Gift Guide: Sustainable Gift Ideas
Some of my favorite sustainable gift ideas for the holiday season!
Stasher Bags (the BEST reusable bags – knockoff brands don’t compare!) | Lomi Composter (this is pricey but such a cool group gift!) | Allbirds Men’s Tree Pipers (Buy one, get one 15% off with code BIRD15! Adam’s FAVORITES.) | Men’s Vuori Joggers (also available for women, too!)
Reusable Straws | Reformation Sweater | Allbirds Women’s Mizzle Plus (water resistant, and also available for men!) | Bee’s Wrap
Able Crossbody Bag (Use code LAURENNHOLIDAY40 for 40% off!) | Rothy’s Sneakers (I wore these every day in Italy – the perfect travel sneaker!) | Sezane Sweater (very similar to this sweater I got from them last year!) | Everlane Men’s Sweater
Faherty Flannel Shirt | Everlane Half Zip (SO COZY! Seen on me here.) | Vuori Sherpa Jacket | Madewell Transport Tote (40% off with code OHJOY)
Sustainable Gift Ideas
Alright friends, we’ve covered gifts for her, gifts for him, gifts for parents and in-laws, wellness/fitness gifts, and host gifts – a lot of which already feature a lot of these cool brands. But I like to write a separate gift guide each year exclusively about sustainable gifts because there are SO many good ones out there!
To caveat – I’m nowhere near perfect when it comes to sustainability. But I am constantly inspired to do better, and these gifts are an amazing way to share that inspiration with other people in your life, too.
Whether they could use an easy sustainable swap, pretty serving bowls, or even new shoes, I have ideas for you for pretty much anyone on your list! So, if you’ve been looking for a thoughtful gift you can feel good about giving this holiday season, keep reading!
Stasher Bags
Honestly, every person on your list could use some Stasher Bags! We’ve slowly started accumulating them and they’re the easiest sustainable swap EVER. I know they might not be the most exciting gift in the world, but they’re SO useful! (Also, I’ve tried knockoff brands and they do not compare. It’s not worth saving a few bucks – get the real ones!)
Reusable Kitchen Items
If they like sipping an iced coffee or smoothies through a straw, these reusable straws are a great stocking stuffer! We also really like these reusable beeswax food wraps instead of plastic wrap. These work for covering a bowl of leftovers or wrapping a piece of cheese – there are tons of options and they make a great fit for anyone who is trying to be more mindful of their plastic usage.
Lomi Composter
This composter by Lomi is seriously cool. It is compact and designed to fit on your kitchen counter so you can easily scrape your plates right into it. But don’t worry! It’s odor neutralized so you won’t smell it as it turns your food waste into dirt (that you can use in your gardens/for houseplants!) in as little as 4 hours. By doing this, you can reduce your weekly garbages by up to 80%, reducing your carbon footprint and making a positive impact on the environment. SO FREAKING COOL.
Allbirds
All of Allbirds shoes are made from sustainable materials, they arrive in recycled packaging, they treat the environment like a stakeholder in their company, AND they’re machine washable! I have their Tree Skippers, Mizzles (weather resistant and on sale!), and Dashers (great for running!). Adam also has the Pipers and they are by far his most-worn pair of shoes. They are also running a Buy One, Get One 15% off promotion right now with code BIRD15. I’m considering getting the new Mizzle Plus style and using the 15% off to get a pair for Adam, too. They seem great for a Chicago winter!
Vuori
I have recently fallen in love with Vuori and now multiple people on my list are getting their stuff for Christmas. If you’ve never heard of them, they are a performance apparel company with crazy soft athleisure and basics. On top of all of that, they also prioritize ethical manufacturing with safe and healthy working conditions along with a comprehensive approach to sustainability. They focus on the materials they work with, reduction of waste, social responsibility, community leadership, and offsetting 100% of their carbon footprint. You can read all about the items I own in this post and see them in action in this reel!
