Gift Guide: Sustainable Gift Ideas
Some of my favorite sustainable gift ideas for the holiday season!
1. Italian Leather Bag | 2. Pride Mugs | 3. Summrsalt Pajamas | 4. Allbirds Running Shoes | 5. Stasher Bags | 6. Reusable Makeup Remover Pads | 7. Faherty Shirt (they also have women’s clothes, too!) | 8. Athleta Joggers | 9. Reusable Straws | 10. Bee’s Wraps | 11. Simply Sustsainble | 12. Cropped Tank and Bike Shorts | 13. Rothy’s Driving Loafer (Use code LAKESHORELADY20 for $20 off $100+!) | 14. Alpaca Sweater | 15. Unpaper Towels | 16. Able Backpack (Use code LAURENN20 for 20% off!)
Sustainable Gift Ideas
Alright friends, we have made it to my final gift guide of the season. Woooooo!! I’ve covered gifts for her, gifts for him, gifts for parents and other couples, gifts under $50, gifts from Chicago based companies, wellness/fitness gifts, and now sustainable gifts!
I’ll admit – 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 your gift recipients already live a really green life, or they’re totally new to eco-friendly brands, these ideas are useful and environmentally friendly. In other words, if you’ve been looking for a thoughtful gift you can feel good about giving this holiday season, keep reading!
Everlane
Everlane is one of my favorite sustainable brands for basics like sweaters, jeans, tees, and more. Even Adam has become a huge fan over the past few years! You can read all about my favorite pieces by them in this blog post!
Our Place
You’ve heard about the Always Pan, but if that’s over your budget, Our Place has a bunch of other great gift options!! I have these glasses, these tiny bowls (great for ingredient prep!), and this cutting board and recommend them all. I also think these Pride mugs are so pretty – and 20% of the proceeds go towards the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Pride Pantry to alleviate food insecurity in the LGBTQ+ community.
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!
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 Dashers (great for running!). Adam also has the Pipers and he loves them so much, he asked for another pair for Christmas!
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 SO SOFT.
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!
Reformation
While I usually go to Reformation for dresses which might be hard to gift – they also have sweaters and activewear now!
Rothy’s
2021 turned us into big Rothy’s fans – I have the sneakers and mary-janes, and Adam has their driving loafers. Not only is their signature thread made out of recycled plastic water bottles (who knew a water bottle could help make such cute shoes?!), but their merino wool is also humanely harvested from an Australian farm. 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. Oh, and they’re super comfortable! Use code LAKESHORELADY20 for $20 off your first order of $100+!
Able
Able is another new discovery in 2021- and OMG they are amazing. Not only do they have a commitment to sustainability, but they also work 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? I have a crossbody, backpack, jean jacket, and midi dress from them and can’t recommend all 4 of those pieces enough. You can also use code LAURENN20 for 20% off your order!
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 recently got this blouse and I am in looooove. I ordered a few sweaters too but they were too big, so make sure you size down in those!
Vrai
I haven’t talked about this necklace in a while, but I wear it pretty much every day. Vrai uses 14k solid gold, so their pieces won’t change in appearance over time like some plated or filled options might. Plus, over 90% of their gold is recycled, with a goal for 100% in the future.
Abby Alley Bags & Jewelry
You might remember Abby Alley from my Chicago Gift Guide, but she also fits into this one, too! All of her materials, from brass hardware to leather, are locally and ethically sourced in Kenya and Tanzania. No animals are harmed or killed for fashion either – they only use leather that is a byproduct of the meat industry.
Madewell
If someone on your list is in the market for new jeans, Madewell uses TENCEL™ lyocell fibers that are derived from sustainable wood sources in a closed-loop process. It’s also really nice that they have regular, petite, and tall sizing!
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 – it’s so cute!
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!
—
Sustainable Stocking Stuffers
Stasher Bags
Honestly, every person on your list could use a Stasher Bag or two! We’ve slowly started accumulating them and they’re the easiest sustainable swap EVER. I know they might not be the most exciting thing ever, but they’re such a useful eco friendly gift! (Also, I’ve tried knockoff brands and they do not compare. It’s not worth saving a few bucks – get the real ones!)
Reusable Makeup Pads
I got these makeup pads for myself last year and I love them. They’re super soft and they come with a bag so you won’t loose them in your laundry. Another easy sustainable swap!
Reusable Straws
I got reusable straws very similar to these in a press package last year and I love them. I’ll bring one on the go or use them at home for smoothies, iced coffee, you name it. Bring one of these and a to-go mug with you in the morning, and you’ve got a plastic-free trip to the coffee shop!
Bee’s Wrap
Instead of using single use plastic, you can use reusable beeswax food wraps to keep your food fresh. 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.
Unpaper Towels
If there is one thing that I think Adam and I need to work on the most, it’s using less paper towels. Which is why I think these UN-paper towels are such an amazing gift! They even come rolled up, so they can be out on you counter just like paper towels would!
