The Sustainable Boheme | Planet-Friendly Christmas Gift Guide
Disclosure: The Amazon links scattered throughout this post are affiliate links which means I will earn a small amount if you use them to make a purchase. As a sustainability girly, I always recommend thinking hard before making any purchases, even when they’re gifts!
I’m just going to say it: I think we started the Christmas planning a little too early this year as a collective. I saw people making holiday cookies before Halloween! Although, I can understand the compulsion to dive first into a season of coziness and spending time with loved ones. If you’re reading this, you’re probably thinking about presents and trying to get something your loved one will truly appreciate or maybe you’re looking for better options for the planet.
I created this planet-friendly holiday gift guide because we spend billions on unwanted presents every year. Worse than wasting your time fighting the crowds or wasting your money is the impact that so many unwanted presents have on the planet. From shipping emissions to landfill waste, the cost of buying unwanted presents isn’t one we have to bear this year. Buying a low-waste present someone will use is a win for everyone.
“Planet-friendly”?
What do I mean by “planet friendly”? It’s important to understand what people mean when they use words that don’t have a set definition. Too many people claiming to work in sustainability throw around vague terms without defining what they mean, which dilutes consumer trust. In this guide, I use “planet-friendly” to refer to items that are made with little to no plastic (or recycled plastic) or are reusable swaps for disposable items. I sought to only include larger brands that have certifications to back up their environmental claims. Priority is given to small businesses, secondhand retailers (I love Thriftbooks!), and products made in the U.S.A. I encourage you to tap into your local Buy Nothing group or platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Offerup to look for secondand version of some of the below items.
This guide is divided into five categories, arranged by price, and designed to capture a variety of tastes. I also include ✂️ DIY and ♻️ secondhand ideas throughout.
If you’re unsure where to start, make a copy of the Christmas Gift Questionnaire I made and share it with your loved ones. Getting someone something you feel confident they’ll love is a win for your wallet, your relationship, and the planet. (Tip: If you’re reading this before Thanksgiving in the U.S., have them fill it out between your second plate of sides and the dessert!)
Without further ado, let’s dive in!
🌲 Planet-Friendly Christmas Gift Guide 2024 🌲
Make My Life Easier...practical and useful gifts
Face Card No Limit...clean, vegan, and/or plastic-free skincare and beauty gifts
Outdoorsy...for campers, hikers, and gardeners
A Little Treat...something fun, unique, and maybe whimsical
Non-physical...causes to support instead of a physical gift
Make My Life Easier
Glass Boba Straws are cute, plastic-free, and can also be used for smoothies. $5.99 for a 2 pack
For the person who is always on top of their to-do lists, or trying to be!, the Boogie Board VersaNotes Expansion Pack, Reusable Dry-Erase and Sticky Note Alternative is a low waste alternative to sticky notes. $14 for a 3 pack
My Stojo Collapsible Cup is glued to my hand during the chilly months (and when I travel). I can’t recommend it enough! $15 for 16 oz cup
Bamboo Kitchen Utensils are a must for a plastic-free kitchen and they won’t scratch up pots and pans. $18 for 3 utensils
Beeswax Food Saver Wraps are an attractive plastic-free alternative to cling film. $24 for a 3 pack
Sustainably sourced teak makes this Sustainable Sur La Table Reversible Teak Carving Board the perfect gift for the foodie in your life. $25
These Simple Waffle Slippers come in a variety of colors and they’re Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified. $28
This post-consumer recycled stainless steel Kleen Kanteen Food Box can even go in the microwave! $35 for a 34 oz box
I’ve had my Life Straw Water Pitcher for over a year and love it. $50 for a 10 cup pitcher
For the friend with wanderlust who is also particular about their coffee, you can’t go wrong with the National Parks Brass French Press. $65
For the homebody that’s serious about their sleep, this Hand Knitted Weighted Blanket is Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified and has nearly 1100 5 star reviews. $112
♻️ TIP: some of these items you may also find secondhand in your local thrift store like wooden kitchen utensils, glass and metal storage containers (pack them with holiday cookies for a 2-in-1 treat!), or a French press! ♻️
Face Card No Limit
Shh, the Pacifica Reusable Mask – Brow Silicone Mask is actually on my personal wishlist, too. $12.
