Gift giving can be especially tricky when trying to reduce your waste. But if you’re like me, and love gift giving, what do you do?

For years I felt conflicted between trying to gift eco-friendly and waste friendly options, but still give gifts.

Alternatively, what do you say when someone asks you for gift ideas?

Luckily, there are so many options! I compiled a list of zero waste friendly gift ideas for all your gift giving (or asking) needs with the categories of zero waste items, consumables, and experiences! These gifts are great for those who are looking to start implementing zero waste into their life, to those who are far on their journey.

Besides taking a hard look at the type of gifts we give and ask for, we have started following these four guidelines:

• Follow the rule ‘Something you want, something you wear, something you read and something you need’.

• Don’t underestimate second-hand stores for gifts. We love our local second-hand store for a variety of items, and for online second-hand women’s and kids clothes shopping we LOVE ThredUp.

• Santa, Easter Bunny, Etc: Santa brings one gift (a smaller gift) and then stockings he brings usable items or consumable items (usable meaning yummy soaps, bath items, crafting supplies, snacks, etc). The Easter Bunny and other ‘friends’ follow suit.

• Adopt other birthday/holiday/other celebratory event traditions instead of gifts
  • Make the person of honor their favorite meal
  • Offer to let the person of honor choose what activity they want to do for the day

Other than that, we really try to be really mindful of purchasing/making gifts that don’t contribute too much or any clutter and fall in line with our minimalist and zero-waste mindsets.

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Zero waste items:

• Shirt and bag made with upcycled/recycled materials! – This adorable shirt and bag from Earth Custodian Designs (wearing and carrying the message of earth custodianship) are made with 100% recycled materials! The shirt, made with 50% recycled cotton and 50% recycled plastic, is super soft and comfortable – the perfect fit. The bag is made with 100% recycled cotton, and is a perfect size for groceries or just out and about (and is really sturdy!). Both the shirt and bag have the message ‘Protect What You Love’. By supporting this small, woman-run business, you’re supporting the owner, Amber’s, conservation and waste pick-up efforts. Also, for any purchase, 10% of all proceeds will go to an organization that supports animal and/or environmental conservation work. Not pictured but also available in her shop is a ‘Solidarity’ shirt with a human handprint and a multitude of animal prints. These shirts and bag is perfect for anyone on your list – and you know you’re supporting a small, woman-owned (and ran) business on a mission to be a good earth custodian!

• The Essential Zero Waste Blueprint Year-Long Course!
• Dryer Balls – (organic, fair-trade, and all natural merino wool)
• Water bottle – Kleen Kanteen – larger size (40 ounces) and/or Nalgenes
• Reusable Coffee Mug
• French Press and coffee bean grinder
• Tea ball
• Shave items – such as a shave soap bar and a stainless steel razor
• Biodegradable floss in a glass refillable container (I LOVE this stuff!) with a bamboo toothbrush
• Shampoo bars
• Zero waste dish soap cube 
• Bamboo pot scrubbers 

• Produce bags (how cute is the one above?!) or these mesh produce bags
• Kitchen essentials bamboo utensils 
• 2 layer sandwich box (stainless steel)
• Travel spork with cork traveling case
• Charcoal plastic-free water filter (in to-go size)
• Mason Jars for freezing, leftovers, canning, etc: 4 ounce / 32 ounce
• Stainless Steel Straws or reusable bamboo straws

• Bamboo paper towels (honestly one of my favorite zero waste purchases I’ve made. One roll has lasted us over a year and show no signs of wearing out. They have more than paid for themselves and saved us a ton of money)
• Reusable snack bags – decorative or silicone 
• Reusable Facial Cotton Pads
• Lip balm in a biodegradable tube
• Biodegradable bandaids
• Pyrex glass storage containers (I’ve had this set for years and absolutely love them)
• Bees Wax Wraps (I’m in LOVE with these)
• Mason bottle DIY bottle  kit (I so wish I had known about this when was son was using bottles!)
• Don’t underestimate second-hand stores for gifts. We love our local second-hand store for a variety of items, and for online second-hand women’s and kids clothes shopping we LOVE ThredUp.
• Cloth napkins such as this adorable cow one (below)

