Whether you're a conscious consumer yourself or are looking for the perfect gift for your environmentally-friendly friend or family member, we've rounded up the best eco-friendly gifts for sustainable living this holiday season.
According to Stanford University, Americans toss 25 percent more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day than any other time of year. Don't become a statistic — check out our last-minute eco-friendly stocking stuffer ideas, sustainable gift wrap guide, and the products listed below to have a low- or even zero-waste holiday.
Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
1. Utopia Kitchen Stainless Steel Countertop Compost Bin
If you want to reduce your waste but are tight on space, the Utopia Kitchen Countertop Compost Bin is a must-have. This bin is ideal for apartment composting, as it holds five liters of food scraps and uses charcoal filters to eliminate odors and pests. Plus, it has a convenient handle for carrying your compost outside or to a food waste recycling center.
Customer Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars with more than 8,000 Amazon reviews
Why Buy: Zero-waste; Odor-free composting; Easy to clean; Plastic-free
2. Yarkor Bamboo Tofu Press
The key to delicious tofu is pressing the excess water out before cooking, but doing this can be a messy and time-consuming process. That's why one of our best eco-friendly gifts for plant-based eaters is the Yarkor Bamboo Tofu Press. It has a simple design that presses tofu blocks pressed between two bamboo plates while excess water drains into an easy-to-clean, leak-proof compartment.
Customer Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars with more than 150 Amazon reviews
Why Buy: Vegan-friendly; Easy to clean; Plastic-free
3. Hydro Flask Insulated Water Bottle
Carrying a reusable, eco-friendly water bottle is one of the easiest ways to reduce your single-use plastic consumption – and stay hydrated throughout the day. We recommend Hydro Flasks because they're fun and functional, have a grippy powder coating that prevents bottle sweating, and can keep beverages hot or cold for hours on end.
Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars with nearly 11,000 Amazon reviews
Why Buy: Zero-waste; Free of BPA and phthalates; Easy to clean; Dishwasher safe
4. AeroGarden Harvest 360 Indoor Hydroponic Garden
With an AeroGarden Indoor Hydroponic Garden, even serial plant-killers can have fresh herbs year-round. This innovative system takes the work out of gardening – simply pop in the seed pods, add plant food or water when necessary, and let nature take its course. If whomever you're shopping for already owns an AeroGarden, they may appreciate a Salad Greens or Salsa Garden Seed Pod Kit to grow.
Customer Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars with more than 1,000 Amazon reviews
Why Buy: Zero-waste; Non-GMO seeds
5. Mioeco Reusable Unpaper Towels
"Unpaper" towels are a zero-waste alternative to your typical kitchen roll. Mioeco Reusable Unpaper Towels come in packs of 10 or 20 and can be wrapped around an old paper towel roll for convenience. They're made in a solar-powered, carbon-neutral facility and are Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified, which means they're made with at least 95% organic fiber and aren't treated with harmful chemicals and dyes.
Customer Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars with nearly 1,000 Amazon reviews
Why Buy: Zero-waste; Solar-powered, carbon-neutral manufacturing; GOTS-certified material; Machine-washable; Plastic-free
6. Original Grind Coffee Co. One-Gallon Cold Brew Coffee Maker
Looking for eco-friendly gifts for the coffee lover in your life? The Original Grind Cold Brew Coffee Maker takes single-use plastics out of your morning routine. Just pour your favorite coarse-ground beans into the mesh filter, fill it with water, and let it sit for 12 to 18 hours. The stainless-steel spigot allows for no-spill dispensing, and you can use the grounds to make a DIY exfoliant (or toss them in your brand-new compost bin).
Customer Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars with more than 700 Amazon reviews
Why Buy: Zero-waste; Plastic-free; Easy to clean; Great for small kitchens and apartments
7. KeepCup 16oz Reusable Coffee Cup
After you've brewed your coffee, you'll need something to drink it out of. We like the KeepCup 16oz Reusable Coffee Cup, which can be filled at home or at a coffee shop (COVID-permitting). These sleek to-go mugs come in a variety of lid colors and sizes, but none is too big to fit in a standard cup holder. KeepCup is a certified B Corp, and the company donates part of its annual revenue to protect the environment through the 1% for the Planet initiative.
