Essentials

Sustainable gift ideas for a green Christmas

By Lily Rose

December 14, 2021 / 6:52 PM EST / Essentials

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Holiday shopping usually means festive gift bags, masses of sparkly ribbon and loads of plastic packaging that winds up in a landfill. But it doesn't have to. This year, the best holiday gift you can give may be one that helps the planet.

We've found a bunch of sustainable gift ideas for everybody, including Christmas gift must-haves from popular brands such as Girlfriend Collective, Rothy's and Youth to the People. We've selected gifts that are made with recycled materials or come in refillable bottles, and are packed in biodegradable wrapping. Some of these eco-friendly purchases even give back to the community by providing meals to people in need.

Want to give gifts that help protect the Earth? Keep reading to discover more sustainable gift ideas.

Paravel carbon-neutral luggage set: $595

Paravel creates sustainably made travel accessories. Its carbon-neutral luggage set is made with materials that help offset carbon emissions from manufacture and shipping. The luggage set features a recycled polycarbonate exterior, recycled zippers and vegan leather details. The luggage lining is a made from recycled plastic water bottles. The Paravel luggage set comes in five colors and includes a suitcase and carry-on.

Paravel carbon-neutral luggage set, $595 (regularly $620)

$595 at Paravel

Feed quilted bundle: $178

Feed's holiday collection features this eye-catching quilted tote bag and pouch bundle. Both the tote and the pouch are made with organic cotton and feature a colorful geometric design. Your purchase of this statement-making bundle is more than just a fashion statement -- it also provides 60 school meals to children in need.

Feed quilted bundle, $178 (regularly $196)

$178 at Feed

The Leaf shaving kit: $113

Give the gift of smooth skin while combating plastic waste. Leaf Shave's razor kit includes an all-metal razor, a razor stand, 60 blades and a blade-recycling tin. According to the brand, more than 100,000 Leaf Shave users will keep 2.5 million disposable plastic razors out of landfills this year. The company also packages and ships products without plastic.

The Leaf Kit, $113

$113 at The Leaf Kit

Each and Every Skin Goals facial oil: $55

This skin oil is made with a blend of nine different varieties, plus the vegan retinoid bakuchiol, inflammation-fighting turmeric and vitamin E. Each and Every's facial oil is vegan and crafted without parabens, silicones, artificial fragrance or dyes. Plus, it will stand out in your medicine cabinet, thanks to the chic little sustainable black glass bottle that it comes in.

Each and Every Skin Goals facial oil, $55

$55 at Each and Every

TenTree Tree Fleece Golden Spruce hoodie: $51

This TenTree hoodie comes in many colors and is made with 60% organic cotton and 40% recycled polyester. According to the brand, a TenTree sweatshirt uses, on average, 75% less water to make, versus the other sweatshirts in your closet. The brand also plants 10 trees for every purchase.

TenTree Tree Fleece Golden Spruce hoodie, $51 (regularly $68)

$51 at TenTree

Girlfriend Collective cropped recycled puffer: $169

The cropped puffer jacket channels one of this season's hottest winter styles. The Girlfriend Collective puffer jacket is made from recycled plastic bottles and will keep you warm in temperatures down to 18 degrees. It's currently available in four colors. Right now it's on sale for almost $30 off.

Girlfriend Collective snow cropped recycled puffer, $169 (regularly $198)

$169 at Girlfriend Collective

Youth to the People skincare gift set: $46

This three-step skincare set includes a cleanser, serum and moisturizer, all made with 100% vegan ingredients and stored in recyclable and refillable packaging. The cruelty-free brand formulates all its products in California and sources extracts from local suppliers. It also uses recyclable paper for packaging.

Youth to the People skincare gift set, $46

$46 at Youth to the People

Allbirds tree dashers: $125

Allbirds replaced petroleum-based materials with natural ones to make shoes. These running shoes are made of breathable and durable tree-sourced material and feature a supportive midsole made of sugarcane. They come in a bunch of bright colors and are machine washable.

Allbirds tree dashers (men), $125

$125 at Allbirds

The same Allbirds tree dashers running shoe design is available in women's sizes.

Allbirds tree dashers (women), $125

$125 at Allbirds

Rothy's merino slipper: $155

These fuzzy flippers are sustainably knit with a blend of ethically sourced merino wool and thread made from plastic bottles. The inside is lined with a soft, warm, wool-like material. The slippers come in three colors, but at last look, only the "birch tan" shade was in stock.

Rothy's merino slipper, $155

$155 at Rothy's

H&M Conscious oversized faux fur jacket: $25

Did you know that H&M has its own line of sustainable items called H&M Conscious? The brand makes at least 50% of each piece from sustainable materials. This oversized faux fur jacket is the result of a collaboration between the brand Smiley and H&M Conscious. It is lined with recycled polyester.

H&M Conscious oversized faux fur jacket, $25

$25 at H&M

Prados Beauty bamboo face pads: $35

This Xicana- and Indigenous-owned beauty brand makes cleansing face pads out of 100% recycled hemp and bamboo. These 16 washable and reusable pads come with a recycled-material bamboo face-pad holder and a wash bag.

Prados Beauty bamboo face pads, $35

$35 at Prados Beauty

Superzero hand balm bar: $22

This moisturizing vegan hand balm bar will rescue dry winter skin and won't add waste to our planet. It's made with vegetable-based squalane and Abyssinian oil to maintain the skin's moisture barrier. Superzero's hand balm bar comes wrapped in a compostable wrapper and packaged in recycled (and recyclable) cardboard boxes. It is currently available in lavender and chamomile or patchouli and lime scents.

Superzero hand balm bar, $22

$22 at Superzero

Summersalt The Cloud 9 silky PJ set: $95

These silky pajamas are made with 100% recycled polyester material. They come in more than ten festive and fun prints, four of which are part of Summersalt's limited-edition Rifle Paper Co. and Summersalt sleepwear collection.

Summersalt The Cloud 9 silky PJ set, $95

$95 at Summersalt

DedCool fragrance sample pack: $33

This Los Angeles-based beauty business offers a sample set of six 100% biodegradable and plant-based unisex fragrances. Better yet, the entire sample set is 100% recyclable, including the aluminum tin it comes in. If you've fallen in love with a scent and want to buy one, full-size scents come in recyclable glass bottles and are printed with biodegradable ink.

DedCool fragrance sample pack, $33

$33 at DedCool

Pact thermal waffle crewneck: $41

Pact's thermal waffle crewneck is made with organic cotton in a fair-trade-certified factory. The crewneck is available in four colors and runs up to a size XL.

Pact thermal waffle crewneck, $41 (regularly $55)

$41 at Pact

WVN quilted timber sweatshirt: $128

The WVN quilted timber sweatshirt is made with a blend of organic cotton and recycled polyester. The sweatshirt is available in two colors and runs up to a size XL. WVN works with fair-trade-certified, ethically made and organic fabrics.

WVN quilted timber sweatshirt, $128

$128 at WVN