25 Eco-Friendly Gifts Curated for Style and Substance
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Giving the perfect eco-friendly gift can be a true 10/10 experience. You get that particular joy of presenting something worthy of excitement, plus the satisfaction of knowing that it’s kind to our lovely planet. And your recipient gets to delight in those same things from the other side of the exchange. Layers of cheer and gratification to be had by all – hoorah!
What makes a gift eco-friendly? There are a few criteria to consider: it could be ethically made from sustainable materials, crafted by a company with environmentally conscious practices (like being carbon neutral or a member of 1% for the Planet), or designed to encourage a more sustainable lifestyle. The gifts in this guide check at least one, and often two or three, of those boxes.
This guide features curated selections across home, garden, apparel, jewelry, beauty, and food, with each item chosen for its functionality and aesthetic appeal. These parameters mean that certain gift ideas may lean more feminine than masculine, but of course it’s all relative and based on individual tastes. Lastly, this guide emphasizes handmade, small batch, and artisan goods.
Here’s to finding the perfect gift for your loved one who appreciates the finer, greener things in life.
Eco-Friendly Gifts
1. A Hand-Painted Olive Oil Cruet
Franca NYC
PHOTOS: FRANCA NYC
What exactly is a cruet? I looked it up: it’s a flat-bottomed vessel with a nozzle for pouring liquids. These particular cruets are hand cast and hand painted in a woman-owned pottery studio out of Brooklyn, called Franca NYC. The brand has a beautiful assortment of items – including candles, dinnerware, and lighting – that, like these cruets, deserve to be displayed. If you’re looking for something smaller but equally striking, try these ornaments that celebrate the female form.
Prices: $82 (short) or $96 (tall)
2. An Ethical, Geometric Necklace
L.Greenwalt Jewelry
PHOTOS: L.GREENWALT JEWELRY
This rainbow necklace from L.Greenwalt Jewelry is sure to delight your loved one who loves fine jewelry, art deco, and handmade goods. It’s available in 14k gold fill or sterling silver, comes in four chain lengths (15″, 16″, 17″, and 18″), and is crafted by a maker worth supporting: L.Greenwalt gives back to various different organizations and uses ethically sourced and/or recycled metals, among other eco-initiatives.
Prices: $62 to $69
3. A Striking Plateau Basket
Indego Africa
PHOTOS: INDEGO AFRICA
Whether as wall art or upscale storage, these beauties will bring pattern and texture to any space. They come from Indego Africa, a non-profit organization that empowers artisan women in Africa through employment opportunities, entrepreneurship training, and access to global markets for their heirloom-quality, handmade goods. You can learn more about their work and impact here.
Prices: $68
4. A Rechargeable, Candle-Inspired Light
Graypants
PHOTOS: GRAYPANTS
Founded by two architects, Graypants is a design studio that makes refined light fixtures. “Wick” is their rechargeable, candle-like lamp, and it’s perfect for cozying up inside or lighting up your evenings outdoors. Reviewers remark that it’s beautiful, surprisingly bright, and holds a charge for a long time.
Prices: $139 to $149
5. Um… Ducks in Wellies
Uncommon Goods
PHOTOS: UNCOMMON GOODS
Look at these DUCKIES. I’ve gifted one before and the reception was as warm as you’d imagine from someone who had just received a wooden duck wearing spotted blue booties. These are perfect for a garden or front walk, or most anywhere inside that needs some cheery decor. They come from a lovely, sustainable marketplace – Uncommon Goods – and are made from reclaimed teak wood and bamboo. They also have skiing ducks and li’l penguins in wellies.
Prices: $30 to $40
6. A Hefty and Handsome Popcorn Bowl
East Fork Pottery
PHOTOS: EAST FORK POTTERY
For some, East Fork Pottery will need no introduction. For those who would like one, this touching video does a great job. Among their many sturdy and beautiful pieces are these popcorn bowls, but don’t let the name box you in: they’re perfect not only for a bag of popcorn, but also (as noted on their site), a very large personal salad, a heaping bowl of ramen, potato chips, serving, mixing, and (my addition) an outlandish bowl of cereal. They come in 9 colors and are handmade in Asheville, NC.
Prices: $88
7. An Ocean-Positive Beauty Gift Set
OSEA
PHOTOS: OSEA
For your favorite beauty queen or king who loves the sea, OSEA makes for the perfect gift. The brand and products are beloved, and a visit to OSEA’s site (or any other site where they’re sold) reveals so many rave reviews. OSEA offsets all carbon they generate by investing in various coastal restoration projects that sequester carbon, and they’re also Climate Neutral Certified and use largely glass packaging for their products.
