Sustainable Gift Guide
Guppyfriend
This is the one thing I am gifting to pretty much everyone on my list. This is the perfect gift for people who have recently take an interest in sustainability or maybe don’t know where to begin. Ditching plastic clothing can be a tough, and sometimes less sustainable, commitment. The best thing we can do with our textiles is to use the clothes we have and love, buy mindfully by committing to sustainable materials, and wash with the intention of minimizing microplastic waste. This is where the Guppyfriend comes in. While many of the clothes people already have plastics in them, or types of clothing just don’t really work well without plastic (think athletics or swim), you can still take action with the Guppfriend.
This nifty laundry bag collects plastic microparticles before they get washed down the drain with your laundry water. You would be surprised how tiny the microplastics our clothes released are, which is why the bag is designed with a thread that is 15 μm in diameter size (μm = micrometre, 1 mm = 1000 μm). For microparticles to get through the opening, it would have to pierce straight through the fabric. And even if it sticks out of the fabric, the thread is naturally pushed back into the bag.
Best of all, it is self-cleaning and you can remove the microplastics and dispose of accordingly after it builds up around the zipper area of the bag. You can also wash the bag with natural textiles outside of it too. However, placing your wool and cotton items inside the bag will also prevent fibre breakage and therefore help your items to last longer, making it a great all-rounder than anyone could benefit from!
Porter
Spread the joy of ditching single-use plastics and promote packed lunches with Porter’s stylish containers and mugs. Their lunch bowls are gorgeous, supertight and BPA free. But that’s not all, their mini dressing and spice containers make perfect stocking stuffers too. But Porter isn’t only perfect for lunch, their ceramic travel mug is the ultimate office mug that gives you a truly luxe vibe in the AM. The ceramic prevents those weird smells that remain in plastic coffee cups even after washing (which is ACE). Overall, the Porter range makes an amazing sustainable gift for someone who is always on the go and is obsessed with functional and beautiful design.
REN Body Wash
For the sustainable, self-care, ocean-loving person on your list, give them this soapy dream. The REN Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium (anti-fatigue) body wash is ideal for anyone, really. It has the most relaxing scent that anyone would love and the magnesium can help to relax your muscles after a gym session or day at work. This body wash gets extra credit because they teamed up with TerraCycle to create the bottle which is made of 100% recycled plastic, of which 20% is reclaimed ocean plastic. This is why the bottle has a slight grey-ish tint because it’s not made of virgin plastics.
Veja
Looking for the friend who is already on a sustainable kick and has all the daily tools for staying eco-friendly? Look no further than these Veja Esplar kicks. Buying for people who are also swapping single-use items for more reusable options can be difficult but keep an eye out for sustainable style gifts you can gift them. These Vejas make an awesome present because they virtually match anyone’s style. The lining is made of organic cotton, the sole is made with wild rubber, and they’re produced ethically in Brazil. Plus, they’re not made with vegan leathers, which can actually break down faster than real leather and do not biodegrade like natural textiles.
Stasher Bag
\I in love with what Stasher Bag has presented to the sustainable community and I’m investing in these for both myself and my gift list. The possibilities are endless because you can store and cook with these bags. They’re microwave, fridge and freezer safe while you can cook with them in a sous vide, standard oven, or pot of boiling water, and all up to 400F/200C. Lastly, they’re made out of 100% pure platinum food-grade silicone and do not contain PVC, latex or petroleum. When you’re not using them in the kitchen, they make great toiletry bags for travel. Win. Win.
Reusable Cotton Rounds
These reusable cotton rounds are the perfect stocking stuffer for those looking to make easy and sustainable changes to their daily skincare routine. Keep the bag it comes with so that you can wash them inside, otherwise, they can get lost in your washing machine’s door and seal. Overall, they’re super simple to wash and dry quickly. I like to buy two sets for someone because you can wash one set while using another, then have the clean set ready to swap over once you’re ready to wash again.
Baggu
To write a list of the times my Baggu(s) (both normal and baby-sized) have come in handy, would be a novel-long document. Baggu bags are the ultimate daily superhero, saving you at the grocery store, during last-minute grabs on your way home from work, when consolidation bag at the airport, or even bring your lunch bag. Not only will it come in handy for you (or said giftee), but imagine becoming the superhero when a friend asks ‘do you have a bag’? You’ll also grin with contentment when you’re asked the same question at the store, because with Baggu, of course, you do! Baggu bags are truly the gift that keeps on giving, helping you here and there, and possibly saving the day. They come in so many colours, there is no doubt you’ll find the right print for the person in mind! Give someone the gift of extra hands this year, give them the gift of Baggu.
Allbirds
My family is massively obsessed with Allbirds. In fact, it was a family-wide present last year. I can honestly say they are super comfy (both the wool and tree versions). They have created a sustainable shoe brand by creating shoes from sustainable materials like wool and eucalyptus. Wool is antibacterial and naturally water-repellent while eucalyptus requires super low quantities of water to grow. Lastly, we recently had a manufacturing issue with a pair recently and went to the store to ask for repairs. Instead, they offered a brand new pair of the same model and they took the pair so that they could repair and donate. So if you want to invest in a brand that is sustainable and gives back, Allbirds is the one. (Also, they just released some amazing-looking socks, definitely another stocking stuffer idea!)
Wild Sage + Co Shampoo Bar
£6
One of the next sustainable swaps I want to make in 2020 is shampoo bars. It seems like a daunting task, but the start of a new year sounds like great timing to me. I’m aiming to consume the rest of my normal shampoo and conditioners in the next few weeks to make this happen, but boy am I excited. My research led me to Wild and Sage’s Shampoo bar, which is chock full of my favourites, like lavender, rosemary and apple cider vinegar. Plus, their bar is for all hair types, so I’ll be sharing it with my partner. The best thing that makes this a versatile gift though is the fact that if your giftee decides they aren’t into the whole bar shampoo scene, it can also be used as a regular body wash. (PS, you may want to make sure they have a cute soap dish too!)
Yogi Bare Wild Paws Eco Yoga Mat
Got a yogi on your list? They probably have a mat, but let’s be honest, do they have an eco mat that is travel-friendly? Odds are in your favour if you’re scoping out this mat for them. It is made from natural rubber for amazing grip and the really cool thing about Yogi Bare mats is that they also plant a tree through HOMETREE when you buy a mat. Double up on the sustainable points!
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Coming up with gift ideas that are thoughtful and sustainable can be daunting, but trust me when I say there are a lot of wonderful gift ideas out there and here are just a few. However, this post would not be sustainable if I neglected to mention that making something for your giftee can also be a wonderful and eco-friendly way to surprise someone this season. May this list inspire you to make someone’s gift sustainable this year!
What kind of sustainable gifts do you like to give? Leave a comment below!