The Best Zero Waste Gifts for the Holidays

There are plenty of ways we can reduce our waste and be more sustainable during the holidays from thinking about and reflecting on how we can reduce waste in our kitchens and at the dining table to sharing our love of zero waste and sustainability with our friends and families to giving away a zero waste gift or two. For those of us who want to give gifts but don’t like the waste it can create, this article is for you!

From here, there are many paths we can take, be it sharing some of the zero waste products we’ve started to use in our own life, giving consumable items like zero waste snacks or baked goods or just being more thoughtful about the materials we’re using for wrapping gifts, the holidays are a great time to introduce others to how simple and straightforward zero waste and sustainability can be.

It’s always fun to try to find the things people can actually integrate and use in their everyday life. Think about what types of things they enjoy or use regularly. This will help you find something that they would appreciate and use.

Gift giving can sometimes be challenging, especially so when you bring sustainability and zero waste into the mix. Giving a gift that someone can’t use could have unintended consequences if the person you give a gift to ends up not using that item and it just becomes waste. Because of this, I like to think about what people might enjoy and how they could utilize certain items. Providing a bit of a story or personal note with each gift on how we incorporate certain items into our day-to-day activities is another useful way to not only provide a personal touch but also gives people a cursory idea of how to use an item.

With that, what do your friends and family enjoy doing?

Does anyone on your list enjoy gardening? Gardening gloves might be a good idea!

Does someone on your list like cooking? A reusable produce bag would be a great gift idea since it’ll encourage them to shop in bulk or at their local farmers market.

1. Reusable Gifts

Giving reusable gifts is a great way to show someone a great zero waste alternative to an item they may already use in their everyday life. For someone who has asked for a new coffee brewer, compare French presses, pour-over brewers and coffee machines by how they make coffee. If they already have a setup they like, give beans instead.

• Beeswax wraps
• Stasher bags
• Garden Gloves
• Canvas or reusable shopping bags
• Tea Infuser
• A GOTS-certified organic cotton option, the Avocado Green Pillow

Thrifting and secondhand stores can also be a great resource for finding unique and affordable gifts. Not only can you save money by shopping secondhand, but you can also discover one-of-a-kind items you wouldn’t find in traditional retail stores. Shopping secondhand is environmentally friendly, too — it promotes the reuse of items and reduces the demand for new manufacturing.

2. Consumables

Another great holiday gift idea is something that can be consumed – think cookies, bread, fudge, coffee, tea. These items can also provide a more personal touch by allowing you to share your favorite coffee, tea or zero waste snack recipe. The great thing is, even if you aren’t making a zero waste or vegan snack to give as a gift, you can still likely find coffee or tea at your local farmers market.

• Bees Wax Candles
• Honey
• Coffee
• Tea
• Zero waste snacks or baked goods

3. Experiences

Another fun way to share the holidays with your friends or family and reduce waste at the same time is to gift experiences. This could be anything from an escape room to movie tickets to even a local CSA (community supported agriculture) subscription from a local farmer.

• Virtual or in-person cooking classes or wine tasting experiences
• Outdoor adventure or nature tours
• Escape Room
• Tickets to an eco-friendly music festival or event
• An eco-friendly vacation or staycation at a sustainable resort or hotel
• Personalized online fitness or wellness coaching sessions
• An art or DIY workshop class using recycled or sustainable materials
• A sustainable fashion or beauty makeover session
• Volunteer opportunities with local environmental organizations
• A subscription to a digital mindfulness or meditation platform
• Movie Tickets
• CSA Subscription
• Local Park Permit

4. Donate in Their Name

Is the person you’re shopping for passionate about a cause? Consider donating to charity in their name:

• The Rainforest Alliance — works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods
• World Wildlife Fund — focuses on the conservation of endangered species and their habitats
• The Nature Conservancy — protects important lands and waters for nature and people
• Conservation International — works to protect nature for the well-being of humanity
• Sierra Club Foundation — supports the Sierra Club’s mission to explore, enjoy, and protect the planet

Even if you aren’t into gift giving, the holidays are meant to be shared with friends and family and spending time with them is another great zero waste option! All in all, there are plenty of ways to share your zero waste and sustainability passion with the people in your life. Doing so can not only be fun and fulfilling, it could also inspire others in your life to reduce their own environmental impact or footprint.

Don’t forget – gift wrapping is a large contributor to holiday waste as well! Have fun and get creative with your wrapping. A few specific techniques worth trying:

• Fabric wraps — scraps of organic cotton, linen, or other sustainably sourced fabric, tied with twine or ribbon and reused again and again
• Furoshiki wraps — the traditional Japanese wrapping cloth, used to wrap gifts in a reusable, eco-friendly way
• Recycled paper — old newspapers, magazines, or brown paper bags as wrapping paper, held together with paper tape
• Reusable gift boxes — made from sustainable materials like bamboo, recycled cardboard, or metal tins, instead of traditional gift wrap
• Upcycled materials — old maps, sheet music, or colorful scarves as unique, eco-friendly gift wrap

However you approach it, there are some incredibly simple ways to make your wrapping game more sustainable.

---

Affiliate Disclosure: This site contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you when you make a purchase through our links. This helps us keep the site running and continue creating helpful content. We only recommend products we genuinely believe in.