Ethical Gift Ideas for Everyone on your List

Ethical gift ideas: The ultimate guide

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They’re nearly here: the holidays. And with ethical gift giving on the rise, it’s no surprise that discerning shoppers aspire to support sustainability with their dollars.

But how, exactly, to give ethical gifts?

While shoppers are becoming more brand conscious + 1 in 5 Gen Z’ers are taking extra steps to shop with intention, confusion abounds over what ethical gift giving really means.

 – Ethical giving doesn’t mean heading to the mall.

– It doesn’t mean waiting until the last minute, either, because we tend to make bad decisions when we’re down to the wire.

Read on to learn what ethical gift giving really looks like in real life, including the best homemade DIY gift ideas + ethical purchase ideas for absolutely everyone on your lists.

[Note: This post may contain affiliate links.]

Follow the ethical gift hierarchy

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The Ethical Hierarchy of Gift Purchasing makes intentional gift-giving easy.

It reminds us that the bulk of the gifts we give should be memories in the form of event tickets + experience days as well as giving your time via “special time” with children or cooking lessons with loved ones.

Not only are experiences eco-friendly gifts (nothing’s wasted!), they’re also a minimalist’s dream gifts because there’s no unnecessary clutter.

If gifting memories is infeasible, The Ethical Hierarchy advises to upcycle, buy secondhand or make. 

Not surprisingly, buying new is always at the bottom of the inverted pyramid, with a distinction between ethical purchases versus unintentional ones.

 Ethical Gift Idea #1: Go DIY

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Handmade gifts are the best, right? Except, of course, when:

– they turn out terrible

– the supplies cost more than the gift’s value, or

–  their creation majorly stresses you out.

The DIY gifts below are so easy anyone can do it (I know, because I’ve tried them!).

They  go beyond homemade ornaments + fruitcakes, too, so recipients will actually appreciate what they receive.

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1. Canned jams

Canned gifts are consumables in reusable package. Winning!

Jam doesn’t require a scary pressure canner, either; all you need is a pot of boiling water + 10 minutes, on average.

You need some cute half-pint mason jars, too.

These jars come out to just $1.47 a piece. If you plan to give a set of 3 assorted flavors, that’s $5.50 for the jars plus the cost of ingredients (sugar, fruit, pectin).

Pro tip: Gently ask for jars back by including a short, hand-written note in the package.

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2. A beeswax candle

Scented candles are made of industrial chemicals that transform the structure of our DNA. Cancer, allergies, asthma, headaches and depression may be linked to the burning of scented candles.

Homemade beeswax candles, on the other hand, are the healthy alternative because they purify the air instead of pollute it.

You can make two half-pint sized beeswax candles on your stovetop for under 15 dollars. Here’s a breakdown of the cost per batch (about 2 candles):

$11 (beeswax) + $2.50 (coconut oil) + $1 (wick) = $14.50

That’s just $7.25 per candle!

Get all the information on making beeswax candles at home here. 

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3. Natural cleansers in amber bottles

In my experience I have found that most people aren’t averse to using natural cleansers in their homes. No one likes toxic chemicals, right?

Their reluctance, however, stems from the fear that natural cleaners won’t work. They don’t want to spend money on supplies for something they worry will ultimately not clean.

Turn your loved ones onto the wonder of natural cleaning this Christmas by making cleansers for them.

Purchase two beautiful amber glass bottles for $2.83 each + either print out on cards your favorite home cleaning recipes or fill the bottles yourself. 

Find homemade + holistic cleanser recipes here.

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4. A potted plant

Houseplants, like beeswax candles, purify the air and that’s why giving a plant means you’re giving the gift of clean air.

Think secondhand when buying pots, as you’ll find some perfectly adorable pots with lots of personality at thrift stores.

Do your own houseplants need to be split + repotted? If so, consider gifting your existing plants or be sure to purchase from a local + reputable plant store.

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5. Wool dryer balls

Wool dryer balls are the natural alternative to fabric softeners + dryer sheets.

They are made with 100% wool, so they wick moisture away from clothes + leave laundry feeling soft + fluffy without static cling.

These directions outline how to make one dryer ball. I suggest giving 3 balls in a gift set.

If you have 100% wool socks or sweaters you can ball them up tightly and wrap the yarn around it until it is completely covered. This will save money on yarn while also repurposing old wool fabrics.