Customer Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars with almost 15,000 Amazon reviews
Why Buy: Zero-waste; Packaging made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified cardboard; Certified B Corp; Supports 1% for the Planet; Free of BPA and BPS
8. Origin Fruit and Tea Glass Infuser Bottle
If you're more of a tea person, the Origin Fruit and Tea Glass Infuser Bottle might be up your alley. The bottle comes with a fine-mesh strainer insert that you can fill with loose tea or fruit slices to make infused water or tea on the go. Along with promoting sustainability, Origin is a socially responsible company, donating 2% of revenue to address extreme poverty.
Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars with almost 500 Amazon reviews
Why Buy: BPA, BPS, PVC, and lead-free; Dishwasher safe; Zero-waste; Supports socially conscious initiatives
9. Stasher 100% Silicone Food-Grade Reusable Storage Bag Set
The Stasher Reusable Storage Bag Set helps you cut out single-use plastic without skipping on convenience. They have a locking seal that keeps food fresh and can be tossed in the dishwasher after use. This gift set comes in multiple colors and includes two sandwich bags, a snack bag, and a half-gallon bag, making it a great eco-friendly gift for just about anyone on your list.
Customer Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars with more than 700 Amazon reviews
Why Buy: Zero-waste; Dishwasher-safe; Non-toxic; Free of PVC, BPA, and latex; Supports 1% for the Planet; Certified B Corp
10. SodaStream Fizzi One Touch Sparkling Water Maker
LaCroix cans cluttering your recycling bin? Ditch the aluminum and start making your own seltzer with the SodaStream Fizzi One Touch Sparkling Water Maker. The SodaStream infuses still water with carbon dioxide bubbles using CO2 canisters that can be sent back to the company to refill. It comes with a BPA-free plastic bottle, but you can also purchase a glass replacement. And don't forget the Fruit Drops for added flavor.
Customer Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars with more than 700 Amazon reviews
Why Buy: Zero-waste; Dishwasher-safe; Non-toxic; Free of PVC, BPA, and latex; Supports 1% for the Planet; CO2 canisters are reusable
11. Pela 100% Compostable and Biodegradable Phone Case
If someone on your list is getting a new phone from Santa, get them an eco-friendly gift to go with it, like the Pela 100% Compostable and Biodegradable Phone Case. Not only are Pela cases stylish, but they're made from recycled materials, a plant-based biopolymer, and flax straw fibers that are a waste byproduct of producing flaxseed oil.
Customer Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars with more than 350 Amazon reviews
Why Buy: Zero-waste; 100% compostable and biodegradable; Non-toxic; Sustainable packaging; Supports 1% for the Planet; Certified B Corp; Made from recycled materials
12. Suga Recycled Wetsuit Yoga Mat
The Suga Recycled Wetsuit Yoga Mat is one of our favorite sustainable gifts for yogis. Made from old surfing wetsuits, these upcycled neoprene mats are grippy, supportive, and more durable than a typical yoga mat. Plus, Suga encourages sending mats back for recycling at the end of their useful lives. Not sold on Suga? See our eco-friendly yoga mat review for more green gift options.
Customer Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars with under 100 Amazon reviews
Why Buy: Made in the USA; Made from recycled materials; Can be sent back and recycled by the company; Supports 1% for the Planet; Non-toxic
13. Sheets & Giggles 100% Eucalyptus Lyocell Sheet Set
Luxury meets sustainability with the Sheets & Giggles 100% Eucalyptus Lyocell Sheet Set. These buttery soft bed linens are made from high-quality eucalyptus wood pulp that's harvested on sustainably managed, biodiverse farms instead of wild forests. The best part? For every tree harvested, Sheets & Giggles plants two more trees in its place.
Customer Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars with nearly 1,000 Amazon reviews
Why Buy: Hypoallergenic; 100% biodegradable; Non-plastic packaging; Pesticide-free; Plants one tree for every order received and two trees for every tree harvested
14. 4ocean Signature Blue Bracelet
4ocean removes a pound of trash from the ocean for every product sold. Since 2017, the company has pulled nearly 12 million pounds of trash from our waterways and sustainably disposed of them, including recycling glass and plastic bottles to create their 4ocean Signature Bracelets. These bracelets make a beautiful, eco-friendly gift for those who like to show off their care for the environment.
Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars with more than 1,000 Amazon reviews
Why Buy: Each purchase removes 1 pound of trash from the ocean; Certified B Corp; Made from recycled plastic and glass
15. Prestige Decanter Bourbon Barrel Whiskey Decanter
You can feel good about giving this eco-friendly gift to your dad, husband, brother, or any other whiskey enthusiast on your list. Not only is each Prestige Decanter Bourbon Barrel Whiskey Decanter made with sustainable materials, but for each product sold, the company plants one tree. The hand-blown decanter holds 1,000 milliliters and is available in many styles.
