A Guide to Zero Waste Gifts 2024
Happy Holidays! It’s time for my annual gift guide where I once again came up with 150 eco-friendly gift ideas for you this holiday season so you don’t have to resort to meaningless, junky gifts. You can get a gift that will save the planet, maybe save the recipient some money, and just overall be a lot of fun!
Now, before we get into it, remember who you are getting gifts for. If you know someone doesn’t want or won’t use a zero-waste swap, don’t get it for them, it will go to waste. Sometimes, even a seemingly wasteful gift can be put to great use and actually be less wasteful than an unwanted zero-waste gift.
My advice is to ask people what they want for the holidays. You can ask them to give you a list of 5-15 items so that way you can still surprise them without it being something wasteful or unwanted. You can also give people a list of your wants so you don’t have to deal with unwanted gifts either. Then, once you get their list, check out one of these eco options or check secondhand before buying new if possible.
But, if you have to buy something new but it’s something that person will actually use and love, that IS sustainable. If you buy them something they don’t want like a zero waste swap or something secondhand, sure it was acquired in a sustainable way, but if they will just throw it away, that’s not sustainable.
Alright, now that we know how to have a little bit of a less wasteful gifting season, let’s get into it. The gifts will be broken into categories and they will also have a dollar symbol next to them so you can shop within your budget.
$ - $30 or less
$$ - $75 or less
$$$ - $100 or less
$$$$ - Over $100
If this guide didn’t cover the gifts you’re in the market for, check out my past gift guides too!
Last years Eco Gift Guide 2023
Low waste gifts Ideas 2022; let’s talk small businesses!
Books/Reading
I highly recommend first checking them out at your local library physically or digitally through Hoopla or Libby. Want to own the books for yourself? Check out Thriftbooks to get your copy secondhand or buy from the author directly to support them. As a last resort, check out big book retailers which I have linked.
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer $
The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl $
The Intersectional Environmentalist by Leah Thomas $
101 Tips for a Zero Waste Kitchen by Kathryn Kellogg $
The Conscious Kitchen by Immy Lucas $
Or any other eco book! Check out my recommendations parts 1 and parts 2. $
Thrift their TBR on Thriftbooks $
Books would pair nicely with a thrifted mug, their favorite loose-leaf tea or coffee, a cozy blanket, and a candle refill from Everly
My new ebook! Granted, I plan on launching it in January…but it could be a late gift for someone for the New Year! $
A book sleeve is a great way to protect your books which is an act of living an eco life. There are so many great handmade options on Etsy $
Hobbies
I love making my hobbies low waste. Just because you’re living zero waste doesn’t mean you have to give up everything you love. Here are some tips for making your hobbies less impactful and check out this list for more ideas:
Board games are easy to thrift or check out your local game store. Get something unique for them this year $-$$
Movies/DVDs are also easy to thrift. Or, you can buy their streaming subscription for the month or year. This would pair nicely with a thrifted popcorn bowl, some bulk popcorn, and a Stasher Bag to pop it in $
Heron Hill Stitch Co kits I found at a local boutique I think in Lake Tahoe and they’re so cute!! What a great intro to sewing and felt $
Rock climbing pass/class, inspired by my monthly pass if anyone is interested in getting this for me haha $-$$$$
Sky Clad Apothecary, the first zero waste herbal store. They’re even doing advent calendars now! I found them doom-scrolling and I am obessed! $-$$$
Another eco apothecary is Wicklanders Roots. They are a bit different than Sky Clad, so check them out, too! $-$$$
Get the hikers in your life some gear that they’ve been eyeing or opt for a simple REI gift card. The outdoorsy folk in your life with be forever grateful for this small gesture (it’s me, I’m outdoorsy folk) $-$$$$
Got a fiber artist in your life? Check out Darn Good Yarns for some sustainable yarn (use code EMMA15 for 15% off) $-$$$
Head to the thrift store and see if you can find what aligns with their hobby. Do they like journaling? Look for fun pens and washi tape. Do they like to bake? See if there are any unique baking tools or quality brands. You get the idea! $-$$
This is for your photographer friends: offer to pay their Adobe subscription for a month, a few, or the year $$$
If your loved one wants to get into a new hobby, buy them a class for it! I want to get into pottery, for example, so someone may want to buy me a pottery workshop…for example. Other examples could be woodworking, papermaking, knitting, gardening, and more $$-$$$$
