It’s hard knowing what to buy that friend or family member who is super eco-friendly and seems to have everything! I have a confession – I am that friend/family member! My family has often complained about how “annoying” I am to buy gifts for. I mean, surely its not that hard to find great gifts for environmentalists. Right?!
Apparently it is. In a world where advertising is off the charts, you can often be misled by products claiming to be “eco-friendly” but are far from it. An environmentally friendly gift must be made with sustainable and earth friendly materials. It should also be practical and useful, as environmentalists often share similar values to minimalists.
Wanting to nail that gift for that “annoying” somebody? Look no further – I’ve created a list of 20 of the best gifts for environmentalists. There’s something for everyone – from the essentials to the adventure, ocean loving minded. You might even find something for yourself in this list – I know I did!
Best Essential Gifts For Environmentalists
Reusable Shopping Bags
This Seed & Sprout Reusable Farmers Market set is everything your environmentalist friend needs! I was gifted these many years ago and they are still going strong. Not only are they stylish, the canvas bags are such great quality that you can really load them up to save using multiple bags. They are so universal that I take mine with me everywhere – the beach, gym and when shopping for clothes etc. No more plastic bags needed!
Personalised Coffee Keep Cup
There’s so many different keep cups that you can choose from to gift. However I love this Personalised Engraved Coffee Keep Cup as a great option for gifts for environmentalists. It’s something a little bit different and will ensure that no one in the office steals their cup as its got their name on it! You can even be a bit cheeky and put a nickname or something fun on it to bring a smile to their faces every morning.
Insulated Water Bottle
I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t love an insulated water bottle! They’re perfect for keeping your water cold for beach days, post-gym, picnics, at work and generally great for everywhere! This Ever Eco 750ml bottle claims to keep your water cold for 24 hours and keeps hot liquids for 8 hours. By reducing the amount of single use plastic used, you’re definitely doing the environment a solid with this gift!
Travel Cutlery Set
This Eco-friendly travel cutlery set is great for stashing in your handbag and saving the need to use single-use plastic and straws. In my eyes it’s an absolute necessity for your work bag for those times you get caught out grabbing lunch on the go. It’s also handy to have a couple of these sets so you can stash one in your car as well!
Eco-Friendly Canvas Tote
I am loving how much cute canvas tote bags are a thing at the moment! They’re a great way to express yourself, and save the environment at the same time by eliminating plastic bags. I’ve found that Etsy is the best place to find unique canvas totes that are perfect for your gift recipient. Even better, when they get dirty you can just chuck them in the washing machine and they’re as good as new! A lot easier than maintaining a handbag I reckon!
Reusable Silicone Baking Mats
I don’t think I’m being too dramatic when I say this gift will change your friend’s life! This set of reusable silicone baking mats from Seed & Sprout is the ultimate must-have in the kitchen. You can use them when baking anything such as cookies, roast veggies, scones and so much more! There’s a couple of sizes to choose from to suit your oven trays so your requirement to use single use baking paper will be long gone! Absolute game-changer.
Environmentally Friendly Unpaper Towels
Up until very recently, nothing could beat paper towels. They’re handy and easy to clean up spills & grime. However, quite often you can go through a paper towel roll quicker than a toilet roll after curry night! A great eco-friendly option are these unpaper towels from Etsy. They have the cutest patterns and some reviews say they have lasted over a year of continuous use. When its time to dispose of them – you can snip off the stitching around the outside and pop the cotton fabric into your compost as it is 100% biodegradable!
Amazon Kindle
An amazon kindle is definitely a necessity for a book-loving environmentalist! For an avid reader, the reduction on carbon footprint is massive. Still need to be convinced? This article by the eco-guide outlines the pro’s & con’s of e-books vs physical books. There are a variety of Kindle’s that are great gifts for environmentalists. I personally have the Kindle Paperwhite which I absolutely love, and take advantage of the offers of free books through the amazon unlimited subscription.
Best Gifts For Environmentalists Who Love Adventure
Will & Bear Hat
Will and Bear hats are perfect for any adventurer. Made from 100% Australian wool, they are definitely made with the environment in mind. Wool is a natural fibre, which means that it is completely biodegradable in both the land and the ocean. Not only is the Calloway hat trendy, but it is also made from quality materials ensuring that you can love it for a long time. Will and Bear also plant 10 trees for every hat purchase so you can be assured that you are giving back to the earth in a positive way!
Recycled Camp Fleece Jacket
This recycled camp fleece jacket is from a great Aussie company called Zorali, who specialise in sustainable camp gear. It’s made from 290GSM Recycled Polyester fleece, providing the wearer with a super warm mid-weight fleece. Zorali use recycled materials to create groovy, good quality gear that is claimed to ‘stand the test of time’. It means that if a product has a defect due to the workmanship and creation of the item – they will fix or replace it. How’s that for sustainability!
