The guide to giving zero waste gifts in 2024 (150 eco gift ideas!!)

[@melissam4954]

Great list as always! Last year instead of buying everyone gifts I brought over a bunch of home canned pie filling, jam, and applesauce and let people take what they wanted. It was a hit! This year I'm planning on making some baking and spice mixes as well.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

That's a great idea, how fun!

[@karinhart489]

Wow! Lots of great ideas! Want to underline the idea of giving your friends some babysitting. Some friends were getting overwhelmed with 2 boys under 10, so I gave them coupons for 12 nights of babysitting so they could have a DATE NIGHT once a month during the coming year. 😎

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

it's such a nice gift!

[@gkb_wildlife]

I was skeptical about Pela cases at first cause I wasn't sure how biodegradable they really were. Well, I did field work in the Sahara Desert where the temp was 130 Fahrenheit (54 Celsius) and it started to disintegrate haha so they definitely biodegrade! (also i've dropped my phone so often and pela has always protected it so when it's not so boiling outside it's super sturdy!)

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

Oh my that's wild!! Yes, they sure do definitely biodegrade!

[@helmickkm]

I LOVVVVEEEE Oak and Willow! Hailey got me hooked with just her fun personality, then I fell in love with her business model, then she made me a forever customer with how good her products are! Because of the shipping cost, I just place one large order a couple times a year, and I’m always foaming at the mouth waiting for my delivery.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

they're amazing!!

[@josephhughes1498]

Great list!!! definitely interested in a Fairphone review/deep dive, they definitely seem decently sustainable but there are such mixed reviews on the fairphone 5 & their new Fairbuds, it seems a love it or hate it thing, their Fairbuds are their most interesting product in my opinion, I need a new phone so I’m currently considering it. Walking pads (compact treadmills) are something I would recommend looking into, great idea especially if you’re on the move a lot/living in an RV, I want to try one to calm my ADHD/mental health without my autism getting over stimulated by the outside haha. This comment is so long oh no 🤣 but a friend gifted me a donation to a children’s charity last year without me asking and it almost brought a tear to my eye it was the best gift in my life 😭

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

thanks, Joe! omggg I want a walking pad so bad! mostly so I can walk and work at the same time haha. No worries about the comment, I like to hear your thoughts! awwww that's so sweet!

[@nataliet9491]

This was SO comprehensive with so many ideas and examples. And unique ones, too - not just the same stuff I always hear. Immediate subscribe!

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

yay thank you so much!

[@MichaelSmith-fj7di]

I suggest that, when giving someone something, give them an experience, money, a gift card to a place that you know that they’ll use it at, or something that they asked for or that you know they’ll use. For instance, for my sister’s birthday this year, I took her to see the eclipse as her birthday was three days before the eclipse. That’s what I recommended, and I think something like this is more sustainable than clothing or other stuff that they might not use.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

Yes, these are the best gifts!

[@helmickkm]

My mom is very anti-gift cards for Christmas, but I’m in the process of moving and genuinely only want gift cards so I don’t have to move any additional items. She finally took me seriously when I threatened to throw whatever she bought me if it was anything other than an experience or gift card 😂

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

@@helmickkm sometimes that is what it takes but it's sad!

[@amber4759]

Oak and Willow!!!! I love them

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

They're SO GOOD!

[@amber4759]

@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist yessss I am obsessed with them

[@emilywilson3466]

Thank you so much for the time you put into your videos, I love your perspective towards gift giving. I like how customizable your tips are so no matter your budget or accessibility, there is something for everyone. :)

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

i sure try, thank you so much!

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

thank you so so much!

