If you’re eco-friendly like me, you probably want to share your passion with friends and family. Eco-consciousness is infectious!

I get asked for my opinion about environmentally friendly gifts all the time, so I thought that with the holidays on the way it would be a good idea to share my own sustainable gift guide.  

I really do feel that people are becoming more aware of the need for more sustainable products. Everyone wants to be more active, but some people don’t know where to start.

Well, with this eco-friendly gift guide I’m going to share a few of my favorite sustainable products. Spread the love and the message that it’s time to say goodbye to one-use wastage.

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7 Sustainable Gift Ideas

#1 – Strawsome

A half a billion plastic straws are used once, and then discarded every year in the United States alone. That’s where Strawsome comes in.

First, can I just say – that name deserves a round of applause.

Secondly, if you’re thinking “I can’t give a straw as a gift” – think again.

Sustainable gift guide

Strawsome is no ordinary straw. It is made of durable glass and comes in a range of fun designs – from clear glass to flashy and funky. Or if you’re one of a kind, you can create your very own design. Just use the drop-down menu on their website to choose length, decoration, color, and function.

Of course, these straws are toxic-free and reusable – just like our HankyBooks!

Even better, your purchase of Strawsome products can directly impact the world:

If there’s an issue that’s close to your heart, Strawsome has a range of Straws for a Cause. Strawsome donates 33% of these sales to organizations that support conservation, fight human trafficking, conserve marine and coastal life and many other good causes.

There are 25 causes and counting for you to support!

If that’s not Strawsome, I don’t know what is.

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#2 – Brush with Bamboo

Bamboo toothbrushes are all the rage at the moment but I believe Brush with Bamboo was first onto the scene.

They are all about simple living, zero waste, and their toothbrush, featuring a bamboo handle and castor bean oil bristles, is the perfect gift to bring a gleaming smile to the face of a loved one.

Brush with Bamboo

Proudly boasting as the first and only plant-based toothbrush, this is the perfect excuse to skip plastic toothbrushes, which never break down!

Even the packaging is sustainable!

If you need to brush up on your green credentials, this is a good place to start!

#3 – To-Go Ware

Speaking of bamboo: single-use utensils and food containers cause an enormous strain on the environment.

To-Go Ware excels in this department with a range of handy kitchen items that look great and make for beautiful and practical eco-friendly gifts.

HankyBook - Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Gift Guide for 2020 - To go ware

For example – they have attractive bamboo utensils that you can use again and again. The benefit of bamboo is that it does not need to be replanted when harvested. These fast-growing and hardy plants will grow a new shoot from its root system, making it a more sustainable option.

Bamboo doesn’t stain, or absorb flavors into its grain. It’s a long-lasting non-petroleum based material that is lightweight, strong and beautiful to look at.

We love bamboo but To-Go Ware has a few other tricks up its sleeve including stainless steel food carriers that retain heat, are easy to clean, and will last you for years.

Unlike plastic, it won’t warp in the sun or the dishwasher. It works really well to retain heat, especially when it’s used in conjunction with one of their cotton carrier bags, crafted to fit the containers.

To-Go Ware is a go-to favorite for me, and I have a feeling you’ll agree.

Can I get an amen?

#4 – Coffee Joulies

A new entry for this 2019 version of my gift guide – and this one is a bit of a zig.

That’s right, while other brands on this list wear their eco-friendly credentials on their sleeve, Coffee Joulies is a bit more subtle.

Coffee Joulies

In essence, when placed in your cup of coffee they absorb the heat to reduce tongue-burn, but they also hold warmth so your coffee will stay warm for longer.

This means less waste, less microwaving, and more kudos from people like me who love coffee almost as much as sustainability.

I got these for my dad years ago and they’re still going strong!

If you’ve got any coffee-lovers in your life, this will make a great eco-friendly gift for the holidays.

#5 – Bee’s Wrap

Goodbye plastic wrap. Hello, Bee’s Wrap!

Okay, I feel the pushback coming already.

“I can’t give a plastic wrap alternative as a gift… maybe I can use it to WRAP the gift, but that’s about it.”

I hear you, but you’re wrong.

Bee’s Wrap is more than functional – it is innovative and, importantly for a gift, it is SO CUTE.

Look at these designs.

HankyBook - Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Gift Guide for 2020 - Bees Wrap

To. Die. For.

If you need to wrap your food in a fridge, or your lunch to take away to work or a picnic, then Bee’s Wrap is the bee’s knees (sorry!).

Bee’s Wrap is made from GOTS-certified organic cotton, sustainably sourced beeswax, organic jojoba oil, and tree resin. Together, this combination of ingredients creates a malleable food wrap that can be used again and again.

All you need to do is use the warmth of your hands to shape the seal that you want. Fold some Bee’s Wrap over the top of a bowl, or whatever food you wish to preserve. Bee’s Wrap will seal and hold its shape when it cools.

That half lemon standing in your fridge. The piece of cheese that you want to keep for later. Anything and everything.

#6 – NaturaPure Wool Dryer Balls

NaturaPure Wool Dryer Balls are genius.

Toss them in the dryer, and you’ll find your clothes can dry in half the time (a great energy saver), they’ll come out with fewer wrinkles, and you may even be able to stop buying fabric softener.

Each ball is handmade from cruelty-free and ethically sourced Canadian wool. They are non-toxic and are free from harmful chemicals to make your clothes smell “baby fresh”.

HankyBook - Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Gift Guide for 2020 - NaturaPure Wool Dryer Balls

Dryer balls work by keeping clothes separated in the dryer. This allows the hot air from your dryer to circulate more effectively, reducing the time and energy needed to dry your clothes by between 30% – 50%.

If your clothes come out fluffy and full of static, it means you’re over-drying them. Remember that with these dryer balls, you’ll need to set your dryer to a much shorter cycle than you’re used to.

The wool of the dryer balls absorbs moisture. As an added bonus, static is less likely to survive in this environment, so more delicate clothes don’t come out of the dryer with a fluffy halo.

Dryer balls last around 1000 loads. Assuming your cats don’t get them…

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#7 – HankyBook

Last, but certainly not least – I think HankyBooks (my attempt to improve upon the traditional handkerchief) make excellent eco-friendly gifts for Christmas and the holidays.

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We even have holiday-themed HankyBooks!

Sustainability is nothing to sneeze at. But, if you have to sneeze, you’re going to want a soft, organic cotton HankyBook on hand.

I created Hankybooks to address my raw, irritable nose but to also tackle the problem of disposable tissues. It takes half a gallon of water to produce a single tissue paper. Then consider the loss of trees. All for what is ultimately a single nose blow away from ending up in a landfill.

HankyBooks are reusable, machine washable and hella cute.

In short: the perfect gift to give to a loved one and give back to the planet.

Have a fabulous eco-friendly holidays

I hope that you enjoyed my gift guide and please let me know what great items I missed out on. I’ll be sure to add more items to the list around this time next year.

Have a wonderful holidays!

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