38 Unique Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas for Earth Conscious Friends

These Zooey Deschanel-approved self-sealing reusable bags are great for storing leftovers, produce, lunch, and more. Free from BPA, PVC, and latex, these never leave your food smelling funky, and they’re dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. Plus, they’re super sturdy (unlike a lot of other reusable bags, which only last after a handful of washes).

Food Huggers are perfect for anyone who cooks a lot. They’re like little hats you can put on your cut produce to keep it good without wasting a plastic bag.

These Butter & Cheese Huggers are the perfect complement to the above cheese board. Just like the food huggers, to can put these on cut cheese or butter to keep the end fresh.

Another efficient and sustainable way to store food (whether it’s leftover pizza, sandwiches, or half an onion you used up) is to use Bee’s Wrap. You simply wrap the item with the bend-y sheet, and it’ll stick that way until next time. When you’re all done, toss it in the dishwasher. It’s made with certified organic cotton, responsibly sourced beeswax, and certified organic plant oil—and it’s super pliable and sturdy, too.

This is for the friend who collects all those egg shells and veggie scraps in a random bag that doesn’t look so cute in the kitchen. This pretty, ceramic compost keeper stores all that leftover food, and has a filter that prevents odor (this lasts up to about six months before you need to change it out).

While it’s a bit of an investment at first, this hydroponic garden is self-watering and self fertilizing, so growing your own garden is a much more hands-off process. Plus, aside from using far less water, the Farmstand is a vertical garden, so you can grow your own produce without needing an entire background—just a little spot in the sun will do. With a Farmstand, you get all the gear you need to grow (water pump, cord, grow cups, and timer), nutrients for 130+ plants, and supplies (a pH testing kit, stir stick, etc.). You can grow up 200+ varieties of plants.

Glass storage containers are better for the planet than plastic ones, but these glass mason jars with airtight lids are even more chic—and great for produce like carrots, cucumbers, and celery (along with anything else you can fit in there, like flours, sugars, beans, etc.). This set of four comes with labels and pen, so you can feel ultra organized and Pinterest-worthy.

Because different fruits ripen best in certain environments, the Just Ripe Fruit Bowl is great for keeping different types produce of fresh in separate compartments. This can prevent fruit from ripening too fast and going bad, cutting down on food waste.

Your friend who goes to the farmers market every weekend? They need these Veggie-Saving Reusable Bags. They’re made from a breathable, machine-washable cotton that keeps veggies fresh with humidity. Just moisten the bags, tuck veggies inside, then throw them in the fridge.

Maybe “dishcloths” doesn’t scream “giftable,” but hear us out. These dish cloths have internet hype behind them (like, 30,000+ reviews on Amazon hype), and for good reason. They’re incredibly versatile, so you can use them to clean your dishes as well as wipe down counters, and they’re reusable (so no more wasting paper towels). They’re safe to be used on all surfaces, including marble, stainless steel, tile, wood, and more. They’re made of cotton and cellulose, so they dry hard but as soon as they touch water they become super pliable and soft.

We said no reusable water bottles, but we didn’t say reusable travel mugs—especially when they’re as cool as this. Not only are Stojo’s mugs (and food containers!) reusable, made of a sturdy silicone and features a leak-proof seal as well as straw, but they collapse nearly flat so you can save room in your cabinets.

We waste a lot of cans, thanks to our love for sparkling water and seltzer. Thankfully, there’s a more environmentally friendly route, and that’s a sparkling water maker. Make your own sparkling water at home, and reuse the bottle! You get to be your own barista of sorts and create your own flavors, too. This makes for the perfect gift for anyone who *must* have their daily (or hourly) La Croix.

Sure, dishwasher detergent isn’t the ~coolest~ gift of all time. But honestly? We’d be pretty happy if we were introduced to these cool eco-friendly detergent drops. These are totally biodegradable, dye, chlorine, and phosphate-free, and they’re just as powerful as traditional pods. And they smell oh-so-clean. (Our favorite is the lemon!)

Ditch the single-use cleaner bottles you have under your sink. This reusable glass bottle (made from partially recycled lead-free glass) has a silicone sleeve for easy grip. anD it comes with two small bottles of derived, multi-use cleaner concentrate. Pour the concentrate into the bottle, fill with water, and you’re ready to clean most surfaces in yout house.

These are Cariuma’s 100 percent vegan skate shoes, and they’re just as awesome as the rest of their collection. Made of high-performance material, they’re actually 2.5 times more resistant than animal suede, and even more durable. Get these in four colors, available for both men and women. (And if you haven’t heard of Cariuma, we reviewed a couple of their styles —we’re major fans of their style, comfort, and versatility as an everyday sneaker.)

Another sneaker that’s known for supreme comfort and longevity, Allbirds uses renewable Merino wool to construct this water-repelling, machine-washable shoe that’s great for rainy, cold weather (we love its no-slip natural rubber grip!).

Available in a wide variety of colors and patterns, you can’t go wrong with Rothy’s slip on sneaker. Made of thread that’s constructed of recycled plastic water bottles), what people love about Rothy’s (aside from the cute and versatile styles) is that you can throw these into the wash and get ’em back good as new. Whether you choose the classic flats (pointed or round), the sneakers, or even their slippers, Rothy’s sturdy shoe engineering is built to last. (Case in point, W+G’s commerce editor still has her first pair from three years ago—and they look like she bought them last week.)

