25 eco-friendly gift ideas for the sustainability-minded

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The holiday season is often characterized by lots of shopping and spending — a frenzy of hastily shipped presents and clunky items that recipients pretend to love but secretly never end up using. It makes sense then, that some might want some more eco-friendly gifts.

Whether your gift recipient is a minimalist, vegan, fan of sustainable brands, or just someone who's interested in being more green but doesn't know where to start, we rounded up some of the best gift ideas. Some come from famous brands like Allbirds and Girlfriend Collective that use recycled materials in innovative ways; some, like a cute compost bin or reusable notebook, encourage less waste; and others come from companies who pledge to donate parts of their profits to organizations like 1% for the Planet. 

And if they truly don't want anything, you can always go for a more virtual gesture like planting a few trees in their honor.

A super warm parka with made with recycled materials

Patagonia Women's Down With It Parka

 Made from a 100% recyclable polyester shell and recycled down feathers, this bestselling coat is as warm as it is sustainable. It features a flattering, non-bulky silhouette while still being long enough to block out cold temperatures.

An ornament set with a sweet backstory

Uncommon Goods Save the Ocean Ornament Set

Ocean pollution remains a huge problem, and these stunning ornaments are mostly made from upcycled aluminum cans that end up in the water. Shaped like marine life, feature pretty ink patterns on the front while revealing parts of the cans on the back. To top it all off, $3 of each set is donated to ocean cleanup initiatives.

Fluffy slip-ons from a popular startup

Allbirds Wool Lounger Fluffs Women's

Allbirds Wool Lounger Fluffs Men's

Allbirds is a famed sustainability startup that uses natural, creative resources to make its sneakers. These fuzzy, pillowy slip-ons are crafted with a blend of Merino wool, sugar cane, and castor bean oil.

A stylish backpack

Everlane The ReNew Transit Backpack

This minimalist backpack from Everlane is part of its ReNew line, which mostly uses recycled materials (in this case, recycled polyester). This travel-friendly backpack easily fits a laptop and has compartments for a phone, wallet, water bottle, and other accessories.

A bestselling skin tint

ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40

The green part is the brand donating 1% of its profits from this item to 1% for the Planet. But aside from that, it's an excellent, SPF 40 skin tint that's silicone-free, fragrance-free, chemical screen-free, oil-free, non-comedogenic, and safe for sensitive skin.

Internet-famous leggings

Girlfriend Collective Compressive High-Rise Legging

Made from recycled products like water bottles, Girlfriend Collective's leggings already stand out from their innovation. But if that weren't enough, they're also super comfy, size-inclusive, and easy to pair with matching bras and tops to create cute matching sets.

A chic compost bin

Food52 Five Two Down-to-Earth Compost Bin

If anyone in your life has expressed interest in composting but doesn't know where to start, gift them this. Food52 surveyed its customers to figure out what they most wanted in a compost bin. The result? An odor-free, sleek receptacle that's small enough to fit on a counter, big enough to store days of scraps. The best part: When you're done with it, it's 100% recyclable. 

A set of stemless flutes

Uncommon Goods Recycled Stemless Flutes - Set of 6

Wine bottle glass is recycled and reborn into these sleek flutes that are handblown in Morocco and are dishwasher safe. They make an especially nice housewarming gift — along with some bubbly, of course.

A flannel shirt made from a host of sustainable materials

United By Blue The Responsible Flannel Button-Down Shirt Women's

United By Blue The Responsible Flannel Button-Down Shirt Men's

What looks like a stylish flannel button-down is so much more than meets the eye. It's made from OCS-certified organic cotton , polyester made from recycled plastic waste, and biodegradable buttons made from tree nuts. As a bonus, it ships plastic-free.

A reusable notebook

 Rocketbook Rocket Fusion Smart Reusable Notebook

For the writer or fervent notetaker who feels guilty about paper waste, this cloud-connected digital notebook lets them scrawl to their heart's content without giving a sheet. There are a bunch of different layouts to choose from, from calendars to bullet-journal pages, and when your giftee is done, all they need to do is wipe the notebook clean.

The comfiest sustainable sweats

Jambys Black Long Jambys

Jambys makes some of the softest, most comfortable loungewear we've tested, but it's also eco-friendly. It uses Modal, a plant-based material made from the fibers of beechwood trees, which require less water to grow than cotton. Modal fabric is then mixed with a bit of spandex for extra comfort and knitted into an unbelievably soft French terry.