The reusable Forever Eye Mask from Dieux Skin are perfect for the person who is obsessed with glass skin. $25
I took this Activist Skincare Trial Kit with me to Oaxaca this summer and I loved it for its convenience and lack of plastic, plus the recipient will get a giftcard to apply towards a full sized product. $25
Stainless steel is the perfect surface to resist bacteria, which makes the Award Winning Mount Lai Stainless Steel Gua Sha Ritual Tool an extra thoughtful gift. $34
I’ve been wanting to try Saie Beauty because they are climate-neutral and raved about all over the internet. The Lip Combo would make a perfect stocking stuffer. $37 for liner and gloss
Did you know that Krave Beauty is vegan, cruelty-free, and they have a recycling guide for their products? The Intro Routine makes for a great well, intro, clean skincare gift. $51 for a set of 3 products
Another raved about skincare brand that I’ve been dying to get my hands on is Osea. The Osea Bestseller Minis Collection is perfect for the traveler in your life, too. $78
Outdoorsy
In addition to their 1-for-1 commitment, Bombas is a certified B Corporation with a mission. Socks $13+
When you’re camping, every inch and ounce counts. Stojo’s Collapsible Food Storage Box cuts down on single-use plastics and saves on space. $15 for a 24 oz
I purchased a Customizable Camp Mug from this seller on Etsy 4 years ago and I still love it. $19+ for one 11 fl oz mug
love Silvan and Jordan’s social media content. They show you their methods for gardening and foraging and their Homegrown Handgathered: The Complete Guide to Living Off Your Garden book is on my wish list! $26
Music festivals, camping trips, or even just long days at the beach. This CHAMP Portable Charger is made from recycled plastic and is carbon neutral. $48
Lush & Dew will help you secure an invitation back to your loved one’s house with their All-in-One High Yield Raised Beds Seed Bank. $60
Aspiring growers with little space will love a Hydroponics Growing System Kit. Fun fact: I was going to buy this one and then I received one secondhand! $70
💡Other ideas: Mapbooks for the recipients favorite camping areas, tree and plant identification books for their region, and wildlife identification books for their region.
A Little Treat
This highly-rated cookbook, Isa Does It: Amazingly Easy, Wildly Delicious Vegan Recipes for Every Day of the Week by Isa Chandra Moskowitz, is perfect for anyone who needs ideas for easy and delicious plant-based meals. $7+
The puzzles from Goodfit are not just beautiful, they’re also made from 100% recycled materials and eco-friendly ink. The Postcard Puzzles are the perfect stocking stuffer. $12
Claw clips are still seeing a major resurgence and the Kitsch Recycled Plastic Sage Assorted Claw Clip 3 Piece Set are a more planet conscious and affordable spin. $12 for 3 pieces
Chef Hannah Che is a James Beard Award and her vegan cookbook, The Vegan Chinese Kitchen: Recipes and Modern Stories from a Thousand-Year-Old Tradition: A Cookbook, is rated over 4.5 stars on Amazon and Goodreads. Pick this up for the foodie in your life who is trying to eat more plant based meals in 2025. $24
Committed to ending exploitation in the cocoa industry, Tony's Chocolonely Assorted Chocolates Advent Calendar makes for a thoughtful and delicious gift. $25
Introduce your candle-loving loved one to the concept of refills with the Siblings Refill Kit. There are plenty of scent options to choose from! $29
No batteries included nor needed for this Wooden Amplifying Phone Speaker. $59
Did you know that Lego sets in the Botanical Collection include elements made from sustainably sourced sugarcane? The Flower Bouquet is a perfect gift for the creative flower lover. $60
Support American growers with the Adopt-a-Maple gift set. New York state pure maple syrup, coffee-infused maple syrup, and bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup are included along with a certificate and GPS coordinates and a photo of the tree. $99
For the #selfcare lover you cannot go wrong with Lush’s 12 Days of Christmas advent calendar (just make sure their bathroom has a tub!). $120
✂️DIY ideas: Air dry clay coasters, clay magnets, DIY zine, handmade Christmas ornament, DIY penpal kit (letters, envelopes, stickers, stamps).
Non-physical
For the person who doesn’t want a physical gift, consider these options instead:
Activity based:
A local aquarium or zoo annual membership
A local museum annual membership
A local botanic garden annual membership
An annual national parks pass
Cause-based
Local to the recipient food bank donation in their name
A donation to an environmental or cause-based nonprofit in their name
Unique gift card ideas:
A gift card for an eco-friendly phone case brand (like Pela!)
Have a loved one who recently got married or saves every physical card they receive? Give them a Cards by Artkive gift card to preserve their cards in a book.
A gift card to a local to the recipient refill store
A gift card to a local to the recipient highly rated vegan or vegetarian restaurant
I hope this guide helped reduce the hours you spent searching for the perfect present and made it easier for you to resist impulse buying. Spending time with loved ones, slowing down, and appreciating the things that money cannot buy are all priceless.
Wishing you and your loved ones a safe and joyful season,
