30+ Eco-Friendly and Zero-Waste Gift Ideas for the Holidays 2023

The holiday season is a time of thoughtful giving, but it can be detrimental environmentally. Thankfully, there are a lot of ways we can spread some holiday cheer while also spreading positive impact.

Alternatives, like finding pre-loved items, are a great way to give unique gifts. Homemade gifts, including sharing recipes, make for personal and heartwarming presents. And making memorable experiences together is something truly priceless.

If you choose to shop for the people on your list, there are plenty of eco-friendly options out there and sustainable ways to gift wrap. Öko Creations offers some beautiful zero-waste gift wrap selections, including reusable bows, gift bags, pouches, and furoshiki wraps made from rescued fabrics. Other waste-free ways to package presents include upcycling gift bags you were given, reusing boxes, wrapping in recycled and recyclable paper, or getting creative with things you already have, like scarves or beeswax wraps.

And if you’re looking for something new and meaningful to buy, check out these sustainable and purpose-driven gift options we’ve rounded up that not only help support the planet but people as well.

Home & Lifestyle

Nature Bee Fire Starters – Keep your loved ones warm all winter long with these eco-friendly fire starters made from beeswax wrap offcuts by Nature Bee, an inclusive, woman-owned and -operated, sustainable Canadian company that uses locally-sourced ingredients to make products in-house.

Mimi & August Reusable Candle – Available in three different sizes, this reusable candle is hand-poured in Canada, 100% vegan and cruelty-free, made from biodegradable soy wax, and uses non-toxic fragrances. The website includes tips on how to use every drop of wax and ways to reuse the jar, including as a coffee cup, a spice container, or jewellery holder.

Friendsheep Wool Handmade Gifts – Handmade for fair wages by Nepalese women artists, these beautiful Eco Coasters are made with 100% cruelty-free New Zealand wool and coloured with azo-free eco-friendly dyes; and these Penguin Dryer Balls are all-natural, organic, fully reusable for over 1,000 loads, and add a touch of wintertime festivity to every load of laundry. Plus, Friendship Wool has a partnership with Eden Reforestation Project meaning a tree is planted for every product purchased; is a member of 1% of the Planet; donates about 20% of all their proceeds to several nonprofit organizations; and is compostable and plastic-free down to the packaging.

Baloo Weighted Blanket – Give a gift of warmth and comfort with this chemical-free, plastic-free, vegan, weighted blanket from Canadian brand Baloo. The fact that the company donates a portion of profits to the Pajama Program and is carbon neutral through a partnership with SeaTrees by Sustainable Surf makes this one feel extra cozy.

Pebbly Compost Bin – This functional, lightweight, and durable compost bin adds sustainability to any home or countertop. It’s made from metal and bamboo, has a handle for easy lifting, comes with a charcoal filter, and a seven-litre capacity.

LastTissue Reusable Tissue Pack – These reusable, 100% Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified organic cotton tissues come in an easy-to-clean silicone case with sewn-in barriers for sanitary storage. Each tissue can be cleaned in a washing machine and used over 520 times. Plus, LastTissue is a certified B Corp, mom-owned, charitable, and practices safe and fair labour, with products that are compostable, cruelty-free, organic, and with low-impact dyes and inks.

Tech & Accessories 

Ronxs Rechargeable Electric Lighters – Save matches and skip the disposable lighters and butane. These electric chargers come in different styles and colours, are USB rechargeable, wind- and weather-proof, and can light hundreds of times per charge, making them a great and practical eco-friendly gift option.

Pela Biodegradable Phone Cases – These plant-based, biodegradable phone cases come in a wide variety of designs and styles to suit the needs of everyone on your list. Plus, Pela is carbon neutral, supports various purpose-driven organizations and nonprofits, partners to help other companies reduce their footprint, is on a mission to keep 10 billion pounds of waste from being made, and donates to Ocean Cleanup and Preservation initiatives each time they make a sale. 

Nimble Ethically-Made Tech – Made using recycled and eco-friendly materials, Nimble’s portable chargers, wireless chargers, and charging cables are housed in plastic-free packaging made from biodegradable recycled paper with no harmful inks or dyes and built to last. These durable charging products are a great gift for all the tech-users in your life. Plus, Nimble includes a recycled plastic bag and a prepaid shipping label with each product so they can recycle old tech and e-waste for free.