Prices: $70 to $196
8. A Plant-Based Cookbook
Multiple Authors
PHOTOS: FLORAH
Since plant-based eating is easier on the planet, these plant-based cookbooks have earned their spot among the best eco-friendly gifts. You’ll find a whole guide here on the most highly-reviewed vegan cookbooks, but some quick go-to’s are: Minimalist Baker’s Everyday Cooking by Dana Shultz, The Korean Vegan Cookbook but Joanne Lee Molinaro, PlantYou by Carleigh Bodrug, and The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook by Nisha Vora. They’re sure to inspire your eco-minded loved one who loves to cook.
Prices: $10 to $30
9. A Stylish, Refillable Candle
Arbor Made
PHOTOS: ARBOR MADE
Candles can feel like a trade-off: good smells and ambience, but lots of wasted vessels and potentially questionable ingredients. Enter Arbor Made, which crafts refillable candles using 100% soy wax and cotton wicks. They also donate to different environmental charities related to each candle’s scent (e.g. 1% of profits from Spiced Timber go to One Tree Planted), and offer carbon neutral shipping on every order.
Prices: $18 (1 candle refill) to $66 (reusable candle jar + 1 candle refill)
10. An Eco-Friendly Comforter
Buffy
PHOTOS: BUFFY
With almost 25,000 5-star reviews, Buffy is onto something with their Cloud Comforter. Made from 300 thread count TENCEL™ eucalyptus lyocell and stuffed with recycled polyester, this is some good, earth-friendly coziness. The Cloud Comforter is also hypoallergenic and machine washable, with a proprietary stitching pattern that keeps all filling in its place. So no migrating stuffing or irksome lumps, whew! Pair it with a duvet cover (they’ve got eucalyptus, cotton, and linen options) and you’ll be on your way to dreamy, eco-friendly gifting.
Prices: $145 (twin/twin XL) to $235 (king/cal king)
11. A Purple Carrot Gift Card
Purple Carrot
PHOTOS: PURPLE CARROT
For the health-minded foodie in your life, a Purple Carrot subscription (or gift card) is a lovely gift option. Purple Carrot offers meal kits, ready-to-eat meals, or a la carte grocery options, so no matter your recipient’s tastes, cooking prowess, and time availability, they’re sure to find some plant-based deliciousness to enjoy.
Prices: Any amount
12. An Earth-Inspired Sweatshirt
Happy Earth
PHOTOS: HAPPY EARTH
Happy Earth Apparel not only draws design inspiration from nature, but also actively contributes to her well-being. The brand is Climate Neutral Certified, a B Corp, and part of 1% for the Planet. With beautiful, abstract designs of outdoor scenes in warm and cool color palates, these sweatshirts offer comfort, style, and earth-friendly materials. Their all-gender fit also makes them a more versatile gifting option.
Prices: $64 to $82
13. Recycled Stemless Flutes
Uncommon Goods
PHOTOS: UNCOMMON GOODS
Pour out one for the planet with these cutie fluties. Handblown in Morocco using recycled glass, they’ve got a unique shape that works just as well in a casual, laid back setting as it does in a more upscale spread. They’re ready for champagne or any other lovely sippable, and are dishwasher safe for added convenience.
Prices: $42
14. A Made-to-Order Linen Tablecloth
AmourLinen
PHOTOS: AMOURLINEN
A simple, elegant, and sustainable gift option. These European linen tablecloths come in round, square, or rectangular shapes and 11 different colors. They’ll add a beautiful drape and organic feel to any tablescape. AmourLinen’s products – which include everything from bedding to kitchen linens to clothing – are ethically and sustainably made in Lithuania.
Prices: $69 to $169
15. Sustainable House Shoes
Dooeys
PHOTOS: DOOEYS
For your gift recipient whose feet tend to run a little chilly, house slippers make for a thoughtful present. And as far as eco-friendly gifts go, these particular house slippers fill the bill: they’re ethically made in Portugal by a lovely brand called Dooeys, using apple leather, recycled plastic bottles, recycled polyester, cork, and organic cotton.
Prices: $130 to $140
16. Mindfully-Made Chocolate
Multiple Brands
PHOTOS: FLORAH
Chocolate is, in my humble opinion, always the perfect gift. And it’s made even sweeter when it comes from small batch makers using time-honored techniques and ethically-sourced ingredients. You’ll find a full post on beautiful chocolate brands like this here, or for a short cut, check out: Rawmio, Raaka, and Goodio.
