Watch CBS News

Sustainable gift ideas for a green Christmas

sustain-hero.jpg
Getty Images

Holiday shopping usually means festive gift bags, masses of sparkly ribbon and loads of plastic packaging that winds up in a landfill. But it doesn't have to. This year, the best holiday gift you can give may be one that helps the planet.

We've found a bunch of sustainable gift ideas for everybody, including Christmas gift must-haves from popular brands such as Girlfriend Collective, Rothy's and Youth to the People. We've selected gifts that are made with recycled materials or come in refillable bottles, and are packed in biodegradable wrapping. Some of these eco-friendly purchases even give back to the community by providing meals to people in need. 

Want to give gifts that help protect the Earth? Keep reading to discover more sustainable gift ideas.

Paravel carbon-neutral luggage set: $595

Carbon-Neutral Luggage Set
Paravel

Paravel creates sustainably made travel accessories. Its carbon-neutral luggage set is made with materials that help offset carbon emissions from manufacture and shipping. The luggage set features a recycled polycarbonate exterior, recycled zippers and vegan leather details. The luggage lining is a made from recycled plastic water bottles. The Paravel luggage set comes in five colors and includes a suitcase and carry-on.

Paravel carbon-neutral luggage set, $595 (regularly $620)


Feed quilted bundle: $178

feed.jpg
Feed

Feed's holiday collection features this eye-catching quilted tote bag and pouch bundle. Both the tote and the pouch are made with organic cotton and feature a colorful geometric design. Your purchase of this statement-making bundle is more than just a fashion statement -- it also provides 60 school meals to children in need. 

Feed quilted bundle, $178 (regularly $196)


The Leaf shaving kit: $113

the-leaf-kit.jpg
The Leaf Kit

Give the gift of smooth skin while combating plastic waste. Leaf Shave's razor kit includes an all-metal razor, a razor stand, 60 blades and a blade-recycling tin. According to the brand, more than 100,000 Leaf Shave users will keep 2.5 million disposable plastic razors out of landfills this year. The company also packages and ships products without plastic. 

The Leaf Kit, $113


Each and Every Skin Goals facial oil: $55

each-and-every.jpg
Each and Every

This skin oil is made with a blend of nine different varieties, plus the vegan retinoid bakuchiol, inflammation-fighting turmeric and vitamin E. Each and Every's facial oil is vegan and crafted without parabens, silicones, artificial fragrance or dyes. Plus, it will stand out in your medicine cabinet, thanks to the chic little sustainable black glass bottle that it comes in.

Each and Every Skin Goals facial oil, $55


TenTree Tree Fleece Golden Spruce hoodie: $51

Ten Tree Tree Fleece Golden Spruce hoodie
TenTree

This TenTree hoodie comes in many colors and is made with 60% organic cotton and 40% recycled polyester. According to the brand, a TenTree sweatshirt uses, on average, 75% less water to make, versus the other sweatshirts in your closet. The brand also plants 10 trees for every purchase. 

TenTree Tree Fleece Golden Spruce hoodie, $51 (regularly $68)


Girlfriend Collective cropped recycled puffer: $169

Girlfriend Collective snow cropped recycled puffer
Girlfriend Collective

The cropped puffer jacket channels one of this season's hottest winter styles. The Girlfriend Collective puffer jacket is made from recycled plastic bottles and will keep you warm in temperatures down to 18 degrees. It's currently available in four colors. Right now it's on sale for almost $30 off. 

Girlfriend Collective snow cropped recycled puffer, $169 (regularly $198)


Youth to the People skincare gift set: $46

Youth to The People skincare
Youth to The People

This three-step skincare set includes a cleanser, serum and moisturizer, all made with 100% vegan ingredients and stored in recyclable and refillable packaging. The cruelty-free brand formulates all its products in California and sources extracts from local suppliers. It also uses recyclable paper for packaging. 

Youth to the People skincare gift set, $46


Allbirds tree dashers: $125

allbirds.jpg
Allbirds

Allbirds replaced petroleum-based materials with natural ones to make shoes. These running shoes are made of breathable and durable tree-sourced material and feature a supportive midsole made of sugarcane. They come in a bunch of bright colors and are machine washable. 

Allbirds tree dashers (men), $125

The same Allbirds tree dashers running shoe design is available in women's sizes. 

Allbirds tree dashers (women), $125


Rothy's merino slipper: $155

rothys.jpg
Rothy's

These fuzzy flippers are sustainably knit with a blend of ethically sourced merino wool and thread made from plastic bottles. The inside is lined with a soft, warm, wool-like material. The slippers come in three colors, but at last look, only the "birch tan" shade was in stock. 

Rothy's merino slipper, $155


H&M Conscious oversized faux fur jacket: $25

hm.jpg
H&M Conscious

Did you know that H&M has its own line of sustainable items called H&M Conscious? The brand makes at least 50% of each piece from sustainable materials. This oversized faux fur jacket is the result of a collaboration between the brand Smiley and H&M Conscious. It is lined with recycled polyester. 

H&M Conscious oversized faux fur jacket, $25


Prados Beauty bamboo face pads: $35

prados-beauty.jpg
Prados Beauty

This Xicana- and Indigenous-owned beauty brand makes cleansing face pads out of 100% recycled hemp and bamboo. These 16 washable and reusable pads come with a recycled-material bamboo face-pad holder and a wash bag.

Prados Beauty bamboo face pads, $35


Superzero hand balm bar: $22

Superzero hand balm bar
Superzero

This moisturizing vegan hand balm bar will rescue dry winter skin and won't add waste to our planet. It's made with vegetable-based squalane and Abyssinian oil to maintain the skin's moisture barrier. Superzero's hand balm bar comes wrapped in a compostable wrapper and packaged in recycled (and recyclable) cardboard boxes. It is currently available in lavender and chamomile or patchouli and lime scents. 

Superzero hand balm bar, $22


Summersalt The Cloud 9 silky PJ set: $95

Summersalt The Cloud 9 silky PJ set
Summersalt

These silky pajamas are made with 100% recycled polyester material. They come in more than ten festive and fun prints, four of which are part of Summersalt's limited-edition Rifle Paper Co. and Summersalt sleepwear collection.

Summersalt The Cloud 9 silky PJ set, $95


DedCool fragrance sample pack: $33

dedcool.jpg
DedCool

This Los Angeles-based beauty business offers a sample set of six 100% biodegradable and plant-based unisex fragrances. Better yet, the entire sample set is 100% recyclable, including the aluminum tin it comes in. If you've fallen in love with a scent and want to buy one, full-size scents come in recyclable glass bottles and are printed with biodegradable ink. 

DedCool fragrance sample pack, $33


Pact thermal waffle crewneck: $41

pact.jpg
Pact

Pact's thermal waffle crewneck is made with organic cotton in a fair-trade-certified factory. The crewneck is available in four colors and runs up to a size XL. 

Pact thermal waffle crewneck, $41 (regularly $55)


WVN quilted timber sweatshirt: $128

WVN quilted timber sweatshirt
WVN

The WVN quilted timber sweatshirt is made with a blend of organic cotton and recycled polyester. The sweatshirt is available in two colors and runs up to a size XL. WVN works with fair-trade-certified, ethically made and organic fabrics.

WVN quilted timber sweatshirt, $128


Related content from CBS Essentials

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.