If they want to get into biking, I cannot and will not stop hyping up my Aventon e-bike. It’s on the pricey side, but so so worth it! $$$$
This one’s for the gamers: get them a new game but find it secondhand or buy it digitally. If their controllers require a lot of batteries, get them some rechargeable ones to help them save money and waste this year $-$$$
I tried out a yoga mat from 42 Birds this year and LOVE it! It’s made from cork and is so comfortable. Perfect for someone who’s looking for one. Use code EMMA15 for 15% off $$-$$$
Beam Paints is an indigenous-owned, sustainably made paint company. Their pigments are stunning! $-$$
A couple years ago I got Dan a custom set of playing cars because we love card games and I wanted to an excuse to show off his photography. So, each card has a different photo on it that he took and I chose a metal tin to keep them the most protected and it’s easy to reuse in other ways $
Zero waste swaps
Be careful in this category. Know your audience. For example, if I were to gift my dad any of these items, they would likely be wasted. But if I were to gift them to my sister, she would likely use and love them! Give theses to the eco folks in your life or those who want to be more eco.
Dryer balls are a great, low cost zero waste swap that the recipient won’t find hard or weird to use AND will help them save money $
Reusable water bottle, Klean Kanteen always wins in this category! $
Reusable coffee cups are a great beginner swap that even non-zero wasters use. Klean Kanteen also makes some good ones $
Stasher Bags are a staple in just about every zero waste house. They prevent so much waste and can save a lot of money $-$$
But, Qrumbles silicone wraps are much easier to clean. I prefer them most of the time! $
Unpaper towels from Marley’s Monsters $
Buy them a compost bin! You could get them a small countertop bin or a larger backyard option. This is great for folks in your life who want to start composting but haven’t pulled the trigger yet.
A Leaf Shave razor is a very nice gift to give. It’ll last them years and years and is not that expensive to maintain. It’s worth the money and would pair nicely with a shave soap bar from Badger and a zero waste shaving kit
Home
Looking to splurge on someone or hoping someone goes all out for you? Give them this list of high-quality home products that are also eco-friendly.
Gift someone a vintage calendar from matching years! This website tells you what years match our current year. What a great way to repurpose something old! (I got this idea from Kelley Heyer on TikTok)
Nothing specific, but I love Consciously Curated Home on social media. She continually shares thrift finds and how she pairs them with the occasional new item for beautiful gift baskets from candles to dinner parties to hobbies and more
Shop our photography prints! Dan and I are hobby photographers and you can buy our prints for your own home or as a gift for someone who may enjoy them. Check them out here
Help them start composting with an at-home composter machine from Lomi, the small version, or Mill, the larger version $$$$
Want some punny and sassy candles? Look no further than Malicious Women Co. These candles were started by a woman who lost her best friend to depression. She herself was losing herself and was suggested by a therapist to find a hobby: candles. The rest is history! $
Give someone the gift of comfy bedding this year! I LOVE our comforter from Buffy. We have had it for years and it’s so cozy in every season. I even dyed it after I stained it, oops. We also have been using Sheets & Giggles sheet sets for years. You could go with both or one or the other, both brands sell all kinds of bedding that is totally worth the price! $$$$
I know, this may be a weird gift, but I swear, bidets are life-changing. They save so much toilet paper and they’re so much more hygienic than not using one. If someone in your life is interested but has yet to buy it for themselves, get them one! We love both of ours from Tushy and Whisper $$$-$$$$
Looking for some unique pieces like coasters, soap dishes, and more? Check out Mull Club, a UK-based recycling company that collects garbage and recycles it into stunning pieces themselves $-$$
B&I Metal Designs makes custom metal signs, fire rings, and other creations for your home or business. Check them out for a fun memento! $$-$$$$
From eco-friendly makeup to skincare to clothes and indigenous art, check out Lakota Made for all things eco and handmade home $-$$
Get them a reusable calendar! It could be something like this one we have that we write important recurring dates on or a calendar that you can wipe and rewrite on and use forever and ever. This is a great eco gift for the planners in your life.
