Zero Waste Guides

COMPLETE GUIDE: Sustainable Christmas gift ideas

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This guide will help you navigate through a zero waste Christmas with plenty of sustainable Christmas gift ideas. In Australia alone 20 millions of unwanted gifts are received, so it is no surprise that waste increase by 30% at Christmas time. When we are in a eco-friendly journey it may be even more difficult to find the right gift for the right person. This guide focus on gifts which are useful, needed but can also support behavioural changes towards a more sustainable lifestyle.

These sustainable Christmas gift ideas will not only help you reduce waste but will also please your friends and family members as you will be able to find zero waste options that suit everyone tastes and interests.

Explore sustainable Christmas gift ideas ??

  1. Reusable & swap items
  2. Zero waste alternatives
  3. Books about sustainability and climate change
  4. Digital subscriptions (mostly gift cards)
  5. Boxes and offline subscriptions
  6. Experiences
  7. Workshops
  8. Second hand gifts ideas
  9. Donations Christmas gifts
  10. Plant & seeds
  11. DIYs
  12. Local Products
  13. Christmas Cards

1. Establish better consumption with reusable & sustainable products

Get your friends the basic sustainable swaps – coffee cup, water bottle, reusable sponges or bamboo toothbrush. You could even make them a cute little kit with all the essentials and it’s also a great way to teach them about sustainability and bring new habits into their lives.

Ekoroo
Where to shop reusable gifts and zero waste products?

*Affiliate link/ code

2. Reduce waste and pollution with useful Christmas presents

It is simply about getting a low waste version of products people use daily or on regular basis. You could make a little cute hamper with a selection of eco-friendly products.

Sustainable hair products gifts

You can find shampoo and conditioner bars as well as liquid shampoo & conditioners using non polluting surfactant in recycled or eco-friendly packaging.

Where to buy shampoo and conditioner bars?

*Affiliate link/ code

Ecofriendly body wash gifts

Choose artisan/ homemade bars from a local soap maker. Some of them have unusual, unique or local fragrance which will delight your guests. For example, in Australia you could select soap bars made with native ingredients such as lemon myrtle or tea tree.

Where to buy soap bars?

Research a local company, visit local markets and you will find something very unique and sustainable.

Zero waste hygiene products

Let’s normalise hygiene and periods! They are amongst the best sustainable Christmas gift ideas as it’s something you can 100% sure your friends will use! No doubt about this!

  • Who gives a crap
  • Modi Mobi Period undies
  • Crimson Collective box
Where to find period undies and toilet paper gift cards?

*affiliate link/ code

Non toxic + degradable cleaning products

It may sound strange to gift cleaning products to someone, but remember that we’re focusing on what people need. If you know they love to clean or need to clean, these gifts will be perfect for them!

Example of gift pack cleaning products
  • Minq * (10% off with LISE10): Check out their super cute Christmas pack – Australia
  • Cove Cleaning: Refillable cleaning products available at Coles and starting pack can be bought online – Australia
  • Ethique: Concentrated cleaning solid solutions – Worldwide delivery (New Zealand based)

*affiliate link/ code

Low carbon foot print alternative mode of transports

You could get an alternative mode of transport such as bicycles or skateboards. If it is within your budget, look at electric options which are very convenient especially in hilly places. If you aren’t sure about the most suitable bike, check out my guide of the best bicycles for cycling in cities.

3. Increase awareness and knowledge about sustainable issues with books

Whether your friends and family members are interested in sustainability, books can be a good way to teach them more about sustainability issues and how to reduce waste. Depending on the knowledge level, you may want to choose books that are more accessible for some of them.

Ideas of books
  • ‘101 Ways To Go Zero Waste’, Kathryn Kellogg
  • Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, William McDonough
  • Climate Justice: Hope, Resilience, and the Fight for a Sustainable Future , Mary Robinson
  • Rebuilding Earth: Designing Ecoconscious Habitats for Humans, Teresa Coady
  •  The Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability – Designing for Abundance, Michael Braungart and William McDonough
  • Vegan for life, Jack Norris and Virginia Messina
  • Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism, Melanie Joy
  • Don’t Even Think About It, George Marshall
  • Plastic Purge, Michael SanClements
  • Overdressed, Elizabeth L. Cline
  • The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide, Jane Gale
  • Live Green, Jen Chillingsworth
  • The Rough Guide to Climate Change, Robert Henson
  • How Bad Are Bananas?: The carbon footprint of everything, Mike Berners-Lee
  • Wear No Evil, Greta Eagan
  • Grow Food For Free: The sustainable, zero-cost, low-effort way to a bountiful harvest, Huw Richards
  • Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard, Douglas W. Tallamy
  • Diet for a Hot Planet: The Climate Crisis at the End of Your Fork and What You Can Do about It, Anna Lappé

4. Prioritise immaterial consumption with digital subscriptions

Gift cards for digital platforms are literally the best sustainable gift ideas! People can use it when they want to discover something new or pay their existing subscription with it.

