The 2025 Guide to Eco Gift Shopping!
In the spirit of shopping small, not shopping at all, and simply voting with our dollars, I want to focus this gift guide on gifts we can make, gifts we can thrift, free gifts, and the best of the best small businesses. This is very different from my gift guides of the past where I often shouted out over 100 brands and products. By all means, shop for those brands if you want. But I feel like I’ve covered just about every eco brand out there, so check out the old gift guides here:
The ultimate eco-friendly gift guide with zero waste swaps 2019
Eco-friendly stocking stuffers for this eco gift guide 2020
An eco-friendly gift guide 2021
Zero waste Christmas gift ideas 2022
Low waste Christmas gift ideas 2023
The guide to giving zero waste gifts in 2024
FREE Gift Ideas
Give the gift of your time, labor, and talents:
Teach someone a skill such as baking sourdough, sewing, carpentry, ceramics, scrapbooking, and things of that nature. It can be fun to show someone your hobby, and you can both walk away with memories and a piece of art!
Do some handy work. Maybe someone needs their car serviced, their home deep-cleaned, a phone screen repair, or some landscape work done. Whatever you’re willing and able to do can go a long way as a meaningful gift that is free for you and saves the recipient money!
Pet-sitting and babysitting can go a long way for a couple! If you have the funds, pair it with a gift card to a local restaurant, a museum pass, or what have you to make it a complete date night package!
Get creative!
Upcycle something! Recent projects of mine that cost no money were a crocheted t-shirt rug, a sewn vest made out of scraps, painting on scrap wood to make a nice sign, and things like that. You can make lovely art and spend little to no money doing it
Use materials you already have. Crocheters and knitters, bust your yarn stash to make someone a lovely tapestry or beanie. Painters, paint on a canvas or paper you already have. You get the idea
It’s super easy to make homemade ornaments from so many different things: salt dough, gingerbread, paper, yarn, popsicle sticks, cardboard, soda cans, you name it. Turn trash into a themed set of Christmas ornaments that everyone can get this year!
Whip up something tasty!
Baked goods can never go wrong as a gift. Pair it with a handwritten recipe card to make the gift keep on giving all year long. You could also try other confections like peanut brittle, fudge, hard tack candy, jam, hot sauce, granola, etc.
Not so good at baking? Try a homemade meal. You can serve it up fresh or prepare it to be frozen to eat during the holiday break to help save busy families some time with meal planning, while the whole family is around. Again, pair it with handwritten recipe cards so they can recreate it if they enjoy it!
Or, skip the cooking and baking and make someone a custom recipe book or recipe card set! Write out family recipes that have been passed down or family favorites or even unique and new things to try to keep them inspired.
You can also try your hand at making pantry staples. Things like homemade vanilla and brown sugar are super easy and low-cost. It’s also very easy to make spice mixes. Make some homemade ranch seasoning, taco seasoning, Italian seasoning, and so forth
Quality time:
You can plan a lovely time together, making memories without spending money! This could look like:
Planning and cooking for a themed dinner party
Hosting a movie night complete with cozy blankets and fun snacks
Make some “date night coupons” that can be redeemed all year long. This could be things like a picnic in the park, a visit to a free museum, an at-home craft night, and things like that. You can control the price point of these items, or be sure to budget them in throughout the year
Make up a scavenger hunt that takes someone all over town or just around your neighborhood via walking. Maybe there are things to learn, activities to do, and prizes to be had. You can design this for whatever your budget is.
Spend time learning a new skill such as sewing, making kombucha, or painting
Make someone a local passport. This could look like coffee shops, book shops, craft stores, whatever the person is into. Create a little book that they have to check off every coffee shop, for example, and leave them space to review it, write what they ordered, and so forth. The passport itself is relatively low-cost to make and will encourage them to shop small and try new things all year long
For book lovers:
Take someone to get their first (or another) library card! This is the free gift that keeps on giving with more free experiences all year long!
Use your library to give temporary gifts. You’re probably thinking this is a wild option, right? Well, sure, we all love to own a new book, but if you want to test run a book before purchase, or maybe you can’t afford one right now, this is the way to read it! Not to mention, for kids who may not care or remember, borrow some books to gift them and return them at the end of the holiday break. My friend Tiny Waste does this with her young kids under 4. I’m sure she will buy them secondhand books as they age, but for now, they don’t know that the book is even borrowed!
Plant parents:
If you keep a garden, maybe you’ve got your seed collection going for the spring. Share the wealth of seeds! You may not need all that you kept, and the recipient may only need a few of each species. Give another gift that will keep on giving throughout the spring, summer, and maybe even into the fall!
Have houseplants? It’s SO easy to propagate many species from pothos to snake plants and monstera. They make lovely free gifts that otherwise cost $20-100! If you’re running late on time, take a good-sized trimming and place it in an upcycled jar or bottle of water. If you have more time, let it take root and then plant it in soil in an upcycled or thrifted container
Fermenters:
Share some of your starter/mother! Maybe you do sourdough or kombucha or mead or some other ferment that requires a “mother” or “starter.” You can share some for free in an upcycled jar with handwritten recipe cards!
