Hey earth muffins! As the holiday season approaches, many of us look forward to the joy of giving and receiving gifts. However, for those committed to an eco-friendly lifestyle, receiving non-sustainable presents can be a challenge. You want to be polite and grateful to someone for taking the time (and spending the money) to get you the item… But, you want to make sure you actually can use and appreciate the gift! In this blog post, we’ll explore proactive strategies to guide your loved ones toward choosing environmentally conscious gifts; they are a great way to avoid getting non-eco gifts for Christmas!
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bookmark_borderThe BEST Sustainable Gifts for the Green Dad!
Hey earth muffins! Father’s Day is a special occasion to honor and appreciate the fathers in our lives. Don’t worry – you can still treat him right with a sustainable Father’s Day gift! If you’re looking for a thoughtful way to celebrate, consider options that not only show your love for your dad but also promote sustainability. Here are some eco-friendly gift ideas that your green dad will appreciate!
~DIY Natural Grooming Kit
Create a personalized grooming kit for your dad using natural and eco-friendly products. Include items like a safety razor (affiliate link), homemade shaving cream, beard oil, or natural soaps made with organic ingredients. You can find many recipes online to make these products yourself too, which can save on further packaging waste.
Read More β₯bookmark_borderThe BEST Eco-Friendly White Elephant Gifts
Hey earth muffins! Christmas is just around the corner; I don’t know about you but my schedule has been packed with holiday events and office parties. Many of these include bringing some sort of gift to exchange. There are plenty of options for fun (and useful) zero waste white elephant giftsβ¦. Keep reading for a full list of the best eco-friendly presents to bring to your next office party!
Eco-Friendly White Elephants Gift Guide:
1. First up – mason jar soup, dessert, or hot chocolate mix. Ever feel like you (maybe) have too many mason jars? This is the perfect way to pass on a jar AND delectable treat. Don’t forget to include the recipe too!
Read More β₯bookmark_borderEco-Friendly Easter Gifts: What to Put in Your Baskets!
Hey earth muffins! It is crazy to think that Easter is only ten days away. Lent has gone by so fast! I hope everyone is looking forward to spending time with family and friends to celebrate the holiday; I know I definitely am. Most people make some sort of Easter basket… Which can totally be sustainable! π β€οΈHere are my top suggestions for eco-friendly Easter gifts to give this year!
Go with secondhand baskets.
Most of the “Easter” baskets at the store are flimsy and cheaply made these days. Instead, check out the options at your local thrift stores to find baskets of all shapes and colors. You can always find a ton of basket choices secondhand, which makes it easy to avoid those crappy ones elsewhere.
Read More β₯bookmark_borderThe Best (Eco-Friendly) Stocking Stuffers
Hey earth muffins! To wrap up my gift guides this season (pun intended!), I thought it would be fun to share some stocking stuffer ideas. I have always been a huge fan of small gifts in stockings; it is such a great way to add in a few extra bits and pieces to spoil your loved ones! π Never fear – you can also ensure your stocking stuffers are eco-friendly as well… A bonus gift to Mother Earth. πβ€οΈ Let’s jump right into the best stocking stuffers for 2020!
Kooshoo Plastic Free Hair Accessories
I was lucky to be gifted some products from Kooshoo this holiday season… Their products are amazing! Not only are the hair ties and scrunchies plastic free, they are also organic AND biodegradable. I don’t understand how they don’t contain plastic, as they work exactly like the other scrunchies/hair ties I have been using for years. The product comes in paper, recyclable packaging which is another huge win. I’m wearing one of the scrunchies in my hair as I type this post; I’m excited to continue to rock these sustainable hair accessories! π
Superzero Trial Size Shampoo Bar
I’ve reviewed a lot of shampoo bars on this blog, including my current favorite Lush’s Jumping Juniper. If you know of someone who is just starting their eco journey, it might be a smart idea to opt for a smaller sized bar instead of gifting them a full sized for the holidays. This helps reduce waste if they end up not liking the shampoo! It also nudges them in the right direction for a simple bathroom swap. Superzero is a brand new company that I was lucky enough to provide my input on as they developed. Conny, the owner, is so hardworking – I highly recommend checking out the awesome bar products on her site! π
Fruit!
