Top 23 Items You Need To Know About Right Now For Your Eco Friendly Christmas Gifts

Looking for eco friendly Christmas gifts that people will actually use?

It’s so easy for me to shop for myself, but when it comes to buying sustainable gifts for other people, I hesitate! I don’t ever want to buy them something they won’t use, or they don’t need. I like my gifts to actually bring the person joy, but also be useful and sustainable.

I try to be very intentional when choosing eco friendly Christmas gifts because I want the person to genuinely enjoy it and keep it for years.

If you’re looking for eco friendly Christmas gifts for the people in your life, you’ll definitely find some good gift ideas here. I’ve put together 23 practical eco friendly Christmas gift ideas for just about everyone on your list, including kids, gardeners, coffee lovers, homebodies, and people who are just starting their sustainable living journey.

Most of these are products I’ve personally owned and loved and a few are sustainable gift ideas I plan on gifting to others.

What Makes a Christmas Gift Eco Friendly?

As I’m sure you know, people probably define eco friendly gifs differently. Keep in mind, this is my personal perspective of eco friendly Christmas gifts. When I’m Christmas shopping, I don’t expect every product I buy to check every single sustainability box. Instead, I look for opportunities to make a better choice.

Here’s some general thoughts I consider when choosing eco friendly Christmas gifts:

– Is the gift reusable instead of disposable?
– made from recycled materials?
– Is it made from responsibly sourced materials?
– Can it replace a frequently purchased single-use product?
– Will it be used for years?
– Can it help someone reduce waste?
– Will it help conserve water or energy?
– How does this gift support a company working toward better environmental practices?
– Is this something the person genuinely needs?

And remember! You don’t necessarily have to buy the person a brand new gift! Don’t forget about secondhand gifts, homemade gifts, consumables, memberships, experiences, and even gifting your time can also make meaningful sustainable Christmas gifts.

However, if you’re here, you’re probably looking for something to wrap and put under the tree, so let’s get into the list.

1. Blueland Cleaning Products

Best for: The person who loves a clean house

I know you’re probably thinking… cleaning supplies for Christmas?! But hear me out! Blueland offers reusable bottles and containers that are designed to be refilled instead of replacing the entire bottle every time the product runs out.

A starter kit could be a practical gift for someone who has mentioned wanting to reduce waste around their home but doesn’t know where to start. Refillable products can help reduce the amount of disposable cleaning-product packaging entering your home.

2. Non-toxic Cookware

Best for: Home cooks, newlyweds, and new homeowners

Good cookware is one of those Christmas gifts that can potentially be used almost every day for years. If you’re shopping for someone who loves being in the kitchen, consider upgrading something they already use instead of buying another trendy kitchen gadget.

Some cookware brands I’ve used or considered include Caraway and GreenPan.

Caraway has a sleek, minimal look, while GreenPan was my first introduction to this style of cookware and can offer a more approachable option depending on the collection.

Choosing one quality item someone can use repeatedly may be more practical than buying several inexpensive kitchen products they don’t really need.

Caraway

Caraway cookware is beautifully designed and thoughtfully created! Caraway is a more sleeky design and fewer accessories than the Our Place cookware brand. This makes it a perfect eco friendly Christmas gift for a more minaml cook who likes the traditional essentials!

Green Pan

Inexpensive non-toxic cookware. This is the first non-toxic cookware I’ve ever purchased! I purchased these after first hearing about PFAS and the dangers associated with the non-toxic coating on the pots and pans I had. They were the most inexpensive and highly rated cookware I could find at the time. I’ve had my Green Pan skillets for about 3 years now. The pan cooks my food evenly and is free of toxic chemicals, but over time the non-stick properties do wear off.

3. Google Nest Thermostat

Best for: Homeowners and practical gift lovers

A thermostat probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think about eco friendly Christmas gifts, but that’s exactly why I like this idea.

We added a smart thermostat to our home, and one of my favorite features is being able to monitor and adjust the temperature from my phone. This especially comes in handy in older homes or when you’re on vacation!

