Eco-friendly gift ideas for the holidays

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You know you’re an adult when you’re actually excited to get a dish drying rack, am I right? Well, Christmas is coming soon, and you’re always looking for original gift ideas… and you end up buying coffee mugs for everyone. Don’t get me wrong, I love getting coffee mugs but we all own like 435 of them. So, I came up with a list of eco-friendly gift ideas for Christmas.

Whether it’s for your siblings who just moved out of your parents’ house, your grandparents who are not used to reusable products (other than their Tupperwares that are probably older than you), or your best friend’s baby that you want to spoil, these are suggestions for everyone. By opting for eco-friendly gifts, you help save the planet AND THE TURTLES!

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Kitchen

Beeswax wraps

Who is still using saran-wrap? I’m pretty sure the roll that I have has been there for like 3 years! I’m not sure if this is even recyclable, and I always accidentally tear it.

Beeswax wraps are a good alternative. They can be wrapped over the apple that your toddler took a bite of and let it on the table, or over your pan of lasagna. Most of the time, the packages come with 3 wraps of different sizes (a small one, a medium one, and a large one).

You simply need to heat them up a bit with your hands, then you can fold them around your food. They are also washable (hand wash in cold water, then hang to dry) and they last for a long time. I read somewhere that you can only use them for a year, but after more research, you can use them as long as they are in good condition.

Also, they smell AMAZING. Even after a year!

Silicone baking cups

The first time that I heard about silicone baking cups, I wasn’t convinced. I thought they would melt with the muffins… I was wrong! Silicone baking cups are freezer, microwave, and oven-safe (up to 500 °F).

Plus, these colorful cups are perfect for your kids lunchboxes. Would you like to get more ideas for the kids’ lunchbox? Read this blog post!

Home

Wool dryer balls

Years ago, my cat Pixel decided to eat a Bounce dryer sheet. After a trip to the vet in the middle of the night and an emergency surgery to ensure the threads don’t rip through her intestines, I swore to myself I would never use dryer sheets ever again.

Wool dryer balls are a great eco-friendly alternative. They reduce the static cling, are chemical-free, and reduce the drying time. With these, you don’t need to use liquid fabric softener anymore (and send tons of chemicals in our water). If you wish, you can add a few drops of essential oils on them to make your clothes smell good, but you don’t have to.

Hand soap dispenser

That’s probably the easiest eco-friendly change you can make in your home. Instead of buying small plastic bottles of hand soap, opt for a reusable soap dispenser and buy large quantities of hand soap. Okay, most refill bottles are probably made of plastic but at least, you will avoid throwing away at least 5-10 bottles of hand soap for one large refill bottle.

This option can be tricky if you aren’t sure of the home décor of the person you’re buying it for but there are so many nice options around, I’m sure you’ll find something.

Travel

Travel mug

We should all own a travel mug at this point but if you know someone who doesn’t, I recommend the brand Contigo. My parents have one, my sisters have about 235 of them, I have 3. These travel mugs keep your coffee warm, even after 8 hours (tested and confirmed by me!), and are easy to wash.

Honestly, when the weather gets colder, I use them in my own home to keep my coffee warm, instead of reheating my coffee mug in the microwave 10 times.

Snacks pouch

Why use plastic Ziploc bags when you can use these fabric snacks pouches that are machine-washable and that won’t end up in a landfill? Their fabric is waterproof, so you can use them for fruits or crackers.

For toddlers, I strongly recommend these snack containers. It will help avoid messes of Cheerios all over the floor, and it helps your child with his fine motor skills.

Metal straws

Plastic straws are a real problem in our environment. Start using metal straws to help save our oceans. Plus, these straws are the coolest: colorful metal straws in a unicorn case? Uh count me in! They also come with a brush so you can wash the smoothie out of them.

Learn more about the #NoStrawChallenge!

Water bottle

Who is still using plastic bottles anyway? Okay it happens to the best of us sometimes. However, there are so many options available, I’m sure you can find something.

Just like for travel mugs, I use Contigo water bottles as well. They are so pretty!

Self-care

Makeup remover/skin care pads

These organic pads are amazing. They are machine-washable (use the mesh bag, regular cycle), super soft, and biodegradable. Using these pads for your skin care routine avoids that tons of disposable pads end up in landfills.

You can also take them with you when you travel or put them in your gym bag.

Makeup beauty sponge

I barely wear any makeup, so I’m not sure how to use these sponges. However, make sure to use an eco-friendly sponge!

Facial sponge cleanser

These sponges, made of compressed cellulose, are 100% natural and reusable. I love the feeling of these: my skin feels so clean after!

Candles

Aromatherapy works wonders for my anxiety. I discovered Cheapsake Bay soy wax candles when my therapist suggested me aromatherapy at the beginning of the pandemic because my levels of anxiety were out of the roof.

I recommend the Milk & Honey candle! Good quality candles can be expensive, so this is why I’m suggesting offering them as an eco-friendly gift.

Shopping

Produce bags

We are pretty much all using fabric bags for our grocery shopping. But what about produce bags? I’ve always hated the plastic produce bags. They are a pain to open (it grosses me out when people lick their fingers to open them) and they are awful for our environment.

These reusable mesh produce bags allow you to get your apples without using plastic bags.

Note: they won’t keep your produce fresher than plastic bags. They are simply an alternative to plastic. Also, don’t forget them in your car when you go shopping!!!

I understand that these are not the most “WOW” gift idea but they are a great option of eco-friendly gift for the Christmas stockings!

Food storage containers

Last year, I discovered Bulk Barn. Instead of buying some foods in store, like quinoa and chick peas, that comes in a plastic package, I buy them in bulk using my own containers.

I strongly suggest that you get the Rubbermaid Brilliance containers because they keep your dry food fresh in the pantry for a long time.

Clothing

Did you know that some brands are focused on the environment? Discover these Canadian brands that I love! I don’t know about you but most of my kids’ clothes are hand-me-downs (other than the few missing clothing items I buy them once in a while). These eco-friendly gift ideas are great if you want to spoil your loved ones.

Kids clothing: Peekaboo Beans

I wrote about this brand in a post earlier this year. I love everything about them, from the quality of the materials to the sustainability program. Their clothes are a great option for an eco-friendly gift!

Learn more about Peekaboo Beans and shop their winter collection!

Kids clothing: Deux par deux

I love this brand because they are based in my home province, Quebec (Canada)! Their clothes are a bit more expensive because they are designer clothes but the quality of their products is totally worth it.

Shop Deux par Deux Clothing. US: Enjoy Free Shipping on all orders at Deux par Deux! Use Promo Code: TICTAC!

tentree

I’m OBSESSED with this brand. For every piece of clothing you buy, you get a tag. You can then register that tag and tentree will plant a tree (you can follow the process with your unique tag). HOW COOL IS THAT? As of October 25, 2020, Tentree planted 48,670,036 trees! Talk about an eco-friendly initiative!

Also, they pride themselves in using sustainable materials for all their products, they offer clothes for all body types (including my mom bod), and their clothes are super comfortable.

Learn more about tentree and shop their fall collection! Note: I am not an affiliate for tentree. I love their brand and I had to share it with you.

I hope I gave you great eco-friendly gift ideas for your Christmas list! Consider shopping online this year to avoid the masses in stores due to the pandemic. If you do have to go in stores, make sure to wear your mask and follow the rules regarding social distancing!