[@TranquilityChiba]

I'm planning on making some jar gifts, specifically desserts. But I also got a jar soup recipe book and there are a few different bean soups you could pair with the heirloom beans. The jar soups were for me lol. I got both books from my local library's second hand store.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

so fun! I love those ideas :)

[@PassingThrough-p3l]

Lots of great Ideas, thank you! Most of these would be applicable for birthdays also. We did decide not to do the big family gift exchange this year, just doing gifts in our own households.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

yes so true! these are great gifts for the whole year :)

[@lostinthemission]

Thank you so much for this video! It’s not only a great time to gift but reminds me it’s a great time for a purge of items to my no buy group, then maybe they can be used as gifts ☺️

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

yayyy thank you so much! great way to exchange and get gifts this year :)

[@big_and_bookish]

Could you possibly do a video on some good charities to request that family members could donate to on our behalf as a Christmas gift? I want to ask friends and family to donate to some sustainability/conservation/lgbtq/literacy charities but I’m not sure where to start finding ones that legitimately put their donations toward the cause they claim they support. Thank you!

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

I have a few on my website already under resources!

[@film9491]

You could check out charity's navigator which is a website that rates charities

[@ArtichokeHunter]

I might have missed this but I've gotten some fun free gifts for people from clothing swaps (with the added bonus of finding new homes for items I won't use). sizing can be a challenge, but if you know it well or you go for accessories, you can find good stuff and keep it out of the thrift store or landfill.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

great option for sure!

[@Julia-yd7bo]

My wife and I never give each other presents, we cook good food on the holidays and enjoy our time, maybe lend a movie. We live really minimalistic and when she wants something for her hobbies (she loves art) I search for the best product and buy it whenever she wants it, just not as a holiday gift. We don't really have a lot of friends we give presents to but when we do I propagate plants and give them some plant cutting in a cute recycled jars or bake a bread.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

how special! I love quality time, too :)

[@logand4696]

Thanks for such a thorough, creative and inspirational video!

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

thank you so much!

[@queeryus]

I follow you on Instagram and somehow never found you here on KZbin, but I'm two videos in with my morning coffee! I feel so many of these things, including the desire to finally get to a point of being sponsored! (I'm looking at you, Leaf and Pela, two products that I use and love and would love to rave about for money.) Cheers, and thanks for the ideas!

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

heyyyy welcome!! Ugh I wish they would sponsor me, too!!

[@oliv3691]

Great ideas! I am on a serious budget this year so most people are getting a holiday card, and either a little festive drawing inside it or a few pressed flowers or leaves. I collect and press flowers and leaves all year and then use them as little accents in my holiday cards. 🍁🌼

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

that is so special! I'm sure they will love it :)

[@sandibroad4099]

Great video! Thank you!🙌🤗💗

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

yay thanks!

[@aubreejobizzarro1208]

Another wonderful indigenous owned business is Heart Berry! She’s worked with Eight Generations and I adore her art work so I always buy direct from her( Sarah Howes) website. She has socks, blankets, greeting cards, pens, jackets, mugs and just some fantastic Ojibwe designs.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

yay love the shoutout!

[@spiderwickian]

this is a brilliant video, thank you so much! ive been making a "stuff id like for xmas" google doc for the past couple of years now and it's been awesome. ive even started including a section that's "stuff i want people might be getting rid of anyway"

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

aww thank you so much!! that's an excellent idea :)

[@imogenepaige1043]

Perfect!! Thank you so much! As a side note, I wouldn’t take books from the free little library, as the people who’s house it is in front of actually pay for those books (at least in my area) so when people take them they have to find a new book to put in the library. They are intended for people to read and then return. Great video!!

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

Thanks! That might be the case in your area, but that's not the intended use from my understanding. They are for taking and keeping but also a place you can declutter your books. I've never heard of people buying books to put in there and I have never seen a new book in one personally but that's good to know!

[@starbug345]

I think this is true. Some LFL say things like “take a book, leave a book”. It was on our local news a lady that kept clearing out someone’s LFL. When the owner confronted her, the thief challenged her saying something like “well if you don’t want people taking them, why does it say ‘free’”? It does make sense

[@karinhart489]

I thought the idea of a little library in someone’s front yard was that when I go to borrow a book from it I bring along a book I’m done with so I can pass it on to someone else to read. Then when I finish the little library book I borrowed I return it. At least that’s the way it works in my neighborhood. However, books left on the Free Bench (which has now morphed into a “free cupboard” to appease those that didn’t like stuff left out on the bench because it looked junky) are absolutely free for the taking.