Smart thermostats can also make it easier to manage heating and cooling throughout the day. Better control over heating and cooling can help a household manage its energy use.

4. Organic Cotton Sheets

It’s giving hotel vibes! These sheets are incredible. They’re soft, silky, and cooling all at the same time.

For any person who loves spending time at home, you already know how important it is to enjoy your spaces. These sheets make me feel like I’m staying in a hotel! They’re cooling, soft, and so lux.

A beautiful set of sheets is something people use constantly but may not splurge on for themselves.Look for quality bedding made with materials such as organic cotton and check for certifications or manufacturing standards that tell you more about how the product was made.

You could pair the sheets with a cozy blanket or put them in a secondhand basket for an easy home-themed Christmas gift.

High-quality bedding that lasts can reduce the need to replace inexpensive sets frequently.

5. Organic Mattress

Best for: A spouse or someone setting up a new home

Okay, we’ve officially entered BIG Christmas gift territory. Do not sleep on a mattress as a gift (do you see what I just did there?! Ha!) A mattress certainly isn’t going to work for everyone on your Christmas list. But if you’re already planning to buy one for your household or spouse, it may be worth researching companies using organic or responsibly sourced materials.

A mattress is something you’ll hopefully keep for many years, making durability especially important.

Eco Friendly Christmas Gifts for Coffee and Tea Lovers

6. Non Dairy Milk Machine

Once you own a Nutr Machine, there’s a good possibility you won’t ever buy milk in a jug or carton again!

best eco friendly gifts — **Use Code TGG10 for 15% off the Nutr Machine!**

The Nutr Machine is a sleek, easy-to-use appliance that makes nut and plant-based “milk” in just a few minutes. With a push of a button, you can make hundreds of non-dairy recipes while also eliminating milk carton/jug waste. In addition, plant-based “milk” creates significantly fewer carbon emissions than traditional cows milk.

I love my Nutr Machine. Most “milk” takes less than 3 minutes. Each Nutr Machine comes with a booklet of recipes, but my favorite way to find the perfect combination is to experiment and mix and match. Here are a few types of nuts and grains you can use to make “milk” in your Nutr Machine:

Almond
Cashew
Oat
Soybean
Coconut
Walnut
Rice
Hemp
Flax
Sesame
Mung bean
Peanut

Use Code TGG10 for 15% off the Nutr Machine!

One of my favorite recipes so far is homemade butter pecan creamer! Check out the recipe here.

7. Reusable Coffee Cup

Best for: Coffee lovers, commuters, and teachers

You knew I wasn’t making an eco friendly Christmas gift guide without including a reusable coffee cup. I’m not just talking about any cute reusable coffee cup you see at Old Navy. I’m talking about a high-quality cup that will keep your drinks cold or hot for hours on end.

KeepCup is one reusable coffee cup option I’ve liked. You could pair a reusable cup with locally roasted coffee or a gift card to their favorite coffee shop.

A reusable cup can replace disposable coffee cups when someone actually uses it regularly.

Keep Cup is a B-Corporation that commits to reporting on their company’s impact on workers, the environment, and the economy.

8. Glass Tea Kettle

A glass tea kettle paired with loose-leaf tea makes such a cozy Christmas gift.

Add a reusable tea infuser, locally made honey, or their favorite mug, and you’ve basically created an entire winter tea basket.

I especially love Christmas gifts like this because they’re useful without necessarily adding a bunch of unnecessary clutter to someone’s home.

Pairing a reusable kettle and tea infuser with loose-leaf tea can reduce some of the disposable packaging associated with individually packaged tea.

Pair the tea kettle with loose-leaf tea and this cute tea steeper!

3. Poplinen Sustainable Clothing

For the stylista in your life!

Poplinen is one of my favorite sustainable clothing brands! Poplinen offers timeless, high quality, sustainable clothing. In addition, Poplinen uses sustainably sourced fabrics while also paying their garmet workers a fair and livable wage.