Patagonia Duffle Bag
Now an adventurer needs some place to store all of their goodies don’t they! Patagonia needs minimal introduction to their environmentally friendly practices – 87% of their products use recycled materials. This duffle bag is no exception. Made from 100% recycled body fabric, lining and webbing it is great as an addition to any adventure.
Sustainable Cooler Bag
What you may not have come across in your search for the best gift for environmentalists is a sustainable cooler bag! This golden hour cooler bag is one of the few that I’ve seen that is actually eco-friendly. The outside is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles and the insulation is made with natural wool. Even the groovy little leather details are vegan. I just love this retro design and think its a great gift that an adventurer would definitely use.
Recycled Cotton Throw Rug
Made from 100% recycled cotton fibres, this gorgeous cotton throw rug will be guaranteed to bring many happy memories to your adventures. Claimed to last a “lifetime”, it can be used in both an indoor and outdoor setting. It even has patterns on both sides! So however you decide to use it – as a bedspread or as a picnic rug, I’m sure it will have many great uses. With so many boho rug retailers out there – it’s important to choose a company that aligns with an environmentally friendly vision. And Sunni Scenes hit the spot with this one!
Kathmandu Sustainable Jacket
Kathmandu is another brand that is known for the amazing work they do for sustainable and eco-friendly clothing. This Andulo Women’s Rain Jacket is no exception. The science that has gone into this rain jacket is mind-blowing! It is made from a sustainably-constructed bio based membrane that is great in keeping out water yet also allowing air-flow so that you’re not left feeling damp. It’s definitely a boujee gift with a high price tag however if you can grab it on a sale its definitely a steal!
Best Gifts For Environmentalists That Love The Ocean
Saturday Sun Umbrella
Have a keen beach goer that you’re buying for? You can’t go wrong with a cute environmentally-friendly umbrella! This umbrella from Saturday Sun is printed on fabric made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. So you’re not only saving the environment but can stay sun-safe in a stylish way! There’s a range of patterns you can choose from, and they’re currently on sale at the moment. If you need any more reasons to grab this umbrella, know that you’re also supporting a small Aussie business.
Biodegradable Phone Case
A phone case that is biodegradable!? Who would have thought this would even be a thing! Pela Cases are an amazing option for anyone that is trying to alleviate their impact on the environment. We all know that while technology advancing is great, it creates a lot of waste as we all upgrade our phones and cases every couple of years or so. Buying a biodegradable phone case from Pela is one way that we can reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfill or worse – our oceans. Not only are they groovy, but are also protective so you don’t have to worry about forfeiting the safety of your screen!
Sustainable Beach Chair
Would you believe this beach chair is made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic! 4ocean is an amazing company that recovers trash from coastlines around the world, seven days a week. For each purchase from their website – 4ocean pulls one pound of trash from the ocean. So far they have recovered over 21 million pounds of rubbish from the ocean. What a great way to support a great cause & gift your environmentalist friend an awesome beach chair!
Jewellery with a Cause
What’s better than a stunning new piece of jewellery? Supporting an environmental charity with your purchase! Brinkley Davis, a Marine Biologist and Conservationist, designed Bandicoot Jewellery with this plan in mind to give 10% of profits made to a registered environmental charity. The ‘Sea of Stars’ necklace pictured is a beautiful piece that your gift recipient will definitely love if jewellery is their thing!
Recycled Sand-Free Beach Blanket
These Sand-free Beach Towels are made from 85% recycled plastic bottles which really makes you feel like you’re doing your bit for the environment. I particularly love this ‘Seven Sisters’ design, by a contemporary indigenous Artist – Natalie Jade. The towels are sand-free, fold up small and dry 4x faster compared to regular cotton towels. The towel is XL size and even has a small zipper compartment for things like your phone & keys to keep safe in the sand.
Reef Friendly Sunscreen
‘We are Feel Good’ are an amazing Aussie brand that specialise in sunscreen that is safe for our oceans and most importantly, the reef. With no nasties like PABAs, parabens, oxybenzone and octinoxate you can slather the sunscreen on without worrying about harming the marine world. This Adventure Bundle is perfect if you have a friend that loves a bit of sun but wants to stay protected at the same time.
With a whopping stacked list of the best gifts for environmentalists, I’m sure you were able to find something for your friend. If you’re still not sure – a gift voucher for their favourite spa or an adventure day out will surely bring a grin to their face! Just a FYI, none of these products are affiliate linked – they are just great gifts that tick the sustainable and eco-friendly boxes.
There’s nothing better than buying a gift for your friend that you know they will love and appreciate! Oh wait – there is! Buying a gift that they will love AND will help save the environment at the same time. It’s a WIN-WIN. Happy Shopping! 🙂
