Unless you live a zero-waste lifestyle, there is always room for improvement when it comes to taking care of the planet. 

As people spend more time at home self-isolating and remotely working to keep themselves and others safe from the coronavirus, this is a great place to start your journey of reducing waste. Making little changes such as switching to canvas shopping bags or replacing items we use every day with reusable alternatives can make a big difference in your waste output and leave you with more money in your pocket!

If you’re looking for eco-friendly and sustainable gift ideas, here is a list of gifts you can get your loved ones, friends, and colleagues to show that you care and simultaneously give a much-needed break to our planet.

Reusable Drinkware

Plastic water bottles and disposable coffee cups are huge wastes of material. For those coffee lovers in your life or loved ones who want to get into the habit of drinking more water, you can never go wrong with a reusable NAYAD Roamer Bottle, Metro Mug, or Tumbler! These stainless steel vacuum insulated drinkware are the best alternatives to keep you hydrated and your drinks hot and cold for hours.

Stainless Steel Drinking Straws

For people in your life who like to drink out of straws, ditch plastic straws and give them metal ones! Single-use straws pollute our oceans and harm marine life. Made from food-grade stainless steel, these modern and sleek straws are reusable and keep trash out of our oceans.

Bamboo Toothbrush

Backup toothbrushes are a gift that anyone will use eventually. While plastic ones take up to 500 years to decompose after they’ve been thrown out, these 100% wooden bamboo toothbrushes are biodegradable.

Reusable Bags

One of the simplest ways to decrease the amount you produce is to use reusable bags while shopping. Instead of relying on the store’s plastic bags, bring your own, like these sturdy grocery bags, to pack up your items and tote them home. If you want to include reusable produce bags as a bonus gift, then these lightweight, BPA free mesh bags are perfect for picking up produce without wasting a flimsy plastic bag.

Reusable Sandwich Bags

There’s no point in buying single-use Ziploc bags when you can use reusable ones! Not only do they take years to decompose in a landfill, but the cost of replenishing the household sandwich bag stock every month adds up. Save your money and the planet by gifting these reusable silicone bags.

Beeswax Wraps

A far better alternative to plastic wrap, these beeswax wraps can be reused over and over again. Made from organic cotton and infused with sustainably harvested beeswax, jojoba oil, and tree resin, you can cover your dishes, wrap sandwiches, and preserve all kinds of food without harming the environment.

Compost Bin

Food waste is a massive problem. Every day, a large amount of what you throw in the trash could be composted and returned to the earth. If you have a bin and extra space, you can easily start a compost. But if you don’t live in a house or have a backyard of your dog’s dream, there are many compost bins available that fit on your kitchen counter, like this one by Full Circle.

Indoor Garden Kit

The amount of single-use plastics used to package fruits and vegetables are beyond belief. Help your friends and family reduce their waste and a trip to the grocery store by starting their own garden with the Click and Grow indoor garden kit. Energy-efficient LED lights give plants what they need to prosper in the nursery that’s small enough to fit on a kitchen counter.

Seed Card

Gifts often come with a thoughtful card and this can be the most meaningful part of the gift. But these cards usually end up in the recycling bin or in a box in the closet. Tentree makes these cards from recycled post-consumer paper and the giftee can plant the card after they’ve enjoyed your message!