If you’re looking for the perfect gift for her that will double as an eco friendly Christmas gift, definitely consider ordering from Poplinen. I have a complete review of Poplinen clothing if you’re interested in learning more.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Use Code TEACHGOGREEN10 for 10% off your purchase.

Frances Zip Collar Sweatshirt

Use Code TEACHGOGREEN10 for 10% off your purchase.

I love this zip collar sweatshirt so much I’ll be getting it in the second color too! This sweatshirt is made from Tencel and organic cotton. If you didn’t know, Tencel is made from Eucalyptus trees! These trees are fast-growing and once processed, create a compostable and biodegradable cellulose fiber.

This zip collar is so cozy and stylish. It can be worn in the fall over a tank like this one from Girlfriend Collective or over a long-sleeved shirt like this one made from recycled plastic bottles.

In the winter, this zip collar sweatshirt can be easily layered under a winter coat!

Agnes Raglan Organic Cotton + Tencel™ Sweatshirt

Use Code TEACHGOGREEN10 for 10% off your purchase.

More tencel, please! I love the feel of Tencel. Not only is it soft against the skin, but also durable! The best combination, if I do say so myself. This sweatshirt is one of my favorites. It’s an everyday wear sweater and has a slightly cropped bottom. Unlike most sweaters, this sweatshirt is not too bulky and the 3 color options make it great for the holiday season!

4. Travel Cork Yoga Mat

Here’s the best eco friendly Christmas gift for the yogi in your life! I consider this part of my eco friendly Christmas gifts because it is made from cork. If you’re a wine drinker, you’re probably familiar with cork material. Cork is often used for wine bottles because it is absorbent. While working out, this is a great quality to have in a yoga mat, especially during hot yoga. In addition to being absorbent, cork is also antimicrobial. Again, a perfect attribute for a yoga mat that will get sweaty and used frequently.

Pair this gift with a cork yoga block and an organic cotton yoga strap!

5. Heavy Duty Shopping Grocery Bags

These are the ideal grocery bags everyone needs in their home! Whether they’re walking through the isles of Aldi or just need an easier way to carry groceries, this is a well-organized bag. These shopping bags fit perfectly in the shopping cart and even have an insulated cooler bag to keep groceries cold.

6. Pela Phone Case

In a highly technical world, it’s refreshing to find a way to keep it eco friendly! Pela is a company dedicated to making sustainable phone chases. These phone cases make great eco friendly gifts because phone sales drastically increase during the Christmas holiday time. In 2019, for example, smartphones accounted for 84% of the holiday season’s e-commerce growth (source).

The Pela phone case is not only stylish but also durable. As a mom of two toddlers, I can assure you, the Pela phone case will still protect your phone from drops, cracks, and even teething drool.

These phone cases are created with 30% fewer carbon emissions, 34% less water usage, and 80% less production waste. When you’re done with your case, simply compost the case!

7. Pela Airpod Case

Complete your eco friendly tech gift with a Pela airpod case! This case workly for airpods. The key loop on the side made it easy to attach to your pants loop or purse! It’s also great to add to your keys if you’re going for a run or working out at the gym!

9. Green Toys

Our family loves Green Toys and I’m sure yours will too! Green Toys make some of the best eco friendly Christmas gifts for kids because they are well made, perfect for little hands, and inspire imagination!

Green Toys are made from 100% recycled plastic! Using items made from recycled materials is so important! This is because it creates demand for recyclables. The more companies that use recycled materials for items, the more important recycling will continue to be. In addition, reusing materials to create new products prevents the need to extract virgin materials to create products.

These toys are incredibly durable and encourage kids to be creative with their play.

10. Melissa and Doug Toys

Another favorite toy addition in our home: Melissa and Doug Toys! If you haven’t already heard of Melissa and Doug toys, you need to add them to your eco friendly Christmas gifts list for the kids in your life. There are so many different varieties of toys for kids of all ages. These toys are great because they’re sustainably made, non-toxic, encourage imaginative play, and last for years!

