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Stocking stuffers are probably my favorite part of the holidays! Unfortunately, they are also one of the most wasteful parts of the holidays. Stockings are normally filled with random knick knacks that you don’t really need but are fun and festive.
But we could choose more eco-friendly gifts to put in stockings!
The basics of eco-friendly gifting
I love opting for practical gifts that you KNOW your loved one will use again and again. It may seem like simple advice but it is an easy way to keep things out of the landfill.
Take some time to brainstorm what your loved one needs rather than just wants.
Think about the colors they wear and how many uses they’ll get out of the item. For example, if I was gifted a pink scarf I may get one use per year out of it since pink isn’t my favorite color and I live in a warm climate!
Consider the end of life for stocking stuffers
I try to think of not just how my loved on will use the gift I give them but also it’s destiny when the person is done with it!
I love gifting things like books because people tend to not throw them in the trash and rather pass them on to someone else. Or drop them off at the thrift store!
Gifting things that can be re-gifted is a simple way to cut back on the amount of items that end up in the landfill.
Eco-friendly stocking ideas
- Long socks
- Use leftover fabric and sew a stocking
- Thrift one! There are plenty at the thrift store.
- Shop from a small business or someone in your community that makes them.
1. Stasher bags
My favorite type of gift is practical gifts!
I use Stasher bags basically every day and I’m sure the person you gift them to will also. I never buy ziplock bags because stasher bags can be washed and reused multiple times! You can freeze stuff in them, cook in them etc. Recently I started storing my phone in them when hiking because it is water-resistant.
There are SO many uses for stasher bags which makes them a super versatile gift!
2. Sustainably made chocolate
Candy is the go to gift for stockings! There are so many incredible sustainable candy companies out there but I wanted to highlight Alter eco foods!
There are so many good flavors to choose from. From their sourcing to their packaging, they are extremely intentional.
Why I love them:
- Uses recyclable or compostable packaging
- Fairtrade certified
- Certified B corp certified
P.S. Coconut Toffee is my favorite flavor!
3. Local fruit
I always got an orange at the bottom of my stocking! If you do not have much fruit in season near you, dried fruit is always a great option too. Locally grown food is always a great gift idea!
4. Lip balm
I normally use coconut oil on my lips but these lip balms at packagefree.com are great options too! They all come in recyclable packaging!
5. Gift card to local restaurant or business
Support small businesses and restaurants this holiday season not just by dining out but also gift cards! Gift cards don’t have to be impersonal! Choose whatever shop or restaurant your loved one loves the most and I am sure they will be excited to get one!
Bonus points if you choose a small buisness or restauraunt that chooses to put the planet first by offering vegan options, reusable cutlery instead of plastic or lets you use to go cups!
6. Loose leaf tea
Did you know a lot of teabags are made of plastic? Although it looks like the tea bags are just paper they can be lined with plastic. Tricky, I know. Your best bet is to pick up some loose leaf tea to gift!
I have recently found Arbor teas!
Why I love them:
- comes in backyard compostable packaging
- Has an array of teas to choose from
- Organic options
- Fairtrade certified
7. Candle
Goodlight is one of my favorite candle companies but I encourage you to stop by your local shops or farmer’s market to support other small businesses in your community!
Why I love them:
- plant based
- paraffin free
- 1% for the planet certified
8. Bar of soap
I feel like every farmer’s market has someone selling soap! Again, try to support people in your community that are making beautiful goods!
If you aren’t able to find locally made soap near you, I love these!
9. Pack of seeds
This idea can be for someone with a green thumb or not!
If your loved one is not into gardening you can pick up some wildflower seeds that are local to your area. These are so fun to put in a shaker and spread around your yard or wherever.
OR
If they are into gardening go ahead and get them some seeds for their garden! Seed packets are small and perfect to stuff in a stocking. They are pretty affordable too!
10. Books
Stop by your local bookstore and see what you can find! Thrift stores are another great place to find books. I have found brand new hardcover books at the thrift store. Or you can gift a book you own that you loved.
I put together a list of books that I enjoyed if you are looking for reccomendations!
11. Chewing gum
Did you know that some chewing gum has plastic in it?! Not just the wrappers but the actual gum itself. (it helps the gum to last longer-since plastic doesn’t break down-blah!)
Not only is that weird, it is also not great for your health to be chewing on plastic. Instead, opt for a company that offers plastic free gum from product to packaging.
I suggest checking out Simply for these reasons:
- Vegan
- plastic free
- made in the USA (NYC)
12. Essential oils
When it comes to scents, I have found the sustainability community goes back and forth with if essential oils are sustainable.
Personally, I use them and I try to be mindful of how many I buy, where I buy them from and which ones I buy. For example, to make rose essential oil it takes a TON of roses. Something like peppermint oil can be made with less plants and is more available. I also make sure to shop from a brand that I trust and is sustainably minded. I really love Doterra for these reasons.
Click here for some more info on Doterras sustainability efforts!
13. For kids: thrifted toys!
And for the kiddos, your best bet is thrifted toys!
Of course some of the items listed above could work great for kids too!) but the thrift store is filled with small toys that work great for stockings. Why buy all new toys when there are so many already made and you can save them from ending up in the landfill? Your kids won’t know the difference. Promise!
14. Fresh flowers
This may be a weird one but I personally love getting flowers any time of the year. Stop by your local flower shop and see what they have in season during the holidays. Gifting natural items is great (if grown responsibly!) because they can be thrown in your compost instead of the landfill. No waste!
Filling stockings can be so fun and it doesn’t have to involve gifts that create a lot of waste. Hopefully, this list got you thinking about small items your friends and family will love just as much as the main gifts you get them!
Let me know in the comments if you will be filling your eco-friendly stockings with something not on this list! I love getting new ideas!
If you are looking for other low waste gifts you can check out my blog post here that talks about gifts based on the love languages!
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Stay well,
Maggie