Games & Activities 

Bare Market Flower Paper Kit – This eco-friendly kit is ideal for the crafter in your life who wants to engage with nature and enjoy an activity using sustainable and natural materials. Plus, Bare Market offers local delivery and ships using 100% plastic-free upcycled packaging. It’s all part of their mission “to make sustainable and ethical living easy and accessible for everyone, everywhere.”

The Good Tee DIY Shirt Kits – Your loved ones can customize to their heart’s content with these sustainable t-shirt kits that come with water-based, non-toxic, acid-free fabric paints, markers, or natural dye ingredients. They can feel good wearing their creations, as The Good Tee is a certified B Corp on “a mission to humanize the fashion industry,” with durable and sustainable products, a 100% transparent and traceable supply chain, and contribution toward UN Sustainable Development Goals, positively impacting both people and planet.

Zefiro Recycled Coloured Pencils – Support your loved one’s creativity with these recycled coloured pencil sets made from 100% recycled newspapers and packaged in a recyclable travel container. Each set is plastic-free, biodegradable, and compostable. The brand Zefiro is a member of 1% for the Planet and donates 1% of their annual sales toward environmental causes, while the seller, Zero Waste Hero, is a women-operated and -owned Canadian online store dedicated to providing sustainable alternatives.

Made By Bees All Natural Beeswax Crayons – Bring joy to the children on your list with these handmade 100% Canadian beeswax crayons that are safe for all ages, durable, use food-grade pigments, and are made to fit small hands. Each purchase includes a free downloadable colouring book to teach children about bees and encourage creativity. Proceeds from crayon sales will be donated to the Tech Transfer Team based out of the University of Guelph which conducts vital research for Ontario’s beekeeping industry.

Forestation Board Game – This environmental strategy board game is a great gift for families, friends, and gamers alike, and challenges players to build and maintain a sustainable ecosystem of plants and animals. Made by a family-run company in Victoria, BC, the FSC-certified game uses local artwork, animals, and trees to make an immersive experience and is sustainably manufactured in the Netherlands using sustainably sourced materials. Plus, 5% of all sales go to the Wilderness Committee and 5% to the Rainforest Conservation Foundation.

Plantoys Beaver Tumble – This timber-toppling game is sustainably made in Thailand using chemical-free rubberwood, formaldehyde-free glue, organic pigments, and water-based dyes. It’s available for purchase through The Mini Branch, a small Canadian company run by a husband-and-wife team that aims to provide families with durable and sustainable products, offers guaranteed clothing buy-back and no-time limit returns to help encourage sustainability, and supports local vendors and community outreach.

Food & Drink

Fernwood Coffee Beans – Fill their cup with purpose with this coffee blend from Victoria-based company Fernwood, a Certified Canada Organic, Fair Trade, Swiss Water Process, and Offsetters climate-friendly company. Through a partnership with Raincoast Conservation Foundation and Pender Island Conservancy, proceeds from this blend go to the Raincoast Conservation Foundation to fundraise for their project to preserve and protect a special ecosystem in British Columbia’s Gulf Islands.

Raven Rising Holiday Chocolates – Choose from a collection of holiday-themed, sustainable, ethically sourced, traceable, Fair Trade, organic chocolates for the foodie on your list. Ingredients are sourced from Indigenous people and businesses in Canada and globally. Indigenous women-owned and -operated, Raven Rising donates a portion of proceeds to various societies that support Indigenous organizations and carries a number of certifications.

Camino Hot Chocolate – Find a drink for everyone on the list with these certified organic, Fair Trade certified hot chocolate mixes that come in a variety of flavours, including milk, dark, maple, and chili and spice. Canadian company Camino is focused on making both a social and environmental impact through dignified and meaningful employment, sustainable packaging, donating unsold products to food banks, investing in carbon offset bonds, and more.

Pluck Holiday Tea – These limited edition holiday tea blends come in reusable stacking glass jars and three flavours: Apple Spice, Gingerbread Spice, and Chocolate Orange. Made by Toronto-based brand, Pluck, each ingredient is ethically sourced in Canada from a growing network of Rainforest Alliance, Fair Trade, and organic certified tea farms. Plus, many of their ingredients are Upcycled Food Association certified and their tea bags are plastic-free, made from plants, renewable, compostable, and biodegradable.