Melissa and Doug toys are not the type of cheap eco friendly gifts you’ll be throwing out by springtime. These toys will be along for a long time and can easily be passed down to younger kids.

Here are a few of our favorite Melissa and Doug Toys:

11. All Birds Shoes

This eco friendly Christmas gift is for the active person in your life! These are some of the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn. Not only that, but they’re also trendy and sustainable!

All Birds has been given the title “the world’s most comfortable shoe”. If you’re looking for a gift for an active person who walks, runs, or plays sports, you definitely want to consider gifting them these shoes – they won’t be disappointed!

All Birds is a carbon-neutral company with goals to cut carbon emissions in half in the next two years. The company uses natural materials like wool, yarn, recycled bottles, and recycled nylon to make its shoes.

13. Rain barrel

Are you looking for eco friendly Christmas gifts for a gardener you know? Get them a rain barrel! Rain barrels are a gardener’s dream. The purpose of a rain barrel is to collect rain and collect it. The barrel has a spicket on the end that allows the gardener to release the water slowly into your garden. This is an excellent stormwater management tool because it prevents water from running off into the nearby waterway. When runoff occurs, water carries with it all the pollution left on the ground.

Using rain barrels also helps conserve water! Instead of using water from the tap or groundwater, rain barrels allow gardeners to capture water from the rain. This is an incredibly sustainable way to keep gardens hydrated and vibrant.

14. Vegan, Non-Toxic Perfume

This non-toxic perfume is guaranteed to be a great gift! I receive compliments on this perfume every time I wear it. What’s more, this perfume is vegan and non-toxic. Many traditional perfumes contain toxic chemicals. These often trigger allergies and skin irritations. This perfume is made with organic vanilla. The scent is sweet, warm, and comforting.

7 Virtues create cruelty-free perfumes with organic and fair trade ingredients.

15. Acorn Women’s Algae-Infused Recycled Parker Hoodback Slipper

Cozy slippers that are also environmentally friendly? Yup! That’s the type of eco friendly Christmas gifts you’re giving with slippers. These slippers are cozy, warm, and aesthetically pleasing. Wool is naturally moisture-wicking and renewable fiber. This brand also offsets carbon emissions through its partnership with carbon neutral!

18. Stanley Reusable Cup

I’ll always advocate for adding reusable cups to your list of eco friendly Christmas ideas! Reusable cups help to decrease the need to use single-use disposable cups and helps to reduce waste.

Currently, Stanley cups are trending throughout social media as some of the best, and most durable reusable cups! One reason why these cups are so lovable is because of the handle, making it easy to hold. In addition, the slender bottom makes it easy for these cups to fit in cup holders.

These cups keep liquid cold for hours and can keep ice for over 24 hours! The straw included in the cup makes keeping up with your daily water intake even easier!

19. Sustainable(ish) Living Guide

This book is encouraging and motivating for anyone considering an eco-friendly lifestyle. Whether they’ve been eco friendly for years or just investigating how sustainability can be incorporated into their life, this book is perfect!

The author, Jen Gale, takes a fresh perspective on eco friendly living by lowering the expectation of perfection. This book gives excellent, realistic solutions to sustainability and addresses why eco friendly living is so important.

In her second book, The Sustainable(ish) Guide to Green Parenting, Jen Gales is giving practical ideas for parents!

21. Conscious Step Socks

According to research, the average person loses about 16 pairs of socks a year!

If you know someone who is like me, they lose way more than 16 pairs a year. This Christmas, give the gift of socks that are kind to the planet! Conscious Step Socks are made from organic cotton. This means they’re not only ultra-soft, but they’re also breathable and gentle on your skin.

These socks were made by workers under the World Fair Trade Organization ensuring well being of the producers who created the product!

23. Northface Sling Bag

Perfect for travel, workouts, and playdates! This bag is the hands-free accessory any person person can add to their eco friendly Christmas gifts list!

This bag is durable and actually holds more than you might think! I can even fit my ipad. From hiking to grocery shopping, its a hands-free bag big enough to hold exactly what you need.