Reformation
It’s no secret that I am a Reformation superfan – but their sizing can be tricky when it comes to dresses. Because of that, I’d go for sweaters or activewear when it comes to gifting! You can read about the cashmere sweaters I own here and dive into my sizing post for more insights too!
Sezane
Sezane is a French brand that works with environmental experts to identify and test the latest alternative production methods and find new sustainable materials to use. Plus, everything is SO PRETTY. I got this blouse for the holidays last year (seen on me here!) and I love the colors it comes in this year! Also, this sweater looks almost exactly like this one that I also got last year and I get compliments every time I wear it!!
Able
If you’ve never heard of Able, they are a really cool sustainable company working to employ and empower women. The invest in, train, and educate women so that they can earn a living and break the cycle of poverty. How incredible is that? This crossbody bag and this jean jacket are my two favorite items from them (both seen on me here!), but I also love this backpack for travel, as well as this super cozy cable knit sweater. They also gave me a special code so you can get 40% off your entire purchase! Just use code LAURENNHOLIDAY40 at checkout!
Rothy’s
I’ve been a big Rothy’s fan for a while, but I really became obsessed when I got their lace up sneakers earlier this year. I have worn them an insane amount, including nearly every day in Italy without any blisters! Not only are they super comfortable but their signature thread is made out of recycled plastic water bottles (who knew a water bottle could help make such cute shoes?!). Their outsoles are made with carbon-free rubber or vegan leather and their washable insoles are made with bio-based castor oil and recycled materials. SO. COOL.
Everlane
Everlane is one of my favorite sustainable brands one of the biggest reasons is because their stuff LASTS. I’ve had this sweater for YEARS now and it’s still one of my most worn pieces. I also have gotten a ton of use out of this half zip that I got last year, and it still looks good as new. You can read all about more of my favorite pieces by them in this blog post too!
Faherty
I discovered Faherty a few months ago and it is such a great family-owned sustainable company! They have really high quality layers for both men and women. I have their legend shirt (also available for men!) and it is suuuper soft and warm.
Madewell
While Madewell as a whole isn’t always the most sustainable, they are moving in the right direction! 44% of their cotton is organic, recycled, or sustainably sourced through the Better Cotton Initiative. They are committed to sourcing wool that is organic, recycled or certified by the Responsible Wool Standard. 51% of leather is recycled or responsibly sourced, and all products are made at a certified fair trade factory.
Our Place
I know the Always Pan can be a little polarizing, but overall I am a HUGE fan of this company. To be honest, that pan might be my least favorite of everything I own from them because everything else is SO GOOD. If I had to pick one favorite, it would probably be the Perfect Pot since it’s so easy to clean and so lightweight. Long gone are the days of pulling out my super heavy dutch oven every time I want to make soup or a simple sauce! We are also huge fans of their new tableware collection – everything is so beautiful, it makes me happy every time we use them. In terms of gifting, I highly recommend these serving bowls (so pretty!), these tiny bowls (great for prepping a recipe with a lot of ingredients!), and these stackable glasses. I love useful gifts!
Summersalt
I honestly always forget that Summersalt uses recycled materials to create their fabrics and packaging! They’re also so much more than their swimwear – I hear their loungewear and pajamas are really cozy!
Athleta
Did you know that 60% of Athleta’s materials are made with sustainable fibers?! These joggers also come in regular, petite, tall, AND plus. Love the inclusivity!
Girlfriend Collective
I got my first Girlfriend set this year and they are a great activewear brand! I love that they’re size inclusive and made from recycled plastic bottles. Highly recommend the paloma bra – and it’s on sale!
Veja Sneakers
Veja is a French brand that believes in sustainability and ethical decision making throughout its manufacturing process. They use fair trade, organic, raw materials and they don’t contain any toxic elements that could end up polluting the environment. Plus, Meghan Markle has them!