Most platforms below offer gift cards which are super convenient but with some don’t so you will need to sign up and then provide the logins to the person you’re giving.

Entertainment

Movies
Music
Gaming
Reading

Hobbies

Meditation and wellbeing

Learning

Languages 
  • Babbel (Gift Card) 

Kids

If you are not sure what people might like, why not getting them an apple store gift card?

5. Influence behaviour change with boxes and offline subscriptions

Clothing

There are many ethical brands which make great alternatives to traditional clothing. Clothing subscriptions are also amazing options for example Nuluu and socks subscriptions.

Food

Food subscriptions are pretty awesome because we all need to eat and it could help people getting into the habit to eat better and cook more which often part of our resolutions for the new year, so good timing!

Meal prep boxes
Veggies and fruit boxes

Check out local businesses who offer veggies and fruit boxes delivered in your area to reduce carbon footprint and support local farmers. Here are some examples:

Groceries Gift cards

Harris Farms (Gift Card) – Australia

Gardening + plants

Exercise

Wellbeing/Mental health

Kids

Tools

Why not try a tool library subscription? You may want to try to find one in your area but here are some examples

Coffee & Tea

Coffee and tea have a high carbon footprint but if you know some of your friends and family member love tea, you could even get some these boxes which they will use.

6. Replace objects with experiences

Experiences tend to use a lot fewer resources and less waste than physical objects.

Check out local businesses and ask if they offer gift cards for these experiences. There are also websites listing various experience businesses like Red balloon.

Here are some examples of gifts experiences
  • A massage
  • Spa Day
  • Guided tour
  • Classes & learning experiences: dance, languages, art etc
  • Local adventure (climbing, canoeing, surfing, cycling etc.)
  • Local holiday/trip
  • Tickets for an exhibition
  • Visit local tourist attractions

7. Give the opportunity to learn ‘lost’ skills with workshops

Workshops are really great if you want to help your friends and loved ones to learn new skills that could help them to be more sustainable. In these workshops, they can learn zero waste and DIY skills that they can take home with them! It’s also usually fun to learn something new! You will make them really proud when they show their creation and new skill!

Examples of zero waste and ecofriendly workshops
  • soap making
  • candle making
  • Gardening
  • Sewing 
  • Cleaning products creating
  • Compost making
  • Cosmetics creation
  • Vegan food preparation
  • Fix furniture
  • Repair electronic items

8. Find treasures and reduce resources use with second hand gifts

Visit your local thrift store to find unique treasures that you could give to your loved ones. Some stores have beautiful almost new products that can be gifted as new. Make sure to create a beautiful zero waste packaging.

Example of second hand items
  • Decorations: vases, paintings
  • Jewelry
  • Vintage items
  • Designer clothes
  • Set of plates, bowls
  • Other random treasures

9. Give a meaningful gift to someone who already has everything with donations

It’s a great way to give your money for good causes especially when you still want to give a present but you know that the person already has everything they need and don’t want something in particular.

Personally I do this with my parents because they already have so many things. Last year I gave my dad a koala adoption certificate and he was really pleased with it as the organisation kept giving news about the adopted koala. 

Some charities also sell some merch that can make good gifts. For example, I know my mum likes to get a calendar so I gave her one from a farm animal sanctuary, making a donation at the same time. This can be a good way to still provide a physical gift that someone need while making a donation to a cause you care about.

When choosing the cause, I try to find a local cause or a cause I know will be meaningful to the person I give it to.

Examples of gift donations

Search for local charities or cause you care about, alternatively you can find some ideas and support international causes on these websites:

10. Help local wildlife + increase greenery with plants & seeds

We know it, more plants reduce heat and help revert climate change. Prefer potted plants to cut flowers which consume quite a lot of resources.

Plants are also beautiful, proven to improve well being and air quality when kept inside. Some plants have become really popular over the years, so your loved ones might appreciate them.

You can also buy and give seeds especially rare plants would delight an avid gardener.

Wether you buy plants try to buy local and native plants to the person areas as it will grow better and is usually adapted to the type of climate.

11. Make something special with zero waste DIYs Christmas gifts

You don’t want to buy something and prefer making something more personal with what you have? No worries!

There are so many things you make yourself and tailor for a particular person.

Example of gift DIYs

There are plenty of super easy DIYs you could make! Check out Pinterest!

12. Support small creators and businesses with local products

If you really want something original, it’s a great way to support local businesses and reduce the carbon footprint of your gifts

You can check out Etsy but also visit local markets especially in the month leading up to Christmas!

In Sydney you can check out

13. Go waste free with compostable Christmas Cards

We don’t necessarily think about it, but cards use natural resources and as often wasted after a few years if people decide to keep them at all!

Turquoise Creative Cards

Don’t worry there are so great eco cards these days! For example, Eco Turquoise cards are fully compostable and even better can be planted as they contain native Australian flowers seeds.

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