Sustainable Gift Guide
The holidays are a time to share our generosity and gratitude with our friends, family and loved ones. In our modern world it has also become a time of mass consumerism and waste. Finding the balance of consumerism and sustainability especialy during the holidays is easier than you think. This is a great time of the year to support your favorite charities, find brands that give back, protect the planet and minimize waste while still getting the absolute best gifts for all the people on our list.
Here are some of my favorite ethical brands, sustainable gift ideas and ways to give back during the holidays.
For Travelers
Weekender Bag
This beautifully made weekender bag is handmade with leather handles and antique hardware to add a vintage-inspired touch. Each purchase supports Nappa Dori artisans in India which provides loans to artisans and support local woman and children.
Patagonia Backpack
A leader in sustainability for the past four decades, Patagonia carries a variety of backpacks from an everyday pack to technical, sport-specific packs. Much of the materials used are recycled, and as always, Patagonia is committed to ethical and transparent production so you can find out more about where your pack was made right on the product page.
Passport Holder
For travel enthusiasts you can’t go wrong with this beautifully handmade passport holder. Embossed and created by an artisan in India out of cruelty free leather.
Breitling SuperOcean
The Superocean Heritage Chronograph 44 Outerknown celebrates Breitling’s partnership with sustainable apparel manufacturer Outerknown, co-founded by surfing legend Kelly Slater. The watch features a Nato strap crafted from ECONYL® yarn, an innovative material created from nylon waste. With its black DLC-coated stainless steel case, bold blue dial, and unique blue strap, it makes a dramatic style statement and creates a powerful link to our oceans.
Outdoor Lovers
The Mini Site Light from BioLite
This makes a great stocking stuffer for campers and backpackers. String these up at campsites or on your person while walking in the night or at camp. Biolite makes dozens of solar lights and cookstoves that function great off grid. A portion of every purchase from the BioLite Shop gets re-invested into bringing safe, reliable energy across sub-Saharan Africa.
Ethique Hair and Body Bars
These vegan shampoo, conditioner and body bars are zero waste, sustainable and ethically sourced. Great for backpackers and travelers. Ethique is a New zealand based certified BCorp and has already saved our planet from over 5 million plastic bottles.
PrAna Hiking Pants
Makers of men’s and women’s outdoor clothing Prana uses sustainable and often recycled materials to make their clothes. These all weather stretch convertible pants are perfect for the active men in your life.
Larq Self Cleaning Bottle
This self cleaning water bottle neutralizes harmful bacteria in 60 seconds, so you can say goodbye to funky smelling water bottles. They also give 5% of proceeds to building wells in Africa.
Fore more hiking essentials, sustainable products and travel accessories check out my Amazon Store.
Women’s Accessories
The Original Makeup Eraser
For any lady that uses makeup wipes or cotton rounds this is the absolute best way to get rid of all that waste and still get rid of all the makeup on your face. This soft cloth wipes away makeup almost magically and is machine washable. Say goodbye to all that trash and hello to your clean face.
Handmade Camera Strap by Hiptipico
These camera straps are perfect for the photographer or filmmaker in your life. Handmade in Guatemala from a belt used by an indigenous women, it is part of a series on zero waste accessoires made by artisans. On Hiptipico you can also find handmade bags, purses and various backpack straps and accessories.
The Tote Project
The tote project was started to put an end to human trafficking, and every sale gives 10% to an organization fighting slavery. The cute totes and makeup bags will be sure to joy to the lady in your life.
You Might Also Like:
Rothy’s – Sustainable Women’s shoes
Milk Barn Kids – Beautiful animal inspired organic baby and kid outfits.
Ethical Shops
The Little Market
An online shop and market that specializes in fair trade products from around the world. They have so many great gift ideas, from gift sets and totes to houseware, spa essentials, bags, candles and much more.
EcoCult
A sustainable shopping marketplace that lists some of the best purveyors in a wide range of lifestyle, homeware, bed, bath, handbag and clothing companies that are ethical and sustainable.
Experiences
One of the best gifts anyone can give or receive is the gift of travel and experience. Here are some life changing trips, from companies that focus on sustainability, community enrichment and conservation.
Women’s Only Trips to Kilimanjaro & The Serengeti
Join a small group women’s tour to climb Africa’s tallest peak, followed by a 3 or 4 day safari through the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater. This tour gives back to the local community, and gives a portion of the proceeds to a local school.
Join the Reindeer Migration in Northern Norway
Head to the arctic circle for an immersive homestay with the Sami people of Northern Norway. During your 4-14 day stay you can help herd reindeer across the tundra, watch the northern lights, ice fish, cross country ski and learn about the way of life of these semi nomadic reindeer herders.
Hike & Explore Peru’s Sacred Valley
An immersive 10 day trip to discover the Andes. Visiting local Inca women you will make your own chocolate, starting from the cocoa bean. Trek with llamas and their herders in the Urubamba mountain range. Go on an excursion to a hidden waterfall unknown to tourists and even to many local people. And of course, marvel at the awe-inspiring beauty of Machu Picchu, one of the seven Wonders of the World.
The Gift of Giving
One of the greatest gifts is the act of giving. Every year I give gifts in the name of my friends and family to my favorite charities. Here are some of the best ways to support others during the holiday season.
Heifer International
Heifer is an international non profit that works in more than 21 countries to provide livestock and agricultural help to families and farmers. The gift of a flock of ducks, a cow or a goat can provide livelihood for an entire year to may of the families Heifer supports.
4 Ocean
Part charity and part plastic free shop 4Ocean aims to curb our consumption of single use plastic. Wearing the 4ocean Bracelet instantly identifies you as a member of the clean ocean movement. Bracelets and water bottles make great stocking stuffers, and each item purchased removes one pound of plastic from the ocean.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
One of my favorite charities WWF has been working in countries around the world to help pass legislation and protections for forests, oceans and animals. For the holidays you can adopt an animal or get animal inspired apparel and other gifts to show your support for wildlife.
Books to Africa
Ever heard of a book famine? Well, they exist around the world.
Books For Africa has one goal, and that is to get as many books as possible into the hands of kids in Africa. They collect books, ship them and get them to children of all ages wherever they are needed.
Disclosure: some of the links in this post are affiliate links meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a booking. All opinions are my own and I would never endorse anything I wouldn’t use myself. By clicking through, you’ll be helping keep this blog up and running.
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That self-cleaning water bottle sounds genius! Thank you!
Yes! It’s really great. And its a great gift for anyone that always carries a bottle.
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