11 gifts you can feel good about buying and why
It’s October and gift guides are starting to come out! I debated about advocating the excesses of consumption around the holidays, but then I realized that people are going to buy things anyway. So rather than trying to stop consumption, which is likely not going to happen, how about shifting our focus to consuming more responsibly?
Product Love is dedicated to conscious consumers. I want to highlight the brands and products that are doing the right things for the environment. I initially focused on all of the products that I have used regularly for the past 10 years. I have been a faithful shopper at my local health food store and I know the history of many environmentally friendly brands. But in writing this blog, I have learned a lot too. I have come across environmental influencers I didn’t know about and new progressive brands that are creating zero-waste products.
I will work on writing a round-up post for some of the most exciting new brands I have researched. In the meantime, I wanted to create a list of gifts you can feel good about buying. I include affiliate links, and I am happy to support brands that are doing the right thing for the environment!
Stocking Stuffer Ideas
Auric Blends is my favorite perfume. I remember the first time I found their product, I was in a health food store in Florida. I was smelling the Water Goddess scent and I was so disappointed that they only had the one from the display. There was a nice guy working there who saw how disappointed I was and told me to take it, that they would just put out a new one when the next order came in. (So nice!)
There are 46 amazing scents to choose from. Water Goddess is has a magnolia floral bouquet with touches of rose and violet, supported by a background of exotic woods and mosses. Black Opium is another favorite, which is exotic and slightly spicy, dries down to a warm and smooth aroma with touches of vanilla and patchouli. I have both of these, but I am also thinking about buying my own stocking stuffer and getting Love. Love has a soft musk with notes of White Amber, Woods, and a touch of Auric Blends Egyptian Goddess.
I love that they are a cruelty-free brand and that their blends are made with intention.
I really love EO Products French Lavender anything. I most often use their hand sanitizing wipes and spray and I find the scent so relaxing, so when I saw this Serenity bubble bath, I knew that it would be an amazing treat! If you wanted to do a little gift set, you could also include the French Lavender body lotion or body oil.
EO Products is committed to sustainable manufacturing and has been leading the way by going zero-waste. They are also a B-Corp, and they are committed to putting the planet before profits.
EO Products embodies exactly what I look for— high-quality products, sustainable practices, and leaders who consider more than just the bottom line.
SOKO is an ethical jewelry brand with a unique supply chain app they use to communicate with their small business manufacturers in Kenya. These SOKO Mini Dash Stud Earrings are 24k gold plated recycled brass.
The company is also a woman-led certified B-corp. If you want to check out SOKO’s business practices, this is their impact page.
See the link above to SOKO’s impact page. This SOKO Ripple Band Ring is a personal favorite, I think I will add it to my own Christmas list! It’s 24k gold plated recycled brass.
This 100% organic cream cotton knit Patch Beanie from tentree is cute and a great value. Not only will someone get a warm and stylish hat, but the Earth will also get ten trees! For more information about tentree’s brand, see the post tentree Gifts You Can Feel Good About Buying.
Eco-Gifts for Everyone
Before you think that sheets aren’t a sexy gift, they can be! These amazing sheets are a splurge. They may be an item someone wouldn’t buy for themselves but secretly wants. Plus, these Organic Linen Sheets are as eco-friendly as you can get — they are 100% GOTS organic certified linen.
House of Marley honors the legacy of Bob Marley and carries on the legacy of his love for the planet. They make sustainable sound equipment. I could see this Stir It Up Turntable being a great gift for a wide age range of people in your life. It has been a long time since I have heard something on vinyl, so perhaps it’s my own nostalgia that caused me to include it on the list. If you don’t go for records, you could also check out their Get Together Mini Bluetooth Speaker.
My first snowboard ever was a Burton. I have gone on snowboarding trips for years and I can honestly say that if someone had ever given me a board for Christmas I would have cried.
Burton is really focusing on its sustainability practices. One thing I like to see is that they are making their product packaging with 80% recycled materials. Their boards are manufactured in Austria at a factory they have been working with for more than 30 years, and most materials are sourced from within a 250-mile radius.
Swarovski crystals are a more sustainable choice than crystals mined from the Earth. Their products are a beautiful alternative to natural stones, and Swarovski is committed to ecologically friendly practices. To learn more, check out this article.
This Swarovski Pear Vittore Ring is a beautiful gift. For a more traditional men’s gift option, check out this Swarovski Octea Lux Sport Watch.
Someone who is really Earth-conscious would love this gift. This allBambu Zero Waste Gift Set includes:
One Premium Bamboo Toothbrush
Pack of 5 Bamboo Straws
Bamboo Toothbrush Holder
30m Eco Dental Floss ( Choose from Mint or Strawberry Flavour)
On the Go Bamboo Cutlery Set (Choose from Black, Blue, Red, or Green)
The gift box is wrapped with eco-friendly ribbons and is ready to give!
I LOVE The Ocean Cleanup project--I'm a monthly donor. They are cleaning up the great Pacific garbage patch and have extracted tons of plastic from the ocean. The Ocean Cleanup Sunglasses are the first product that has been produced from their harvested plastic. This is a meaningful gift!
Christmas Decorating Tips
If you are interested in sustainable decorating, head over to Midland's Traveller blog and check out Simone's post Best Eco-Friendly Christmas Decoration Ideas.
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Thanks for reading!