Customer Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars with about 150 Amazon reviews
Why Buy: Handcrafted; Lead-free; Recyclable packaging; Plants a tree for each decanter sold
Melissa Smith is an avid writer, scuba diver, backpacker, and all-around outdoor enthusiast. She graduated from the University of Florida with degrees in journalism and sustainable studies. Before joining EcoWatch, Melissa worked as the managing editor of Scuba Diving magazine and the communications manager of The Ocean Agency, a non-profit that's featured in the Emmy award-winning documentary Chasing Coral.
Here are three new films to watch this Earth Week that will transport you from pole to pole and introduce you to the scientists and activists working to save our shared home.
1. The Year Earth Changed
Where to Watch: Apple TV+
When to Watch: From April 16
The coronavirus pandemic has brought home the stakes of humanity's impact on the environment. But the lockdowns also proved how quickly nature can recover when humans give it the space. Birds sang in empty cities, whales surfaced in Glacier Bay and capybara roamed the South American suburbs.
The Year Earth Changed captures this unique year with footage from more than 30 lockdowned cities between May 2020 to January 2021. Narrated by renowned wildlife broadcaster David Attenborough, the film explores what positive lessons we can take from the experience of a quieter, less trafficked world.
"What the film shows is that the natural world can bounce back remarkably quickly when we take a step back and reduce our impact as we did during lockdown," executive producer Alice Keens-Soper of BBC Studios Natural History Unit told EcoWatch. "If we are willing to make even small changes to our habits, the natural world can flourish. We need to learn how to co-exist with nature and understand that we are not separate from it- for example if we closed some of our beaches at for a few weeks during the turtle breeding we see that it can make a huge difference to their success. There are many ways that we can adapt our behavior to allow the natural world to thrive as it did in lockdown."
2. After Antarctica
Where to Watch: San Francisco International Film Festival
When to Watch: 12 a.m. PST April 9 to 11:59 p.m. April 18
In 1989, Will Steger led an international team of six scientists and explorers to be the first humans to cross Antarctica by dogsled. Steger and his team weren't just in it for the adventure. They also wanted to draw attention to the ways in which the climate crisis was already transforming the icy continent and to rally support for the renewal of the Antarctic Treaty, which would keep the continent safe from extractive industries.
In After Antarctica, award-winning filmmaker Tasha Van Zandt follows Steger 30 years later as he travels the Arctic this time, reflecting on his original journey and once again bringing awareness to changes in a polar landscape. The film intersperses this contemporary journey with footage from the original expedition, some of which has never been seen before.
"Will's life journey as an explorer and climate activist has led him not only to see more of the polar world than anyone else alive today, but to being an eyewitness to the changes occurring across both poles," Van Zandt told EcoWatch. "But now, these changes are happening in all of our own backyards and we have all become eyewitnesses. Through my journey with Will, I have learned that although we cannot always control change, we can change our response. I feel strongly that this is a message that resonates when we look at the current state of the world, as we each have power and control over how we choose to respond to hardships, and we all have the power to unite with others through collective action around a common goal."
After Antarctica is available to stream once you purchase a ticket to the San Francisco International Film Festival. If you miss it this weekend, it will screen again at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival from May 13 to May 23.
Tasha Van Zandt
3. The Race to Save the World
Where to Watch: Virtual Cinema
When to Watch: From Earth Day, April 22
While many films about the climate crisis seek to raise awareness about the extent of the problem, The Race to Save the World focuses on the people who are trying to stop it. The film tells the story of climate activists ranging from 15-year-old Aji to 72-year-old Miriam who are working to create a sustainable future. It follows them from the streets to the courtroom to their homes, and explores the impact of their advocacy on their personal lives and relationships.
Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker Joe Gantz told EcoWatch that he wanted to make a film about climate change, but did not want to depress viewers with overwhelming statistics. Instead, he chose to inspire them by sharing the stories of people trying to make a difference.
"Unless millions of people take to the streets and make their voices heard for a livable future, the politicians are not going to get on board to help make the changes needed for a sustainable future," Gantz told Ecowatch. "I think that The Race To Save The World will energize and inspire people to take action so that future generations, as well as the plants, animals and ecosystems, can survive and thrive on this planet."
Check back with EcoWatch on the morning of Earth Day for a special preview of this inspiring film!