and does not fully take into account all ethical considerations that are unique to each individual. This list also contains affiliate links. Before making a purchase, we encourage you to do your own research paying particular attention to the supply chain and your own particular set of ethics. For more information on our policies, click here.

Title image credit Shutterstock.

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