[@sustainfem]

The Little Free Libraries in my area are overflowing with books. People are mostly leaving their books there and not taking any. I always bring one or two I want to get rid of but I also take one or two in exchange. It's my understanding that it's supposed to be a book swap. Sometimes I leave magazines and CD's too.

[@ArtichokeHunter]

wild to hear how different people and different areas interpret little free libraries. in my experience, people in the community sometimes have to drive around to find enough space in little free libraries to get rid of all the books they're decluttering. i've never heard of the idea that taking books from one, whether temporarily or permanently, would be discouraged! and buying new books to put in a little free library, wow i hope people don't actually do that. you could just donate money to your public library at that point, which can better assess what your community demands and can probably get better deals on books

[@alyssabrundage4360]

Oh wow! Please deep dive on the eco-friendly phone, I'm so curious!

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

i'm on it!

[@valturner2151]

Great list! I need to rewatch a few times now…😊

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

hope you find something you enjoy!

[@drodlaren]

I just thrifted some darn good yarn! And some silk for 70% off. I’m so excited to make something with it…also terrified to f it up. I posted my wishlist on my snap story (with pictures): - Olive oil - millet noodles - teach me to knit socks. My aunt took a screenshot so crossing my fingers I get my olive oil budget reduced for 2025. Now I just need to convince my family to post their wishes but they always say they don’t want anything (hint: they do, they just want to be surprised? I guess? Social norms are unsustainable)

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

Omg that's amazing! It's SUCH good yarn, quality and eco-wise! Omg NICE olive oil is SUCH a nice gift!

[@kriscrossender4525]

As someone who is creative as a hobby, a BIG one you didn't mention is creating art for someone- whether a painting, singing a song for them (i did this for my boyfriend before and he cried) or just a custom drawing- its super personalized and if you have any skill it's easily monetarily valuable as well without costing you anything but your time

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

Such a lovely idea I try to include every year!

[@JainMonroe]

if you want to do something good, Donating money to charity is also a good Christmas present

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

yes true!

[@krystal3733]

Only if someone specifically asks for you to donate money on behalf of them. Otherwise, it’s really pretentious.

[@jessrichards1679]

Chagrin Soap company is good too

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

Checking them out!

[@sarahkinsey5434]

My boyfriend always says pizza when asked what he wants. Neither of us need stuff, especially books and for him outdoorsy equipment. He broke his leg in two places on Halloween (colleague ran him over) so this year he wants two working legs.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

a lovely way to spend the holidays together is a nice meal :)

[@sarahkinsey5434]

@ hopefully he can put at least a little weight on it by the time we can celebrate Christmas. We live in Minnesota and I’m hoping the weather holds out. A wheelchair or crutches in winter isn’t good

[@Trista201]

Buying someone's work subscription (i.e. adobe) or work gear might cause issues with taxes or other legal things. I'm not an expert, but its something to consider beforehand.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

Makes sense! This was mostly for hobbyists

[@schmirfle]

At my workplace you are charged 25pence for a disposable coffee cup when you buy a hot drink to incentivise people to bring their own reusables. However, my manager gets at least one cup of coffee per day and pays for the disposable every single time. It pains my soul but he just prefers the convenience of disposable. I have debated buying him a reusable every birthday and Christmas but I just KNOW he would never use it so I know there is technically less waste if I don't bother getting one for him. But you better know it pains me every single day I am in that office 🤣

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

wow yay for encouraging reusables!

[@tehyas4622]

With tech, make sure it's the brand they want/will use. A used iPhone will be much better for an Apple user than an android device and vice versa.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

so true!

[@karasuthedreamer6353]

I would be careful about buying mugs, toys, and books from thrift stores, especially for kids. There’s a very high risk for lead.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

oh yes, good caveat!