Drizzle Cinnamon Spiced Honey – Gift your loved ones a sweet treat with this holiday-themed Cinnamon Spiced organic, bee-friendly, all-natural, non-GMO, 100% raw honey from certified women-owned and -operated B Corp, Drizzle, who donates 1% of profits to pollinator research.

Self Care

Rockwell Beard Products – Give the gift of plastic-free, anti-static beard care with these durable beard shapers and bristle brushes made from bamboo. Rockwell Razors is on a mission to eliminate single-use plastic from its supply chain, has diverted over 100 tonnes of plastic waste, is committed to continuous improvement when it comes to the sustainability of its packaging, and seeks to create more products that replace traditionally plastic-laden items. 

No Tox Life Moisturizing Vegan Shaving Bar – These gentle, moisturizing, and palm-oil-free shaving bars for body and face ditch plastic bottles to make showers more sustainable and are wrapped in paper for shipping. No Tox Life is a family business run by a mother-and-daughter team that uses plant-derived ingredients and plastic-free, upcycled, and biodegradable shipping materials. 

Educated Beards Beard Wash – Handcrafted in small batches, this beard wash is great for removing ingrown hairs and dirt and is good for all skin and beard types. Non-comedogenic, cruelty-free, made from natural and certified organic ingredients, and housed in 100% biodegradable packaging, this wash is a great gift option from a brand that collaborates with Fair Trade companies and uses local ingredients and vendors wherever possible. 

Sḵwálwen Botanicals Gift Sets – Nourish good with sustainably and renewably hand-harvested, hydrating, and healing gift sets. In harmony with the teachings of their Skwxwú7mesh ancestors, Sḵwálwen uses an Indigenous supply chain, native botanicals, and regenerative practices, works to preserve Indigenous plants, and creates products that are free of harsh chemicals, phthalates, synthetics, and parabens. 

Soft & Butter Caona – Exfoliating Facial Scrub – This sustainable golden honey exfoliating facial scrub is made using an Indigenous plant-to-product model and natural ingredients that help with underlying skin issues. Soft and Butter, founded by Jasmine Swimmer, a member of the Taino Arawak First Nation people, infuses traditional Indigenous plant culture into each product, partners with Indigenous farmers and lawn owners, and champions sustainability and economic growth between Canada and Africa.

Little Seed Farm Holiday Sugar Body Scrub – Your loved ones can luxuriate in the scent of their favourite holiday treats with this all-natural, organic, cruelty-free, peppermint vanilla sugar scrub that comes in a glass jar with a recyclable metal lid. Little Seed Farm, a family-farm–owned and -made brand, is 100% solar powered, uses zero-waste biodegradable and recyclable shipping, and humanely manages a 100% grass-fed goat herd, making this gift guilt-free.

Apparel 

Unbelts Stretch Belts – Equitably made, made to last, and made from recycled materials, these stretchy belts are comfortable, machine-washable, super adjustable, and made in Canada by B Corp-certified company, Unbelts. This female-founded company engages in a lot of social and environmental good initiatives, including donating a portion of their inventory to community organizations, offering mentorship to purpose-driven companies, advocating at sustainable apparel events, and using circular methodologies.

Good For Sunday Save the Ocean Bamboo Crewneck – Made from sustainable bamboo in a family-owned factory in Toronto, every sweater purchased helps protect our oceans and marine life via a $5 donation to Sea Shepherd. Plus, Good For Sunday has embedded environmental and ethical responsibility into all its business processes and practices, including compostable packaging, responsible shipping with carbon offsetting, and an environmentally responsible return program called EcoDrop. 

Solmate Socks – Bundle up for winter with socks made from recycled yarns that contain no added chemicals. Best of all, Solmate is a B Corp with additional certifications by the Global Recycling Standard and Oeko-Tex materials that sources from Recover’s Upcycling System, practices carbon offsetting, and is involved in several giving initiatives to help various causes.

The Better Good Upcycled Wool Mittens – Give a practical and unique gift with these lined winter mitts made with 100% upcycled materials. Your loved ones will feel extra warm knowing that The Better Good sells products that are organic and Fair Trade and made with upcycled, recycled, or renewable materials; works with local producers; is involved in giving initiatives and hosts free community events; and offers a special discount program to help people make values-aligned purchases who wouldn’t be able to otherwise due to costs.

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