Regift:
It’s a bit taboo, but regifting is a totally fine option for a free and eco gift. That item has already been created, you’re avoiding the landfill, and if it’s something the recipient will really enjoy, no harm in it being secondhand. Plus, it’s free! Of course, I don’t mean give someone literal garbage. But if you bought a shirt, tried it on, didn’t like it, and the tags are still on it, give it to a friend. If for your birthday you got a lotion that you didn’t like the scent of and it’s unused, pass it along to your mom at Christmas. You get the idea. You may have new items in your home that you can regift! Otherwise, do a declutter and see what is in good condition to gift to someone, such as a book, a board game, a puzzle, a piece of tech, a pair of shoes you realized you never wore, and things like that.
Go giftless!
Oops, another taboo one! Opt out of gifts this year. Gifts are so stressful for literally everyone involved. Commit to just spending time together, and everyone can save their money. Make a bunch of food, play games you already have, catch up with family you haven’t seen since last year, take photos, watch classic movies, etc. You can still have a lovely day or week or entire holiday break without buying anything (except maybe food to cook), and it can be, dare I say, even more special.
Thrift a gift!
Some of the best gifts I’ve given and received have been thrifted. I love that I can find the person exactly what they want and save money, and prevent the creation of new resources at the same time. Check out more about why thrifting is so important here.
My best tip here is to take your time. This is not the best idea for a last-minute gift. But maybe you find something in the middle of the year that is perfect as a holiday gift. Buy it and store it for Christmas! Here is my guide to thrifting.
Anyway, here are some thrifted gift ideas:
Take their wishlist for the holidays to the thrift store instead of running to Amazon
If you know the person really well, you may not need a wishlist; just head to the thrift and see what you can find that they would like!
Kids’ toys and books are super popular at thrift stores
Want to help someone upgrade their Christmas decor? Now is the time to find that secondhand!
You can also pair thrifted gifts with someone new. For example, if you find a really nice, name-brand soup pot secondhand, pair it with some new kitchen towels or a new recipe book. If you find the board game secondhand, they’ve really been wanting to try it, pair it with some snacks and drinks, and schedule a game night. You get the idea. You can really spice up something secondhand to make it go above and beyond and feel extra special for a fraction of the cost
Looking for books in particular? Try Thriftbooks!
Experience Gift Ideas
These are gifts that are not tangible things. I talk about this category every year, and it’s one of my favorites to give and receive because it yields the best memories without all the waste. Check out gift guides of the past for more ideas, but here are some fun ones:
Maybe not a true experience, but it doesn’t require you to buy anything physical…that’s my Zero Waste in a Year Guide! Are you looking to turn people zero-waste? This is the perfect place for them to start, as I walk them through 360 days of eco living, covering a new topic every month. By the end of the new year, I will get them well on their eco journey! Shop here :)
Extreme sports: a ski season pass, sky diving, SCUBA certification, mountain biking, getting a pilots license, raceway driving, etc
Entertainment: pay for their subscription service, get them season movie theater tickets, go to a concert or a play together, etc.
Artsy: take some sort of art class (painting, ceramics, silversmithing, etc), museum tickets, go paint pottery, make beaded bracelets, etc.
For the outdoorsy folks: get their National Park pass for the year, or a State Parks pass works just as well for local adventures, give them gift cards to their favorite gear store, plan a road trip, and take them on it when the time is right, and things of that nature.
Plan a vacation: make the gift a trip! Be it a road trip to a local park, a flight to an international destination, or even a staycation in your region, where you stay in a unique Airbnb. Do what works for you! Go all out and plan meals, things to do, and everything in between to make it really special and unique to you.
Or try a staycation: this could look like literally staying at home and taking care of the gift recipient, or booking a unique Airbnb in your town to get away from home for a fraction of the cost and time commitment
Pampering: nothing quite says “gift” like relaxation in my opinion! Gift someone a massage (or a few), a spa day, getting their nails done, a trip to the hair salon, facials, you name it!
For the foodies: try a cooking class, a luxurious meal out, hitting all of their favorite spots to eat in a single day, or trying something new by cooking at home together
For folks who like beverages: head to a cafe an sample a flight or make it boozy and get flights at a bar you’ve been wanting to try. You could also do a mixology class, tour a local winery, vineyard, or brewery. Maybe try your hand at brewing mead or kombucha in your own home, or sample some teas at a fancy tea shop!
For gamers: dedicate a day to playing games you already have and/or host a big game night and holiday potluck with friends. Wanna buy something new? Try a new game paired with some snacks, drinks, and other things to complete the package so that the recipient can play their game
Activities around town: mini golf, top golf, escape rooms, indoor skydiving, arcades, indoor sports complexes, trampoline parks, and things of that nature can be fun for all ages, but especially a day for the kids in your life
Use the library! Libraries are back on my list (check out why I love them so much here). They offer WAY more than just books. So borrow some board games and movies to enjoy over winter break. Or, borrow more things from the Library of Things. You could borrow a sewing machine to teach someone how to sew with, borrow a popcorn machine to throw a movie party at your home, borrow a bounce house to set up for the kids, you name it. Get creative with the power of borrowing!
