Eco Friendly Gift Ideas for the Holidays

I get it. You love the tradition of gift giving during the holiday season. Me too. But it can be hard to balance your desire for a simpler, less wasteful lifestyle with the desire to “wow” your friends and family with the perfect gift. If you’re ready to try, though, these eco friendly gift ideas might be just the nudge you need to cause a shift in holidays as usual.

Be sure to check out this gift list for kids, too!

brown paper wrapped package with a pine cone and greenery

The best eco friendly gift idea? Skip Black Friday

Sure, shopping Black Friday might net you a deep discount on the latest “must have” gadget at the big box stores. I guarantee, heading out on Black Friday will put me in a black mood. Instead, check out your local small businesses or follow Small Business Saturday on Facebook for updates.

Make your own gifts

Handmade gifts truly come from the heart. And they don’t have to be elaborate. These are easy enough that even a beginner DIYer can pull them off for holiday gift giving.

clear bottles with brown liquid, topped with pastel colored fabric

Support artisans by buying handmade gifts

This post contains affiliate links; we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site — at no additional cost to you.

Just can’t manage to make your own gifts for gift giving? Consider tracking down artisans who handcraft items. Etsy is your go-to source for online shopping, but be sure to explore unknown bastions of your city or town for eco friendly gift ideas, too. Or try your hand at making some of these last-minute homemade gifts.

natural brown soap with leaves

Related: Upcycled Gifts for Greener Giving

Shop locally for eco friendly gift giving

 

Do you know about the 3/50 Project? They encourage consumers to pick three local businesses that they love—three that they couldn’t do without—and spend $50 a month at those outlets. Just that little bit can make a difference.

Eco friendly gift ideas

I have no problem with purposeful gift giving that might lead a person to adopt a good habit. Of course, there’s a fine line here — we’re not preaching, just introducing our loved ones to the possibilities. Is there a family treasure that you can pass on? A fun item made with reclaimed materials? How about making a set of DIY beeswax wraps in fun fabric prints? You can stick to your principals and fulfill your gift giving with a little creative shopping. And be sure to check out my resources page for eco friendly gift ideas your favorite homesteader will love.

Shopping for kids this holiday season? Check out my gift ideas for kids that won’t undermine your values.

attainable sustainable book cover
Attainable Sustainablethe lost art of self-reliant living

Embrace handcrafting and homesteading with DIY projects, recipes, and gardening tips!

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stack of books about the homesteading topic.

 

Related: Giving Experiences Instead of Gifts

Give the gift of knowledge

Enroll your favorite gift recipients in an online course that they can take at their leisure!

  • Check out this foraging course from Colleen at Grow Forage Cook Ferment.
  • My friend Jan over at the Nerdy Farm Wife has an excellent course on soapmaking.
  • Stephanie Rose from Garden Therapy has a great course on DIY beauty products. Take the course yourself and learn to make gifts to give, or gift the course to someone who’d love to delve into making their own.
Be sure to check out all of these cool zero waste options at Etsy, too!

Give books

I’m an author, so “buy books” is one of my mantras. But as a book lover, I know there’s nothing better than finding a good book under the tree. They are truly the gift that keeps on giving.

I compiled this list of ten of my very favorite kids books some years ago. They are excellent, and if I saw you in the library I would thrust one of these in your hands, insisting that you read it. Really. Choose one for your favorite kiddo.

Or think about giving non-fiction books to build a library of knowledge. Read my take on some of these or check out my list of books for big and small homesteads. Books are one of my favorite eco friendly gift ideas!

Kitchen

Garden

burlap wrapped gift for eco friendly gift ideas

Consider reusable gift wrap

Skip the plastic bows

brown paper wrapped gift with a pine cone and greenery, hands making gifts

Originally published November 2013; this post has been updated.

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About the author: Kris Bordessa is an award-winning National Geographic author and a certified Master Food Preserver. Read more about Kris and how she got started with this site here. If you want to send Kris a quick message, you can get in touch here.

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