Did you know?

You can find The Sustainable Minimalists Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts     |     Google Podcasts     |     Spotify     |     Stitcher

Ethical gift idea #2: Purchase mindfully

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Buying should always be a last resort. That said, sometimes we must purchase.

That’s just life.

If we’re going to purchase anyway, it’s prudent to support sustainability by buying from companies dedicated to doing things right.

Here are 7 ethical gift ideas, below:

1. For the chefs: Ziparoos Reusable Sandwich + Snack Bags Set

It’s time for all of us to say goodbye to plastic Ziplock bags for good. Thankfully, Ziparoos makes the transition from disposable to reusable easy as pie.

Ziparoos sets include 5 reusable bags of varying sizes. They’re perfect for sandwiches + snacks; they work well for makeup + travel, too.

The best part? Ziparoos bags are much cheaper than alternative reusable bags on the market ($9.97 for 5 bags, to be exact).

This holiday season, perhaps give Ziparoos to your loved ones by filling them with Christmas cookies. 

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2. For those always on the go: Earth Hero’s Zero-Waste Lunch Kit

Have someone in your life who eats lunch outside of the home? If so, they need this Zero-Waste Lunch Kit from Earth Hero.

The kit has everything – (literally everything!) – your loved one needs to pack waste-free meals, including bamboo utensils, a reusable straw, 2 bento lunchboxes, a beeswax wrap + a reusable bag. 

I love that this set takes the work out of buying these items individually and instead combines them into a thoughtful package. 

Bonus! Use code mamaminimalist for 10% off your order.

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3.For the pets: West Paw’s Rumpus chew toy

West Paw creates eco-friendly, durable dog toys from recycled plastic. 

Rumpus keeps dogs physically + mentally engaged because it’s designed to rock, roll, bounce + float. It’s BPA + phthalate free, too.

The coolest part? Rumpus (as well as their other toys) are infinitely recyclable. Just send your worn toys back to their Montana headquarters + they’ll recycle them into new dog toys.

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4. For the kids: Tegu Magnetic Blocks

Have kids? If so, you already know that magnetic blocks are all the rage these days.

The problem, however, is that most magnetic block sets are made with plastic.

 Tegu blocks, by contrast, are made from wood. There’s no lead, no plastic, no small parts + they’re non-toxic. 

My toddler loves their 14-piece set while my older daughter adores the Magbot Magnetic Block Set.

Tegu blocks will last for generations and you’ll want to keep them around for generations, too, because they’re of heirloom quality.

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5. For the coffee lovers: SF Bay coffee

Minimalists love consumables, and sustainable minimalists love consumables in thoughtful packaging. That’s where SF Bay coffee comes in.

SF Bay created the first commercially compostable, single-serve coffee pod that fits most single-serve coffee machines. The company is well on its way way to making all its packaging home compostable by 2020, too.

The best part? SF Bay coffee is really, really tasty.

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6. For the tech-obsessed: Full Circle’s CTRL-ALT-Clean

Let’s face it: Our tech gets dirty. Really, really dirty.

The CTRL-ALT-Clean 3-in-1 electronics cleaner is a keyboard brush, a detail nib + a microfiber screen cloth in one set.

It’s made of bamboo + recycled plastic; the brush clips to the wiping pad for easy storage, too.

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7. For the men: Reclaimed Wood Razor

Bring a touch of class to the bathroom with this heirloom-quality razor.

Handcrafted from reclaimed wood from Tennessee Whiskey Barrels, this razor is compatible with Mach3 razor heads. 

You can request personalization, too, by engraving the handle on request.

Ethical gift idea #3: Wrap with intention

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Wrapping paper is almost always unrecyclable + that’s why ethical gift giving also means being mindful of the wrapping. Here’s how:

– Make your own bows from colorful magazine pages. Your first one will come out wonky but then you’ll get the hang of it + the gifts you give will be the hit of Christmas morning thanks to their wrapping.

– Reuse all that brown paper that comes in Amazon boxes +  decorate it. Last year my daughters went crazy making their own wrapping paper design; their thoughtful wrapping added to the sentiment of the gifts they gave.

– Save + reuse perfectly good tissue paper, bags + bows.

[Related: Wrap Better! 5 Secrets to Sustainable Giving This December]

How do you practice ethical gift giving during the holidays? What are your best DIY gift ideas? 

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