I began to compile this list of environmental gifts many months ago after repeatedly seeing ideas for eco-friendly gifts made with recycled products or products that can help reduce plastic usage. This year, instead of buying more crap that inevitably ends up in landfills, why not buy gifts that can make a difference by reducing waste and helping our planet?
There is an environmental gift — jewelry, clothing, handbags, notebooks, and more — for just about anyone. Moreover, some of these gifts even give back when their makers work to clean the environment or feed hungry families. Some are inexpensive, while others are higher-priced. Some are simple while others are quite trendy.
1. Bracelets that help clean the ocean
The 4Ocean bracelet is at the top of my list because of the company’s amazing proactiveness. Dedicated to ridding the beaches and oceans of garbage, 4Ocean employs workers worldwide in various locations to comb beaches and dive to remove ocean garbage. It finances these clean-up missions by selling, for just $20, bracelets made from recycled glass and plastic. For each bracelet sold, 4Ocean estimates it cleans up a pound of trash. The main bracelet is blue while monthly special, limited edition bracelets vary in color and help donate to various causes. It has also added water bottles to its inventory. I wear my 4Ocean bracelets every day — never take them off — and I have bought them as gifts and will continue to do so.
2. Backpacks that help feed families
The backpacks in Rice Love’s recycled collection are handmade out of upcycled jute/burlap rice bags, which are made from plant-based fibers and biodegradable. Rice Love also gives back; it estimates that each bag purchased provides 1 kilo (2.2 lbs) of rice to a family in need in India. Learn how here.
3. Sculptures made from discarded flip-flops
Ocean Sole is a company in Kenya that collects old rubber flip-flops that have washed onto beaches and turns them into art and functional products to promote ocean conservationism. The products are the result of 50 Kenyan artists recycling more than 400,000 flip flops per year.
4. Quilts and throw blankets out of repurposed saris
Named for the Sanskrit word for rags, a “kantha” throw is a cotton quilt handmade from the cloth of upcycled Indian sari dresses. The Kantha Collection sells beautiful kathas that are handmade by female artisans in India.
5. Purses made from old billboards
Rareform makes tote bags and backpacks out of the vinyl of old billboards. They have totes, duffels, backpacks, hip packs, and messenger bags. They also have wallets, luggage tags, pouches, wristlets, laptop cases, and more. Every item is unique, and there are many colors to chose from.
6. Totes, purses, and duffel bags made from sails
Sea Bags are environmental gifts born as sails and transformed, in Maine, into nautically inspired totes and accessories intended to retain the essence of the sea.
7. Purses made from kimonos
Several artisans, many of whom are on Etsy, make handbags from recycled kimono and obi fabric. On Etsy, I searched for “kimono,” then filtered my search results for only handmade items, category: bags & purses, and about 3000 options came up. You can narrow these choices further by filtering by type of purse and shop location. I also found a couple of stores, both in Malaysia, that advertise on the web. Both have somewhat high-priced, but beautiful, designs. They are Moniko and Sophia by Shirley.
8. Ballet flats made from recycled plastic bottles
Rothy’s are made from recycled water bottles. Knit by machine and crafted by hand, these adorable shoes are constructed using a 3D knitting process. They come in dozens of colors and patterns and several styles. They are a little pricey, but this hyperlink also should offer you a 20% discount.
9. Housewears made from recycled plastic.
Bottlecloth makes and sells housewears for the kitchen and dining room — placemats, tablecloths, napkins, and runners — all from 100% recycled plastic.
10. Scarves made out of upcycled saris
Yet another company that makes product from saris. Greensewn re-purposes hand selected vintage silk saris into gorgeous one of a kind scarves, wraps, and accessories.
11. Sneakers woven from thread spun with recycled plastic
In collaboration with Parley for the Oceans, Adidas has made a line of sneakers made in part by yarn featuring Parley Ocean Plastic, made from recycled waste that has been intercepted from beaches and coastal communities before it reaches the ocean.
12. Luxury bags from used fire hose
Using traditional craftsmanship, British company Elvis & Kresse re-engineers items like fire hose, ad banners, and coffee sacsto create high-end accessories like tote bags, luggage tags, and more. It re-distributes up to 50% of profits to projects and charities. The Elvis & Kresse weekend bag is made from genuine decommissioned fire-hose, and the lining is made from old auction banners.
13. Chairs, stools, bags, and more made from used fire hose
California company Oxgut obtains genuine fire hose salvaged from U.S. fire departments and puts it into the hands of local designers and artisans, who help give the hose a whole new purpose. They’re always coming up with new ways to integrate the resilient firehose material into beautiful, handmade pieces.
14. Shopper totes from recycled materials
BlueQ sells fun, gorgeous, and colorful shopper totes in a multitude of colors and patterns that can double as gift bags for your present. Also, every BlueQ bag sold benefits the Nature Conservancy.
15. Yoga mat bags from recycled ad banners
I liked Rareform’s billboard bags so much and wondered if I could find yoga mats also made from recycled ad banners. Sure enough, I found two companies who sell them. First, Madana sells the Urban Yoga Mat Bag, in both top-loading and side loading. A company named Arcmate also sells them.
16. Laptop bags, tablet covers, wallets, etc. made from fire hoses
Another company that uses fire hose to make terrific products, Feuerwear designs messenger bags, shoulder bags, gym bags, and phone and tablet covers from recycled fire hoses. They are located in Germany.
17. Kit to make a cute stuffed dog from reclaimed wool
And for children 8 and up, the Scrappy Dog Stuffed Animal Kit includes all materials needed to make a cute stuffed dog out of reclaimed wool.
18. T-shirts made from recycled plastic bottles
I found at least three companies that make and sell shirts made from plastic bottles:
- 30A‘s “Dumpster Diver” shirts are made from recycled plastic bottles. According to their website, “every shirt is made from eight 16-ounce plastic bottles collected from landfills.” They’re blended with cotton for softness.
- Recover‘s website says it collects and sorts post-consumer plastic bottles, stripping them of labels and caps, and salvages cotton from discarded industry scraps. The reclaimed fiber is spun into yarn and knit into fabric, which is ultimately cut and sewn into a garment.
- Soul Flower‘s shirts are blended from 50% organic cotton and 50% recycled plastic.
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These 18 items are just a start. However, I hope they give you some great ideas for environmental gift-giving this holiday seasons. With all these wonderful items out there made from recycled material, why buy any other gifts this holiday season?