Health and Beauty
Let’s eco-fy our beauty routines and bathrooms this holiday with this list of brands helping us take care of ourselves and the planet.
A new skincare brand I found this year is Uni. They’re like Plaine Products (bonus gift idea ;) ) in the sense that they take their bottles back for refill and reuse. But, they focus on skincare while Plaine focuses on general bathroom swaps. Check them both out!
A favorite brand for me in 2024 was Meow Meow Tweet. I love their message, their ingredients, their packaging, and their products were some of the best I tested this year. Get everything you need from eco bug spray to shampoo and more $
Can’t go wrong with a good bar soap! Check out Moring Mist Soap Co and pair it with other zero waste bathroom essentials like a natural loofa, soap saver bag, and a sugar scrub $
But if you’re looking for more low waste bathroom items, check out Oak & Willow. I love their stuff! $-$$
A brand I’ve been eyeing for years but only tried for the first time in 2024 is Sustain Yourself. Their zero waste beauty essentials are clearly made with love and they are such great quality! $-$$
Another amazing indigenous-owned brand is Sequoia Soaps. I discovered them at the Dakota Heritage Center in Mne Sota (Minnesota). They create so many unique items from soaps to lip balms to candles and more $-$$
If you’re looking for handmade foraged goods from another great indigenous-owned business, try Haipazaza Phezuta. I didn’t buy any of their products when I saw them at the same cultural center but they all smelled SO good $-$$
For the eco-makeup girlies, try Axiology, Zerra & Co, and Fat and the Moon. They’re all a bit different and will offer many items you may need! $-$$
Accessories
You can be stylish AND zero waste with these accessory options that make great gifts.
Want some upcycled jewelry? Check out Autumn’s Vintage Rings made from reclaimed spoons $
A higher-end jewelry company I love that uses recycled gold and silver is Lackadazee. I’ve had one of their body jewelry hoops in for over 4 years, that’s how I found them! $$-$$$$
A hometown favorite of mine is Sugar Camp bandanas. They’re bandanas with feminist and political messaging and are also made from 100% cotton or silk making them relatively eco-friendly. Get these for your bandana-loving friends $
Accessories like jewelry, bandanas, tote bags, purses, and more are SO easy to thrift. Then you can find something eco, cheaper, and very unique! $
Clothing
Honestly, clothing gifts are underrated. I never want to splurge on necessities for myself but if I ask someone to buy them for me? Heck yes! Here are some of my favorite clothing brands that I would love to receive as gifts.