That’s right – legit fruit. Instead of stuffing a stocking full of candy in plastic wrappers, think about delicious fruits that already have wrappers. Oranges, pomegranate, and pears are great Christmas fruit suggestions; but, you could also just give them their favorite kind! The waste from this present can easily be composted instead of tossed, which saves food waste from going to the landfill. π
Spot It Tin Game (Amazon Affiliate Link)
There are so many great games in metal tins these days… But Spot It is one of my favorites! This game is fast paced, easy to play, and will definitely create some competition for the family. I actually found the one I have at a thrift store for $0.70, which was an incredible deal; but, on Amazon it is still only $10. Tin games fit perfectly in any stocking, so it fits the best stocking stuffers category for sure!
Reusable Fabric Gift Wrap
I was ordering some gifts off of Lush this year and was so excited to see that they are offering fabric wraps to purchase! These can be used to wrap presents instead of using single use wrapping paper, which is (obviously) so wasteful. I will be wrapping all of my family’s gifts in these this year. If you don’t want to buy them new, you could also make them with fabric you have around the house or that you find at a thrift store! I think it is a cool idea to wrap a small gift with them for the stocking; then, they can use it next year to wrap presents for others! π What are the best stocking stuffers you will be giving this year?
Love,
Jenna β₯
bookmark_borderSustainable Gifts for Men: A Christmas Guide!
Hey earth muffins! Another day, another holiday gift guide! π Last week I gave some suggestions for the women in your life; today, I will be sharing my top gift suggestions for men! I have always found it particularly hard to shop for my dad, so I hope this is a helpful post as the holidays come around the corner. βοΈ Let’s jump right into these sustainable gifts for men!
Safety Razor (Amazon Affiliate Link)
I’ve talked about how much I love safety razors in the past… And I’ll keep talking about them! This is by far the easiest eco-friendly swap you can make in your bathroom. Stop buying those dinky disposable razors and opt for a sturdy metal one. Shaving with a safety razor is super easy too (I promise!). I think the overall shave is better too, which is why it would make a great gift for the holiday season!
Pip’s Hot Sauce Sampler
Is someone in your life a foodie? If so, this could be a great option! π My grandpa loves to put hot sauce on a lot of different foods; a sampler pack is a nice way to try different flavors without being stuck with a full bottle. Plus, these bottles are glass which means they can be reused or recycled! π I like that this set doesn’t just come with ultra spicy flavors either – I feel like even I would enjoy the La Barbacoa! Just like I mentioned in my last gift guide, I love to support small businesses on Etsy. It is such a great way to shop local (and they offset the carbon from every order too!).
Classics Book Set
Shh don’t tell, but one of the things I bought my dad this year is a new book that he was excited about. π I feel like books can be a gift for basically anyone during the holiday season, as they can be so personal! If you know their favorites, try buying them a nice hardcover version. Or, if you read a book and thought that they would like it, gift that. You could even purchase a nice set of classic books – I absolutely love Dracula, so I recommend reading that if you haven’t. Try to support your local bookshops as much as you can; this year has been hard for those places to stay in business!
A New Board Game! (Amazon Affiliate Link)
My boyfriend loves to play video games, but he also likes a good board game too. Many of my male friends also love to sit down and play games. My family recently bought this game called Colt Express – it is SO much fun! There’s looting and stealing and shooting; super fun! If you don’t want to buy a new board game, I suggest looking at used versions on ebay or at your local game store. There are a couple game stores where I live that always have a nice used game selection – saves you a bit of money too! If the men in your life prefer video games, you can also find used video games at these stores as well.
Patagonia Fleece
For the last sustainable gifts for men idea today, I suggest checking out some garb on Patagonia. This brand has been a leader in sustainability for a long time now, so shopping at this store is a great way to support eco-friendly practices with your dollars. Their fleeces are amazing for the colder weather, but you can also buy used refurbished garments as well! π As someone who gets cold easily, a nice fleece is awesome. I hope this post gave you all some inspiration for your holiday gifts! What will you be getting the men in your life this year?
Love,
Jenna β₯