Kids

• Art/craft supplies (could be a great gift for adults too!)
• Magazine subscription (can get a digital subscription or paper – donate the paper version when done)
• Reusable snack bags (fox – see below, or hedgehog)

• Lessons: swim lessons, dance lessons, etc.
• Clothes/shoes

• Biodegradable or E-book: Leo & The Lion Learn of Love by Holly Rose. Harnessing the Love children so freely emit, the Lion teaches young Leo how to care for himself and the world around him with his heartfelt sagacity. Through the Lion’s wisdom, Author Holly Rose communicates the complexities of the modern world in a way which encourages children to work towards a kinder, fairer, more unified and peaceful future. Set alongside illustrator Caroline Winneguth’s gentle watercolour scenery, this book harnesses the Love children so freely emit, guiding them protect their nurturing nature. This is a truly stunning book with an even more beautiful message. Plus, did I mention the print version is biodegradable? A great zero waste option for kids! Psst…The Mindful Mom Blographer readers (that’s you!) can get 10% off using code ‘MINDFULMOM’.  Head over to the website to grab your e-book or physical copy!

• Give your kids one ‘yes’ day (check out this article for more details, or check out the book here).
• Connect with Nature: Projects to Grow, Gather, Make and Do – This book has activity ideas for each season involving nature. This book is on my wish-list!

Green Toys

I wanted to create a separate section for green toys, because these are toys that can fall within the lines of minimalism AND zero waste due to their high-quality material (made to last a long time), and the fact that they are made with 100% recycled plastic and come in recyclable packaging. Bonus – they all fall along the lines of dramatic play, meaning they are open-ended so the kiddo in your life can use them for a variety of things only constrained by their own imagination.

My son has a couple of these toys, and we often rent others from our local toy library, and him and I both love them!

Here are some of our favorites:

• Multi-colored blocks
• Watering can and garden tool set (pictured above)
• Pizza Parlor (this is on my son’s wish list this year)
• Farm playset
• Small outdoor wagon (my son has this one and LOVES pulling things around all year long)
• Baby Toy Starter Set
• Firestation Playset (my son has checked this one out from the toy library a few times and loves it)
• Tugboat – bath toy (super fun!)

Consumables (look for items that come in reusable packaging/containers):

• Food from their favorite bakery, restaurant, etc
• Coffee/tea
• Wine/Beer/Liquor
• Homemade gifts such as salsa, pesto, jam
• Meat gift basket (pick out a selection of meat)
• Vegetable basket
• Homemade soup mixes
• Homemade lotions/lotion bars
• Homemade soaps
• Candles/essential oils/diffuser, etc
• Grocery delivery service gift card
• Gift certificate to their favorite coffee/tea place
• Meal planning/delivery gift certificate

Experiences:

• Give your kids one ‘yes’ day (check out this article for more details, or check out the book here).
• Gift certificate for their favorite restaurant
• Gift certificate to their favorite coffee/tea place
• Meal planning/delivery gift certificate
• Lessons for kids/adults: swim lessons, dance lessons, etc.
• Sign up for a local community ed class together!
• A local park pass or state park pass
• A dog park pass if they have a dog
• Movie night out or in
• Sports tickets
• Gift certificate to a spa or for a massage
• Tickets to their favorite show
• A membership to a local museum, nature center, or zoo
• Gift certificate for house cleaning
• Donation to a local charity in the recipient’s name
• Gift certificate for their favorite app (ex. Headspace membership, Spotify, Aaptiv – see below)
• Netflix/Hulu/HBO Go subscription
• Offer to babysit/pet sit if they have kids or pets
• Offer to shovel snow, rake leaves, change their oil, whatever task they may need doing
• Itunes gift card

For more gift ideas, check out the gift guides below:

Over 125 Gift Ideas for the Zero Waster, Minimalist, and Mindful/Intentional Livers on your list!

Zero Waste Gift Giving this Holiday Season from my friend Jessie, owner of Tiny Yellow Bungalow, an amazing zero waste shop (many of her products are listed in this guide!)

Finally, check out 8 zero waste gift wrap ideas for easy ways to reduce gift wrap waste this holiday season!

What are your favorite zero waste gift ideas?

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