Whether it’s a sibling, in-law, or coworker, we all have that one person in our lives who is just impossible to shop for. You could buy them a book that they may enjoy, or you could go with another pair of socks — they seemed to like that striped pair last year, right?
Instead of giving something that is more than likely to end up in a landfill alongside five billion pounds of other returned presents, though, why not give a gift that’s unique, good for the environment, and won’t break the bank?
We’ve curated a list of gift ideas that fit all three of these qualifications, and we’ve highlighted what makes each item eco-friendly and ethical. Along with all this good stuff, you’ll also find specifics about what makes the companies producing these gifts so deserving of our attention.
Shopping sustainably doesn’t have to be expensive. Whether you’re seeking a gift for a self-care aficionado, a music lover, or a home cook looking to level up from frozen Trader Joe’s meals, this list is bound to give you an idea within your budget.
By the way, some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Everything in this article was independently and honestly written by the Good Good Good team. Thank you!
Explore more eco-friendly gift guides: Best Eco Friendly Gifts | Inexpensive | For Him | For Her | For Mom | For Kids | For Coworkers
Your guide to sustainable and budget-friendly gifts
Siblings Clean Candles
A candle may seem like a generic gift, but the Clean Candle Starter Kit from Siblings is anything but.
Inside the brand’s 100% compostable packaging, you’ll find a pack of non-toxic coconut wax, a lead-free cotton wick, and a wooden wick holder — all you have to do is choose an empty glass or jar you’d like to hold your candle.
That’s right, you actually make this candle, and all you need to do it is a microwave! Not only do these candles make for a fun, uncommon activity, but it’s also a high-quality, one-of-a-kind product that will leave your space smelling unbelievable.
What’s good:
- 100% compostable packaging
- Carbon Neutral certified
- Coconut wax blend burns longer and requires less water and fewer pesticides to harvest than other candle waxes
- The brand has planted 7,890 trees through One Planted Tree since its inception
Shop: Siblings
→ Check out our full guide to eco-friendly candles for more options!
Klean Kanteen Camp Mug
What better gift could you give the coffee or tea lover in your life than a reusable, insulated travel mug that will keep their fuel hot for over three hours?
Made out of certified 90% post-consumer recycled stainless steel, this 12 oz camp mug is good for the environment and the soul. Plus, it’s got a beautiful mountainscape etched into it — what more could you want? (Unless, of course, you’d prefer a solid color. They have those too).
What’s good:
- BPA-free
- Made from certified 90% post-consumer recycled 18/8 stainless steel
- B Corp- and Climate Neutral-certified
- 1% of the Planet member, meaning the brand donates to organizations bettering the environment and making the world a better, safer place
- Family- and employee-owned company
Shop: Klean Kanteen | Amazon
Rise Beyond the Reef Classic Canvas Tote Bags
There are few things we love more than a good tote bag. They serve as an alternative to single-use plastic and paper bags, and they’re a fun accessory that can make any outfit that much more interesting — especially this vibrant, patterned one from Rise Beyond the Reef.
Rise Beyond the Reef sells products that are handmade by women in Fiji, an island in which nearly 25% of the population lives below the poverty line.
Rise Beyond the Reef supplies Fijian women — largely, women Indigenous to the island — with materials they use to create a variety of handmade products that are then sold online. In doing so, these women gain economic resilience and independence.
What’s good:
- Products are handcrafted and naturally dyed
- Ethical manufacturing practices
- Empowers Fijian women and girls by providing education, skill building, and opportunities to earn income
Shop: Rise Beyond the Reef | NOVICA
Material’s The reBoard
There’s always room to become more sustainable in the kitchen, and Material’s The reBoard is the perfect gift for anyone looking to sharpen their cooking skills without hurting the environment.
Made entirely of upcycled and renewable materials (75% repurposed kitchenware plastic scraps, 25% renewable sugarcane), this cutting board is as good on the earth as it is on the eyes, and that’s saying a lot.
The reBoard comes in five stunning shades, including To Pó-Po, with Love — a color option that, when purchased, donates half of its profits to Heart of Dinner, an organization delivering food and handwritten letters to Asian elders in NYC.
What’s good:
- 100% upcycled and renewable materials
- BPA-free
- $158,339 donated to organizations “at the intersection of food and underserved groups across the U.S.”
Shop: Material | Anthropologie
Upcycled Record Coasters from Uncommon Goods
We’re just going to say it: Coasters are underrated. First of all, they save your favorite pieces of furniture from being ruined by condensation. Second, and more importantly, they give you the chance to add a pop of color — or, in this case, a bit of funk — to your space in an accessible, budget-friendly way.
These upcycled record coasters are made by repurposing labels from genuine vinyl records — cool, right?
What’s good:
- B Corp-certified
- Starting pay for hourly employees is double the federal minimum wage
- Nearly $3 million has been donated to several causes through their Better to Give program
- Recycled materials
Shop: Uncommon Goods
Dieux Forever Eye Mask
This one is for the friend who stays up-to-date on the latest and greatest in wellness — the one who’s somehow always in the middle of ice rolling their face when you FaceTime them.
With new trends constantly emerging and the cosmetics industry producing a whopping 120 billion units of packaging every single year, it can be difficult to find a sustainable gift for the self-care expert in your life.
Enter the Dieux Forever Eye Mask, a reusable pair of under-eye patches designed to de-puff and hydrate over and over again. Just 11 uses make this product less harmful to the environment than its single-use alternative.
What’s good:
- Recyclable packaging
- Vegan & cruelty-free
- Below-average carbon emissions and waste output
Shop: Dieux
Stripe & Stare Unisex Boxer
We know what you’re thinking; underwear is the kind of gift a parent concerned about the frequency (or, rather, infrequency) of their child’s laundry being done would give. But this is a cool pair of underwear, we promise.
What makes this pair of underwear so very cool, you ask? Well, it’s made out of TENCEL, a sustainably sourced, 95% biodegradable fabric that is twice as soft as cotton and made from renewable beech wood.
So, not only are these boxers cute, but they’re also compostable! If that doesn’t get you excited, we don’t know what will.
What’s good:
- Climate Positive Workforce
- B Corp-certified
- All products are at least 95% biodegradable
- Woman-owned brand
- One tree is planted with every purchase — 103,539 trees have been planted with Ecologi
- The brand donates underwear, pajamas, and loungewear to Trevi, a women’s and children’s charity based in South West England
Shop: Stripe & Stare
Meow Meow Tweet Geranium Palmarosa Hand + Body Wash
What’s not to love about a natural, multi-use soap that smells like a thriving garden and has grumpy cats adorning its reusable bottle? No, seriously, what’s not to love? We can’t think of anything.
Meow Meow Tweet is an LGBTQ+-owned personal care brand dedicated to producing cruelty-free, low-waste soaps, deodorants, skincare products, and more. All of the brand’s packaging is recyclable, and they offer bulk products to refill bottles and jars.
What’s good:
- B Corp- and Climate Neutral-certified
- All packaging is sustainable and recyclable
- Certified Plastic Negative Product
- LGBTQ-owned brand that prioritizes living wages
- Redistributes funds to a different organization each month
Shop: Meow Meow Tweet