You simply cannot go wrong with a good pair of socks. I live in my Darn Tough socks all year long, every day $
Girlfriend Collective is excellent for the athletic folk in your life…or those who want to be comfy this winter. I love their sweats and sweatshirts for cozy season but also use their athletic wear all year long for hikes and the gym $-$$$
More athleisure options from Boody are cozy and cute $-$$$
Get them some secondhand fashion on sites like Mercari, Depop, and ThreadUp. I love these sites because you can search by brand, size, and style to get someone exactly what they want but in an eco way! $-$$$
My new-to-me Crocs from Mercari :)
Subset makes such cozy pieces! I have been living in their lounge pants all year $-$$$
I gotta shout her out every year, that’s Reworked by Sav (previously known as Shorts by Sav). Her upcycled fashion brand uses strictly 100% secondhand materials and they’re truly unique to you. From bleach tye-dye to patchwork to ransom note tees, you can be trendy in an eco way with her designs $-$$
Another consistent fav is Madistiches. Her National Park designs are embroidered by her and her small team on cotton crew necks. They even sell the blemished designs for a discount so nothing is wasted! $$
Poppy Lu Clothing is another upcycled-fashion business using reclaimed materials and transforming them into totally new and unique garments $$
It’s cozy season and what goes better with cozy season than slippers? I love my Allbirds slippers and so does Dan after I got him some for Christmas in 2023. They also have shoes, socks, tees, and more $-$$
Tech
In the digital age, it’s very popular to give tech-related gifts. But, tech is quite wasteful for the environment so let’s reduce our impact in this category this year.
Fairphone is a great and mostly sustainable option if you’re looking for a new phone for someone this year. They are certified B-corp, fairtrade, and other certifications you can read about here $$$$
Otherwise check refurbished tech on places like Backmarket for credible secondhand tech $$$-$$$$
I’ve also found some decent tech secondhand on Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and eBay such as an iPad, a juicer, cameras, and more
Protect your tech with Pela case! While I no longer support their phone grips (they fall apart so easily) I still do love their cases and will keep going back for them $
Food & Drink
Food and drink are classic gift ideas. Usually low cost, anything that can be consumed is low waste. And who doesn’t love to receive tasty treats?
Maria’s (my friend from Living Planet Friendly) sells homemade restock labels. Give the labels as a gift or… $-$$
Buy them, put them on jars, and make the restocked items…gift someone a homemade pantry restock! This pairs nicely with her book, From Scratch! $
Make some simple syrups for them. This DIY yet edible option is easy, cheap, can be packaged in upcycled bottles AND Maria has an ebook to get you started, too $
Family recipe book or recipe cards. Pair it with a few dishes already made and package it in upcycled or thrifted dishes $-$$
Check out some eco-friendly candy options for some tasty and sustainable stocking stuffers in my candy post from Halloween but you can eat them all year $
If someone you know gardens or wants to start, buy the seeds for them this year. It’s never too early to start garden planning!
This small bean company, Rancho Gordo, preserves heirloom species and sells beans, gift boxes, and recipe books. Pair this with a nice thrifted kitchen towel, soup pot, and some bowls for the perfect cozy gift of soup! $
Get some tea that is sourced ethically and packaged on the Winnebago Reservation from Tribal Tea Co. Their tasty loose-leaf teas are packaged in reusable tins $. This would pair nicely with a reusable tea strainer and a handmade mug from my favorite artist…
Science Ceramics! Her work is stunning and great quality. It’s all handmade by Marissa herself, too! $
Maybe that’s out of your budget, try a secondhand mug instead. Pair it with loose-leaf tea, locally roasted coffee, or make your own hot cocoa mix $
For the mixologists, make a secondhand drink kit. Thrift some nice drink glasses and fill some upcycled jars with dried drink mixes. Here are some ideas from Crowded Kitchen. If it’s in your budget, buy them a bottle of alcohol too and put it all in a thrifted box or basket $-$$
You truly cannot go wrong with their favorite candy or snack. Even if it’s not the MOST sustainable, it’s still sustainable if they will eat it versus throw it away $
Pets
This might be a bit over the top, pets don’t know what holidays are. But, we have to spoil them, right? Spoil them this year in a more eco way.
Petaluma is a great choice for healthy pet food and snacks any time of the year $-$$$$
Or you can head to The Kind Pet for any sustainable pet needs from leashes to toys to poop bags and more $-$$$$
Try your hand at making an upcycled DIY cat scratcher! All you need is glue, cardboard, and patience. They take a bit to make but are so worth it since it’s free! Here’s how I made one.
