35 Unique Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Gifts
Our list has top picks for Earth Day or whenever you want to shop sustainably.
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People are thinking about more than just the price when it comes to gift-giving these days, they're also considering the impact each product makes on the world. If you want to be a conscious consumer, finding eco-friendly and sustainable gifts that go beyond a label is super important. We're here to help you find a gift from a company that uses the best practices for their products. In other words, the product's creation doesn't cause harm to people, society or the environment.
In today's world, words like "eco-friendly," "green" and "sustainable" can sometimes just be a savvy marketing scheme, so the environmental experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute don’t take these terms at face value. "Sustainability, for us, is using the Earth’s resources in such a way that future generations can meet their needs," says Birnur Aral, Ph.D., a beauty, health and sustainability expert.
So take a minute to consider what your gift means before you click "purchase." On our list, you'll notice items that have at least one (if not two!) sustainable attributes, are ethically sourced and made of upcycled or repurposed materials. You'll also find top eco-friendly products and selects from sustainable clothing brands, as well as some popular picks that would inspire anyone to do more for the planet.
Reusable Notebook
No need for excess paper here! All they have to do is jot down their notes and thoughts in this smart notebook, and they can be saved to an app in seconds, so they never get lost. It'll cut down on the amount of paper they use, which can help with carbon emissions.
With this luxurious bath oil, they'll enjoy the calming blend of rose and geranium. It even comes with a curated Spotify soundtrack to enhance the experience.
These pajamas are made of the same cuddly material as the brand's bestselling signature sheets. Our tester described them as "soft yet breathable" and said they've held up through numerous washes.
With this box, you can help reduce their grocery bill and cut down on food waste. All of the groceries they receive every week will be up to 30% off — perfect for a busy family.
His beard will always stay in mint condition with this travel grooming kit. It includes a shaver head, wide trimmer head, nose and facial trimmer as well as a toothbrush head. The best part? The brand also offers the Take Back for Tomorrow program, which recycles personal care devices for people in need.
This upcycled cleansing jelly is perfect if they want to add a sustainable product to their beauty routine. It's made of real tulips from the brand's 118-year-old farm in the Netherlands and our beauty tester found that it dissolves most makeup (even long-lasting lipstick), leaving the skin silky and soft.
Disposable eye masks can create a lot of waste, but Dieux Skin found a solution by creating a reusable eye mask that is compatible with pretty much any serum. Once you're done, just rinse them off and reuse when you're ready.
Baggu is known for creating those great reusable shopping totes we all love. But they also make other bags, like this stylish shoulder option, which is made from "recycled heavyweight nylon and recycled ripstop nylon lining."
Garnier Whole Blends Restoring Shampoo Bar
Our experts rated this shampoo bar a top pick because the lather is lush and it has FSC-certified packaging, which means the packaging is recyclable and it's made responsibly from well-managed forests.
GreenRow is a new Williams Sonoma brand, which aims to produce sustainably-sourced products. One of our favorites is this drinkware set, which is made from 100% post-consumer recycled glass.
The brand is Certified Carbon Neutral, and announced plans to achieve net-zero plastic to nature by 2025. Impressive! But so are how well the products themselves work. This set, which includes two hand creams, cuticle lotion and gloves has rave reviews on Amazon for not only smell amazing, but really helping with dry skin.
All of the cotton garments from this brand — like this cute robe! —are certified organic by GOTS, meaning the entire manufacturing process follows organic guidelines. They’re also Fair Trade Certified. The robe itself is super soft, has a relaxed fit and is available in two other sweet patterns.
The brand claims this ultra-plush pullover is 100% biodegradable. On top of that, Girlfriend Collective is known for their inclusive sizing (XXS-6XL), and pretty color palette.
Reusable Beeswax Food Wraps
If they are just dipping their toes into the sustainability pool, you can't go wrong with food wraps. They can get rid of their single-use plastic baggies and wraps, and still keep all of their food fresh. Plus, when it's time to get new ones, the brand says they can be composted or used as a fire starter.
An indoor garden makes it possible to save on gas and carbon emissions associated with transportation and getting some fresh food. The experts in our Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab love this herb garden in particular because it can fit up to 12 plants, plus you can use your own seeds.
RELATED: Best Indoor Herb Garden Kits for Fresh Herbs All Year
You've likely seen these all over TikTok, and while they are cute and trendy, opting for reusable glasses and non-plastic straws are always a good idea. Eight come in a pack, and Amazon reviewers say they are really durable.
You can't go wrong with this duo, which happens to be a winner of our 2023 Sustainable Innovation Awards. The facial cleanser and body wash come together, and the bottles can easily be refilled with the brand's powder packs.
These pens aren't just super comfortable to write with — they're made from recycled bottles. They come in a pack of twelve, and you can take your pick of so many fun colors. What's more, they're a Good Housekeeping Sustainable Innovation Awards winner.
Lexie Sachs, the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles Lab's executive director, tried these bags out first-hand, and noted that they keep frozen food, well, frozen, even during a longer commute. That's because it comes with built-in ice packs, which is pretty clever.
Reusable straws are a no-brainer to help limit the amount of plastic in oceans. But the key is finding a good one that you'll use all the time. Our experts loved this set because the straws are extendable, and it comes with a sturdy cleaning brush.
RELATED: The Best Reusable Straws
Michelle is the digital content director of the Hearst Lifestyle Group, where she helps oversee multiple brand's strategy efforts on digital. Previously, she was the deputy editor and managing digital editor for Good Housekeeping. She has over 10 years of experience writing and editing lifestyle content.
Cailey Lindberg (she/her) is a writer and editor with over a decade of experience covering products, lifestyle, entertainment and food. Before joining Good Housekeeping in 2022, she was a staff writer at USA Today's shopping network, Reviewed.com.
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