Support the arts! Check out some open mic nights for singing or comedy. These are usually free or very cheap. Otherwise, check out live music options in your town, see what the local community theater is putting on, browse an art gallery (yes, they’re expensive, but you can browse and appreciate their work without buying something), or watch a ballet.
Do a Secret Santa/A gift exchange: it can be stressful to try to buy presents for dozens of folks. So everyone can put their name in for a gift exchange, and now everyone only has to do one gift. This will save everyone money, time, and sanity.
And, you can’t go wrong with gift cards and cash!
Buy them what they ask for
Yes…even if it’s “wasteful.” Because, guess what, to them, it’s not going to go to waste. If someone asks for the newest release of a book in a series, so you can only find it new, it’s not wasteful if that person reads it and keeps it forever. This goes for anything you may have to buy new, and maybe it’s not the most eco thing. If someone asked for it, that means they want it and will use it.
In fact, it may be MORE wasteful to buy them a reusable water bottle or silicone bags when they aren’t interested in those items. They may keep them, but that doesn’t mean they will use them. Or, they may end up donating them or even throwing them away.
Yes, zero waste swaps can make great gifts, but know the recipient. Some people in my circle may love some wool dryer balls while others could not care less about the planet. It’s sad, but it’s true. Don’t waste money and resources on eco swaps that won’t get used!
That being said…
My FAV eco brands that make lovely gifts
If someone in your life IS into eco living, these basic eco swaps can be a great place to start!
Everly Candles - candle refill kits, perfect for cozy season
SOJOS recycled sunglasses (they even do prescriptions!)
Durbl reusable silicone bags…I truly think they’re better than Stasher AND they’re a small business. Stasher was acquired by a megacorporation :(
Kooshoo Hairties made from GOTS certified cotton
Axiology makes lovely plastic-free makeup! But I am also a fan of Zerra & Co and Fat and the Moon
Looking to gift someone the gift of reusable period products? Here are my faves:
Souper Cubes help reduce a lot of food waste and help folks save money!
Yay for Earth skin care
Sustain Yourself eco body care essentials
Plaine Products refillable bathroom products are a forever fav!
Same with Meliora laundry and cleaning!
You can’t go wrong with a Klean Kanteen water bottle if someone needs one
Reworked by Sav is the best upcycled clothing brand!
These next few are pricey but so worth it if you have the funds for them. They often do holiday sales, too!:
Caraway pots and pans
Aventon e-bikes
Buffy and Sheets n Giggles bedding
Quince towels
Still not enough? Check out my old gift guides for more physical gift inspo:
The ultimate eco-friendly gift guide with zero waste swaps 2019
Eco-friendly stocking stuffers for this eco gift guide 2020
An eco-friendly gift guide 2021
Zero waste Christmas gift ideas 2022
Low waste Christmas gift ideas 2023
The guide to giving zero waste gifts in 2024
Eco Marketplaces so you can avoid Amazon
Amazon is extremely bad for the planet and the people who work for the company. It’s one of the world’s worst polluters, it puts small businesses out of business, and it’s buying our politicians to do evil things. Learn more about why you should break up with Amazon here. Let’s not support that with our hard-earned money!
Here are some ethical alternatives to Amazon that carry all your zero-waste essentials:
The Package Free Store
Zero Waste Store
Simply shop small!
It can be expensive, I get that, but shop small this holiday season. Head to your local boutique instead of Target to get someone a cute necklace or purse. Try your local craft store vs Michael’s to get the artistic person in your life some materials. Get someone a gift card to your local cafe vs Starbucks, you get the idea.
Shopping small is truly so much better for the planet, but also, I don’t know about you, but it always feels so much better to give my money to a family or a small team who lives in my town, versus a CEO across the globe who will use my money to exploit their employees and buy themselves another jet or yacht.
Keep your money local if you’re going to spend it. Otherwise, thrifted and free gifts can be amazing as well!
I think that concludes our list for this year!
I hope I have inspired you to buy less and spend more time with loved ones. Or prioritize eco gifts such as experiences, making stuff yourself, or opting for secondhand. We don’t have to sacrifice the planet to have an eco holiday.
But, you may still need some wrapping paper so check out this guide to eco wrapping here!
If this still didn’t do it for you, here are the videos from Christmas past for more eco gift inspo:
The ultimate eco-friendly gift guide with zero waste swaps 2019
Eco-friendly stocking stuffers for this eco gift guide 2020
An eco-friendly gift guide 2021
Zero waste Christmas gift ideas 2022
Low waste Christmas gift ideas 2023
The guide to giving zero waste gifts in 2024
Have a lovely eco holiday season, everyone! Here are more tips for a zero waste Christmas
As always, remember that your small actions make a big difference in the long run :)
Emma
