Growing up, I loved getting gifts. But honestly, I didn’t love having to find new places to put all of my stuff. After a while my room was packed with things that I honestly didn’t use or even need.
At the end of the day, the last thing most of us need, is more stuff.
So instead of giving the gift or waste or more junk, here are some really awesome zero waste gift ideas that are unique, personal and super useful!
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Zero waste gift ideas:
1. Bulk coffee grounds with a french press – Not only is this delicious and useful but it will save plastic in the future by avoiding single-use coffee pods
2. An experience – Give the gift of an experience. This could include movie tickets, concert tickets, a weekend getaway or a spa day! There are countless experiences you could give to a loved one.
3. A candle – Cliche, but everyone loves candles and they’ll be put to good use!
4. Essential oils – They’re all the rage so why not take advantage of it and give a few to a friend.
5. Bulk loose leaf tea – Another useful gift, you can even search for DIY tea bags to go with!
6. Hot Chocolate mix – A cozy gift. Put it in a jar or in a mug so all they have to do is add hot water and mix!
7. Brownie/cookie mix – Everyone loves homemade desserts! So put all the dry ingredients of your favorite recipe into a jar and gift them the gift of homemade deliciousness and the experiences of making them!
8. Cookies – If you know someone who hates baking but loves eating, make the cookies for them and deliver them in a cute, reusable tin!
9. Bath salts – Perfect for your friend who loves a good soak in the tub!
10. Bulk candy in a jar – For the friend who has a sweet tooth! Pick up some of their favorite candy or chocolates and put them in a mason jar. (or two!)
11. A nice bottle of wine – Who doesn’t love a good wine for the holidays?
12. DIY body scrub/lotion – Perfect for the colder months with an added personal touch!
13. Knit them a sweater – or anything really! If you know how to knit you could knit your loved ones a sweater, a pair of mittens or even a scarf!
14. A plant – Or succulent for your plant-loving friend.
15. An audiobook subscription – Perfect for your friend who loves to read but doesn’t have time to read!
16. DIY bath bombs – Bath bombs are actually super easy and fun to make! Personalize them to your friend likes!
17. Lessons – guitar lessons, piano lessons, skating lessons, etc. Have fun with it!
18. Re-gift – I know this can be taboo but if you have an item just lying around that you know you’ll never use, why not consider re-gifting it to someone who will put it to good use.
19. Re-usable travel mug – Eco-friendly and oh, so useful.
20. Sustainably made cosmetics – For the makeup-loving friend in your life without the added plastic waste.
These are just a few ideas to get you inspired for the holiday season of gifting! If you liked this post, please pin it on Pinterest and follow me on Instagram for daily inspiration!
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How to have a zero-waste Christmas
Last year I got for my husband a smart thermostat. I know… I know… it doesn’t sound romantic, or zero waste, BUT, hear me out… though I am definitely committed to reducing my waste as much as possible, I think it important to purchase things that reduce our carbon footprint (and save money). The smart thermostat paid for itself in a year with lower heating bills, and the bills were something my husband was grumbling about, so it made sense, and the bonus is our house is not generating as much in greenhouse gasses to function. Other ideas along this line are energy saving power strips, solar chargers, rechargeable batteries, plug-in electricity monitors, low-flow massage shower heads or faucet heads. This type of gift might appeal to some of the tech loving guys on your Christmas list.
My elder brother came for Christmas last year, and I needed to think up gifts for him that would not just be “stuff.” Though he is not a zero waste person, the zero waste gifts I thought up were exactly the kinds of things he liked: homemade jam and marmalade, a batch of the cookies my mom used to make for him decades ago that brought back memories, a tiny lemon tree I grew out of a lemon I purchased at the grocery store (give yourself some months for that one!), and a box of old family letters I had unearthed, along with his high school year book (our father had died the year before and I did a bunch of the clearing out of his house). Some people really don’t want more “things.” But I find if I really think about them, what they like to eat, what they actually need, or something personal we can share, like handmade art… that it is very appreciated.
That’s amazing and totally in the spirit of reducing wasteful gifts by giving something of meaning and something that they will cherish and get a lot of use out of!