Homemade treats are another great free option. There are plenty of recipes online but I use oats, peanut butter, and pumpkin and bake until crispy. I don’t really measure sorry!
Kids
As a non-parent, I find it hard to shop for kids. But, here are a few good places to start. Just like with adults, get kids stuff they will actually use and want. Don’t be afraid to take them to the store to get inspiration or ask them to create a wishlist.
Green Kids Crafts is a great one-stop-shop for all things eco crafts and activity boxes for kids. You could get them a full year’s subscription to ensure they have activities all year long! $-$$$$
Maybe the kids in your life are more into sports, check out Eco Sports for eco-friendly gear or try looking secondhand! $-$$$$
You can also simply browse Earth Hero. They have so many options from play dough to crayons to toys and games and so much more for the kids in your life $-$$$$
Thrifted toys and games are also a great eco and budget-friendly option!
Free gift ideas
Just because it’s the holidays doesn’t mean we have to or should spend a ton of money on our loved ones. We can make gifts meaningful without breaking the bank and sacrificing the planet in the process. So, here are some free AND eco gift ideas.
Make a craft with supplies you already own: a crochet beanie, air dry clay tray or tic tac toe set, a painting (and thrift a frame), some of your photography, or whatever you hobby is
Bake something with ingredients you already have
Clean their house for them
Offer to babysit for an evening. Pair it with a gift card if you can for the ultimate date night out for the couple!
Craft a time capsule, memory journal, or shadow box full of mementos you share with your loved one. This homemade gift shows dedication in the form of time and shows that you care about quality time together. Free does not have to be meaningless!
Shop secondhand in your own home. There is no shame in regifting if the item is nice and your loved one would want and use the item. You can jazz it up with some new, fresh elements, too. Especially things like puzzles that people rarely do twice.
Salt dough ornaments are cheap to make and can be very fun and customizeable. This is a great activity to get the kids involved too for gifts for the whole family that have sentimental value.
Plan an outing! While you might have to buy some gas, this can otherwise be very cheap or even free. Look up free museums in your area, take them on a hike, or check out other free events in your area such as open mic night, bar trivia, and so forth.
Make a terrarium! All you need is an upcycled jar and head into the forest to find rocks, dirt, moss, and ferns
Take a clipping of your own plant and propagate it in a pot you already have (or thrift one)
A free yet secondhand gift idea is to go around to a bunch of Free Little Libraries and look for free secondhand books
Make someone a “coupon” book full of things like “redeem for one house deep cleaning” or “redeem one at-home pedicure” and things of that nature
Create a scavenger hunt! This can be fun for all ages. You can even use things like the free geocache app for inspiration and things to go find. My friend Tiny Waste did this for her child and it was a hit!
Create a photo album. It’s even cheaper if the photos are already printed! You could even do it scrapbook style with craft items you already have at home.
Take old mementos and make a “junk journal.” This requires no printing of photos and can be made in whatever style you like! Check out Pinterest for some inspiration and use what you have to make it low cost and low waste
Or turn them into a collage that you can frame in a thrifted frame. Include things like photos, tickets, receipts, and use other supplies you already have like stickers and paper.
Check out your local Buy Nothing Group (learn more here) and see what is available for free! Remember, if it’s not pristine, you can polish it, wash it, and give it some new love with some new paint depending on what it is.
Make an at-home spa kit. It’s very easy to make things like a sugar or coffee scrub for cheap at home. Even things like moisturizers and bath bombs aren’t too hard! Pair this with a thrifted candle for the perfect home spa gift.
Sourdough makers, this is the perfect time to gift some loaves but also gift some starter in an upcycled jar with recipe cards. Or you can gift some dried starter from Maria
For kids, it’s very easy to make things like play dough and slime at home and they’re sure to love it!