Prices: $3 to $30
17. Earth-Bettering Socks
Conscious Step
PHOTOS: CONSCIOUS STEP
Conscious Step is a go-to when it comes to eco-friendly gifts, because who doesn’t appreciate a good pair of socks that supports a cause they care about? I mean, c’man. Each pair of Conscious Step socks benefits a specific charitable effort, like conserving rainforests, planting trees, protecting endangered species, and many more. So you can pick something near and dear to your recipient’s heart, while giving a gift that is both practical and cozy.
Prices: $16 per pair
18. A Recycled Glass Carafe Set
Magda Made
PHOTOS: MAGDA MADE
Ethically made in Bogotá, Colombia by Cristal Artesanal, this recycled glass carafe set is lovely on a nightstand, on the breakfast table, in a guest room, or anywhere else that you need a beautifully displayed beverage. (Thank you, Magda Made, for those ideas!) It comes with two glasses, one of which can serve as a lid on the carafe when it’s not in use.
Prices: $75
19. Organic Wine from Around the World
Kind of Wild
PHOTOS: KIND OF WILD
Kind of Wild has scoured the globe to find delicious organic wines, and bottled them up under their label. As they say, “We partner with top growers around the world to craft premium, kinder wines that are certified organic, zero sugar and void of harmful additives.” Yum! Sure to be a hit with your gift recipient who loves wine and sustainable sipping, they’ve got 9 different varieties sourced from France to South Africa to California.
Prices: $26 a bottle
20. A Cute and Conscious Beauty Gift Set
Earth Harbor
PHOTOS: EARTH HARBOR
Earth Harbor has a lot going for it. It’s carbon neutral, plastic negative, and part of 1% for the Planet. It’s also founded and run by an amazing woman who is both a toxicologist and an herbalist – not a combination you see very often! Earth Harbor makes truly clean beauty products that are well-loved; I can vouch that their Sunshine Dew Antioxidant Cleansing Oil has been transformative for my skin.
Prices: $32 to $96
21. Handcrafted Terracotta Planters
Meso Goods
PHOTOS: MESO GOODS
These terracotta planters are made-to-order by artisans in Honduras. Meso Goods offers a range of ethically-made products that are handcrafted in Latin America, including furniture, art, glassware, rugs, pillows, lighting, and more. Their goods embody craftsmanship and unique design that blends innovation with tradition.
Prices: $54
22. An Eco-Resin Birth Month Necklace
Uncommon Goods
PHOTOS: UNCOMMON GOODS
There is just something fun about ‘birth month’ gifts, isn’t there? It’s nice to give a present that feels a bit personalized to the recipient. These necklaces are handmade in Colombia, cast in eco resin (plant derived and a co-product of waste products), and feature a dried flower variety for each month. And if birth month earrings sound more like the ticket, they’ve got those too.
Prices: $58
23. A Handmade Monstera Serving Plate
Costa Nova
PHOTOS: COSTA NOVA
This vibrant plate from Costa Nova is from one of their Ecogres® collections, which uses a new kind of clay made from recycled materials. It’s fired at lower temperatures, which uses less energy and releases less CO2. Costa Nova has various eco-friendly initiatives: they’re steadily increasing solar power and decreasing natural gas at their factories, they minimize waste, use 100% plastic-free packaging, and foster a fair and diverse work culture. They have a wide selection of products, from serveware to flatware to glassware.
Prices: $75
24. A Self-Care Cube
KOA+ROY
PHOTOS: KOA+ROY
KOA+ROY is an easy brand to love: they are a Certified B Corp, plant a tree for every product sold, and donate 2% or more of revenues to charity each year. Their zero-waste cubes are meant to be massaged into the skin, and each one features powerful botanicals and essential oils with different benefits. They have four cubes to choose from: Wellness, Massage, Recovery, and Fitness.
Prices: $30 to $55
25. A Farmers Market Tote
Uncommon Goods
PHOTOS: UNCOMMON GOODS
In the spirit of eco-friendly gifts that encourage eco-friendly (local) shopping, I present this lovely market tote from Uncommon Goods. It is spacious, with an extra long strap for easy carrying, and even has a handle on the side to carry a bouquet of flower in a fresh cut flowers tote. This bag seems to invite a trip to the farmers market for seasonal veggies, a local wine, and maybe a fresh-baked loaf or two.
Prices: $50