A flower vase made from recycled glass

Uncommon Goods Recycled Glass Birth Month Flower Vase

To make this recycled glass vase a little more special, it features the colors of different birth flowers, so you can tailor it to your gift recipient's birthday for an added personal touch.

Cute flats made from plastic bottles

Rothy's Pointed Flats

These work-appropriate flats are made with Rothy's signature thread spun from recycled plastic bottles (about 11 bottles go into each pair). They come in over 30 colors and are machine washable

A sustainable sheet set

Coyuchi Organic Relaxed Sateen Sheets

This sheet set is made with 100% cotton and is Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)-certified, meaning the brand uses "ecologically and socially responsible practices throughout every step in the supply chain of textiles." Additionally, the brand donates parts of profits from select items (including this one) to 1% for the Planet.

Punny produce bags

Uncommon Goods Funny Food Plastic-Free Produce Bags

Perfect for the person who always brings their own bag to the store or market, these 100% cotton sacks feature cute graphics and puns to make that shopping trip a little more fun.

A versatile button-down

Outerknown Blanket Shirt Women's

Outerknown Blanket Shirt Men's

Made from 100% organic cotton and using corozo buttons made from Tagua Palms, the Outerknown Blanket Shirt was designed with sustainability in mind. From wearing it on a cool summer night to using it as a mid-layer in the fall and winter, it's incredibly versatile. With dozens of color options available, you can choose anything from neutral solid colors to bright plaid patterns.

Reusable kitchen towels

Sur La Table Organic Cotton Kitchen Towels (2-pack)

Made from 100% organic Turkish cotton, these washable and reusable towels are great eco-conscious alternatives to paper towels. They're not only extremely absorbent; they save your giftee the trouble of ripping a new paper towel every time they need to wipe up a spill.

A trendy, reusable shopping bag

Baggu Standard Baggu

Baggu's popular bags are made from recycled ripstop nylon but beyond that, they encourage a more eco-friendly lifestyle by working as reusable shopping bags. They're available in a host of fun prints and are easily foldable, so they can be stashed away until needed on a grocery run.

A pack of reusable silicone straws

Food52 Five Two Reusable Silicone Straws

For those yearning for plastic straw alternatives, the search can be tough: Paper straws can disintegrate, while metal ones can feel kind of cold. These pastel-colored silicone ones, however, are soft to the touch, odor-free, dishwasher-safe, and come in a 100% recyclable tray. They also come with carrying cases and squeegees, so your gift recipient can take them anywhere.

An under-$100 cashmere sweater

Naadam The Essential $75 Cashmere Sweater Women's

Naadam The Essential $75 Cashmere Sweater Men's

Get them a high-quality sweater that'll last. Naadam uses the longest, thinnest fibers of raw cashmere, resulting in a more durable and pill-resistant sweater. Furthermore, it powers its production facilities with clean energy, employs sustainable grazing practices, and pays local nomadic herders 50% more than traditional traders.

Bright-colored, reusable sandwich bags

Stasher On-The-Go 6-Pack

For anyone who balks at using plastic bags, these cute, durable sandwich and snack bags are a great alternative. They pinch closed in a snap, can be thrown in the dishwasher when done, and save money in the long run. Plus, Stasher donates 1% of its profits to "nonprofits working to protect the planet."

A cookbook of zero-waste recipes

Uncommon Goods Zero Waste Cookbook

For the chef who wants to use every scrap of food, this beautiful cookbook will be a welcome addition to their shelf. It features everything from full recipes to tips on regrowing produce.

A stainless steel water bottle

Hydro Flask 24 oz Standard Mouth Insulated Water Bottle

Hydro Flask makes some of our favorite stainless steel water bottles. The bottles and mugs are lightweight and keep beverages at their hot or cold temperatures for at least 12 hours. You can buy them in an array of fun patterns or even customize your own with your giftee's name.

A gorgeous alternative to plastic wrap

Bee's Wrap Reusable Wrap (3-pack)

Introduce your giftee to a prettier, easier-to-use alternative to plastic wrap. Beeswax wraps are made from organic cotton, beeswax, organic plant oil, and tree resin, making them more eco-friendly to begin with as well as reusable for up to a year. Plus, you can pick from a host of stunning patterns that spruce up any dish.

This article is part of "Holiday Insider," your go-to guide for celebrating the festive season.

A virtual tree planting

One Tree Planted Gift Them a Tree

Planting a tree in someone's honor is probably the most sustainable gift you can think of. One Tree Planted plants a tree per dollar and the "gift" part — a card with your giftee's name on it — is 100% virtual.

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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.

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