There are so many ways to make ornaments from salt dough to cardboard to wooden to photos. Get creative! Here are some I made last year with reclaimed wood
Homemade food is a hit. Here are some ideas: baked goods, pickles, kombucha, hot sauce, salsa, meals they can freeze, and so forth. Include recipe cards to they can make it themselves later.
Fiber artists, this is the perfect time to stash bust all that yarn. Use yarn you already have to make small projects like ornaments, beanies, mittens, cup cozies, and more.
It’s a little late this year, but you can use the free Treecard app. You walk and it tracks your steps which plants trees AND gets you free rewards. I got Dan some free Allbirds shoes last year with the app!
DIY an advent calendar. Another one from my friend Tiny Waste. She made one out of old toilet paper tubes and Who Gives a Crap toilet paper wrapping and filled it with free coupons like I outlined above, free activities like a visit to the museum, and her child’s favorite candies.
Experience gifts
This is my favorite category every year! Yes, everyone loves to open a physical object on the holidays, but what’s better than gifting someone junk is the gift of an experience. I’ll try not to repeat one’s I’ve said in the past, but I might. Check out past gift guides for more ideas!
Classes: music, art, cooking, foraging, sailing, etc
Sports: ski pass for the season, sports lesson, gym membership, game tickets or season pass, pay for their classes (yoga, pilates, karate, etc)
Adrenaline junkies: sky diving, bungee jumping, go-kart racing, speedway racing
For the outdoorsy folk: national and state parks passes (pair it with a stamp book), a mountain bike club pass, and things of that nature
Teddy Roosevelt National Park
For the artsy folk: museum tickets, theater season pass, pottery painting, paint & sip
Ticket to their favorite musical artist, comic, etc
A vacation or a road trip
Food & Drink: bar crawl, wine tasting, brewery tour, fine dining experience
Pay a photographer for family photos (pair this with getting them printed and framed in secondhand frames)
Escape room experience
Movie passes
A spa day/massage gift card
Gift them a tattoo experience
Hot air balloon ride
Skills
On a budget but have a skill to offer? Give the gift of being a handy person this holiday season!
Repair something for someone. Maybe you’re good at mending or handy with cars or tech. Give someone the gift of mended items this year so they can save money with the pros later on.
Skillshare memberships are a great gift to give someone who wants to learn a skill but maybe you don’t have access to a class locally. They can learn what they want to online! $-$$$$
Embroidery is a relatively cheap hobby to get into and you can embroider something for someone such as clothing, a tapestry, a pillow, and more $-$$
General
Still not sure what to get? These generic options are always a hit no matter who you’re shopping for.
You can’t go wrong with a gift card! Bonus points if it’s for a local business $-$$$$. Here are some ideas:
Simply their favorite store
A pre-paid visa card they can spend anywhere
Mani/pedi
Cash is another great option so that someone can buy exactly what they want or need $-$$$$
Image from Squarespace
Zero Waste Stores
Ditch Amazon and other wasteful retailers this year! Maybe none of these items sparked your interest, head to one of these eco-friendly stores to get a gift card or browse for the perfect gift
Head to your local zero waste/refill store and pick up some zero waste gifts there! Find your local zero waste store with the Eco Rate app
Or head to any local store in your town to get a gift card or a physical gift. Shop small this holiday season and all year long! Learn about how shopping small is so much better for the planet in this video
Or, lastly, go giftless this year! Gifts are fun, but perhaps we all take that money we saved and spent in on ourselves. Maybe we donate it to a good cause instead. I think spending quality time with one another during the holidays without stressing about money and gifts is so much more meaningful, though, of course, this isn’t for everyone.
Happy shopping!
I hope that these help you get a good start on eco holiday shopping. Remember to gift people things they will actually use. Don’t be afraid to tell them what you want or ask for what they want to reduce unwanted gifts this year.
Shop small, too! It’s a great way to live an eco life and support your neighbor.
Want more eco holiday content? Check out this Playlist.
As always, remember that you small actions make a big difference in the long run :)
Emma