The Gilded Body Marble Candle comes in a vessel so pretty you’ll want to keep it forever. Available in pink and black marble, the vessel features an inner sleeve that you can swap with refills of the candle ($45) instead of buying a whole new container.

The Bathing Culture Glow Duo is great for anyone who could benefit from some on-the-go TLC for their skin. It includes a bottle of Golden Hour hydrosol toner to refresh skin, and a bottle of Outer Being Face Oil to re-balance. Freshly harvested flowers and herbs from organic farms are used to make these vegan, carbon-neutral, and biodegradable formulas.

Dedcool, the trendy Los Angeles-based gender neutral fragrance you’ve likely smelled before (even if you didn’t know it at the time), offers complete ingredient transparency (their formulas are carcinogen-free), and focuses on low-waste packaging (all glass bottles are recycled). Their perfumes are also not formulated with water (which is just a sneaky way for some perfume brands to dilute the product). Red Dakota is a gorgeous springy-summery scent with notes of clementine, gardenia, amber, and berries (think grownup Orangesicle with a hint of floral), but you can also customize your own!

“Angie” is described as a “love letter to Los Angeles,” but we love it most because it reminds us of the first true days of spring. You know, when it’s 70 degrees out, the flowers are blooming, and you’re wearing sandals for the first time in what feels like centuries. You’ll get whiffs of honeysuckle, jasmine, and fig—all without parabens, phthalates, or BHT. Handmade in LA, all ingredients are responsibly-sourced and the packaging is always environmentally conscious.

To create the Cathedral Grove Perfume Oil, Bathing Culture blended 11 aromatic plants to create a 100 percent natural perfume oil. It smells simultaneously woodsy and refined. It’s got beautiful earthy notes that smell like a breath of fresh air.

Bed Threads makes the comfiest linen. With their sets, you can fully customize a set of sheets, pillowcases, and a duvet cover in a wide range of colors and patterns that you can mix and match. They get softer with every wash, and your giftee will love them for years to come.

These gorgeous towels from Coyuchi have excellent absorption without being super thick. They’re made from 100 percent organic cotton grown and woven in the Aegean region of Turkey. This six-piece set includes two bath towels, two guest towels, and two washcloths.

Weighted blankets can be a bit of an eyesore, which makes the Bearably Tree Napper really stand out. It’s a beautiful blanket, and you can’t tell it’s weighted until you lift it. It’s made from Tencel, a plant-based fabric that’s 100 percent biodegradable, and one of the most sustainable options. It’s available in three weights (15, 20, and 25 pounds) and seven gorgeous colors.

Gift a set of these cozy flannel sheets from Coyuchi that are perfect for winter. Each set includes a flat sheet, fitted sheet, and corresponding pillowcases. They’re made from 100 percent organic cotton that is grown in Turkey and woven in Portugal.

This waffle robe from Naadam is made from a blend of 70 percent recycled cashmere and 30 percent virgin cashmere, making it luxe, durable, and sustainable. It’s available in three colors: oatmeal (pictured), smoke, and black.

Hang this mini solar panel in a window and attach devices to get them charged. This is great for anyone trying to use less electricity at home, but can also come in handy when they’re on the go.

Cozy up with this super soft and warm blanket, which is made by artisans from ethically-sourced alpaca wool in the Peruvian Andes. There are no chemical dyes used; instead, the colors are due to naturally occurring hues of alpaca.

This glitter is made from plant cellulose, making it completely plastic-free and able to fully biodegrade in about 28 days in natural environments. It’s easy to use and available in six amazing colors to add a pop of sparkle to your skin or hair.

Fun fact: luffas are plants! This freshly harvested heirloom luffa from Bathing Culture is responsibly farmed and dried in central California. That means it’s 100 percent biodegradable.

This moisturizing body stone is a plastic-free form of lotion. Just warm the stone between your hands and rub it on your body before massaging in the nourishing oils. Because it’s made without water, a little goes a long way.

The good: This face oil works hard to smooth skin and infuse it with mega hydration, giving you a near-instant dewy glow.
The even better: Korres has been pretty good about their eco-friendly packaging (they use 90 percent recyclable packaging), but this year they’ve opened an in-store recycle lab in NYC, making their brand even more earth-friendly. Plus, they support over a thousand Greek farms by buying their used vineyard grapes to create their formulas at their zero-waste lab. Anything they don’t use gets used as fertilizer.

No more plastic shampoo bottles! This biodegradable shampoo bar (which is wrapped in recyclable paper sourced from sustainably-managed forests) is just as effective as the traditional stuff, and it leaves your hair silky smooth (thanks to the oat formulation). Cleansing the scalp, this shampoo bar doesn’t completely strip it of its natural oils. Plus, it’s hydrating enough, most don’t need a conditioner after.

This refillable tube of lip balm (there’s clear as well as tinted in a bunch of shades) gives you velvety lips that stay moisturized for up to 24 hours (thanks to peony and pomegranate extract, which help seal in hydration).

This bracelet from Akola looks like ivory but is actually made from horn. While elephants are killed for ivory, horn is taken from already-dead cows that would otherwise be discarded. It’s crafted by women in Uganda.

This semi-precious stone earring is crafted from found, re-used, up-cycled, and natural materials. It’s available in various options, such as azure quartz, green quartz, lavender quartz, and more. And you have the option to buy a single earring or a pair.

This dainty sculpted hear is a modern twist on traditional heart pendants. Available in sterling silver and gold vermeil, this necklace is handmade in New York City. For an extra $20, you can have the piece engraed.