Sustainable Gift Guide

It’s time to rethink the consumerist culture around the US holiday season! There are plenty of ways to celebrate and show love for family and friends while minimizing your waste and overall environmental footprint.

Gift Giving

Spending time with family and friends is the best gift of all, so of course choosing not to buy gifts is the most sustainable option! But for those who want some eco-friendlier gift ideas, here are some suggestions from our founders. Please note- you can normalize all of these options by also putting them on your personal wish list if people ask for ideas for you!

Experience-Based Gifts

Instead of a physical object, consider giving an experience where you can create memories together, or a service they need or would really appreciate! Here are some ideas we love: 

  • Massages or spa passes

  • Manicures/pedicures

  • Bike rental subscription

  • Composting subscriptions - more info

  • Chicago Tool Library membership - more info

  • Annual museum passes

  • Restaurant or coffee shop gift card - check out our list of sustainable options

  • Audio subscriptions, like Spotify, Audible, etc

  • Car cleaning packages

  • House cleaning packages

  • Escape room adventures

  • Concert, Movie, or Theatre tickets

  • Online classes

  • Sports game tickets

  • National Park passes (like America the Beautiful)

  • Homemade activity or service vouchers- you could just give the person a “coupon” for some sort of future activity, like going hiking, doing the person’s nails, painting their fence, walking their dog, cleaning their car, or something else they need!

  • Donating to a cause in the person’s name

 

Consumable Gifts

Buy something locally or regionally produced that you know the person likes! Consumable gifts can be used up and won’t create clutter. For a list of grocery stores that source primarily local foods, click HERE.

  • If you have your own garden, make something from it! Jams, pickled items, etc

  • Offering to cook dinner for someone when they’re really busy

  • Regional fruit basket

  • Charcuterie basket with locally produced cheese, crackers, or spreads

  • Fair trade coffee or tea

  • Wine, craft beer, or liquor

  • All natural (or homemade) pet treats

  • Community Supported Agriculture subscription - more info

  • Helping to cover a bill or sudden expense - reducing stress for the recipient is also a huge gift in itself!

 

Secondhand Gifts

Our culture discourages secondhand gifting, but buying used is the most eco-friendly option for giving a physical gift. It wouldn’t be appropriate in all cases, but here are some gift items that are great to buy secondhand, and will allow you to get way more for your money!

  • Refinity Candle - makes candles with reused containers right here in Chicago!

  • Books

  • Wooden furniture

  • Designer handbags and leather goods

  • Jewelry

  • Decor Items, including for the holidays!

  • Bikes

  • Games and Sports equipment

  • For more ideas, check out the Trashy Holiday Market on December 10

  • For a listing of reuse centers in Chicago, click HERE

 

Gifts from a Sustainable Shop or B Corporation!

Gifts like these are a great way to get a friend or family member interested in eco-friendly companies and products.

  • Sustainable goods from one of Chicago’s great local shops - more info

  • Home and personal goods from EarthHero, Blueland, etc

  • Clothing from B Corps like Patagonia, Athleta, Girlfriend Collective, or others

  • Ana Luisa sustainable jewelry

  • Menstrual care products, such as period undies or a menstrual cup

 

Gift Wrap and Cards

Don’t forget the wrapping! Sometimes this can be the most wasteful part of giving a gift. A lot of wrapping paper and gift bags are full of plastic, glitter or metallic coating, and are not easily recyclable. There are so many cute ways to wrap presents without the waste, so here are a few tips for the holiday season:

  • Use what you already have first. Reuse old gift bags, packing paper, ribbons, bows— anything is fair game.

  • Think outside the box! Fabric wraps and drawstring bags are great ways to cover a gift, and they can be reused for decades.

  • Upcycle newspaper: Wrapping with newspaper is a great way to get a unique look. You can even make your own bows out of newspaper or magazines - watch the video.

  • Brown paper wrapping with natural accents: You can use the brown paper from any packaging you receive to wrap your gifts! Consider using twine to tie on natural items like eucalyptus, pinecones, or sprigs from fir trees. Dried orange slices are also one of Miranda’s favorite looks, and an easy DIY.

  • Search for gift wrapping secondhand: At thrift stores, Buy Nothing or Free Box pages, anywhere you find secondhand goods can have gift wrapping options.

  • Cut out the tape, wrap a gift by folding the edges - learn how.

  • Make labels/gift tags out of old holiday cards- take the front panel of the card (aka the one that’s blank on one side), and cut it into segments that can be used as tags.

  • Holiday Cards: Please consider eliminating them completely, or doing E-Greeting Cards! But if not, choose ones from from sustainable vendors, made on recycled paper.


Banner Image Credit: Annie Spratt