This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy for more information.
Updated 12/2022
The last-minute scramble sucks, but we’re all guilty of doing it. Personally, I hate gift-giving because I never know what to buy people. I want to buy something meaningful and memorable, not a throwaway gift, but those can be hard to find in a store. Here are some thoughtful, eco-friendly gifts for everyone on your list.
A Printable (Digital) Bullet Journal
Are you buying for someone that loves to journal? Maybe they want to be more mindful in the new year. If you know someone that’s organized or wants to get more organized, they might enjoy a bullet journal too. Purchasing a digital bullet journal means that it never needs to be printed unless the receiver wishes to. When (and if they do) print it, they can always use recycled paper or paper made from an alternative like bamboo. It makes a great gift, and with the wealth of digital programs out there, there isn’t a need to ever print it!
Baking Mix in a Jar
Shopping for a baker or someone with a sweet tooth? Grab a mason jar or 2 and find a few yummy recipes. Carefully layer each dry ingredient into the mason jar and close it up. Write down any instructions needed to finish the recipe. Then find some adorable odds and ends to decorate the lid with. Gift complete! Need some recipe ideas? Try these ideas from Taste of Home. This gift will appeal to anyone’s stomach and aesthetic tastes.
Eco-Friendly Gift: Homemade Bath Salts
Give the gift of relaxation. Homemade bath salts are easy to make and can be placed in decorative glass containers. These come without the plastic waste of their store-bought counterparts and won’t contain any funky chemicals. If you know the scents your receiver likes, you can completely personalize your gift. A simple Google search yields a plethora of recipes from big names like Martha Stewart to smaller health and wellness blogs.
Reusable Shopping Bags
Plastic bags are a huge source of waste. If you have some old t-shirts hanging around the house, you can whip up some cute and useful bags. Better yet, you can make them even if you don’t know how to sew. Instructables has a tutorial that claims you can make one in just 10 minutes. They make a thoughtful and useful gift that can be personalized in a variety of ways.
Upcycled Sweater Stocking
Have an old sweater that’s too tattered to be worn or maybe one you don’t wear anymore? Make it into something beautiful again. Who wouldn’t be excited by a handmade stocking? Upcycling means you don’t have to knit or sew to create a lovely gift your someone you love. Try HGTV’s No Knit Sweater Stockings to make that show-stopping last-minute gift.
Goodie-Filled Reusable Water Bottle
We all know plastic water bottles are filling up landfills. Stop the waste by giving the gift of reusability. Purchase a steel or glass reusable water bottle. Then fill it with candies, beauty goodies, or other fun, self-pampering items. It’s a small gesture that’s outside the box.
Homemade Body Butter
Show you care with a quick and easy way to moisturize. Body butter smells great and soothes skin during the dry winter season. It’s not complicated to make and will last long after the holiday. Recycle a cute container or place it in a decorated mason jar to complete the gift. Worried about finding recipes? The internet abounds with recipes you’ll love. The Prairie Homestead and She Wears Many Hats both have fabulous recipes that will save you in a pinch.
Recycled Candles
Everything is better in a mason jar! Really though, you could place this in a mason jar, any jar you have, or even a regular old glass, teacup or anything in between you’ve found at a thrift store or lying around at home. You’ll need some candle wicks, but you can use the bits of old candles you have or some extra tealights to make this one work. If you’re not sure how to go about recycling candles, the Spruce Crafts has a tutorial that will help you make a one of a kind gift in no time at all.
A Recipe Ring of Your Favorite Recipes
This one could be a bit more time-consuming, but you have the option of handwriting or typing these up. Laminating them is a great move to help them last, but if you don’t have a laminator, it’s definitely not a deal-breaker. At its most basic elements, a recipe ring is a thoughtful way to share recipes your loved one will be head over heels for. There are many ways to make your ring, and you can even hang it on a useful kitchen utensil. You can produce this eco-friendly gift even when all of the stores are closed, so it’s a fantastic option to keep in your back pocket for when all else fails.
Homemade Sugar Scrub
| Has your favorite person been eyeing some bath scrubs, but you just couldn’t find the time to run to the mall? You can make a better-than-store-bought version with one of these amazing sugar scrub recipes. Making it yourself not only shows you care but protects your loved ones from chemicals and plastics that are lurking in many store-bought beauty products. |
Recycled Key Snowman Ornaments
Looking to give something adorable this season? Grab some keys you don’t need anymore and get crafting. Your snowman ornament will be something your friends or family can use for years to come. Crafting allows you to recycle, reuse, and repurpose to cut down on waste AND make something unique.
So, whether or not you waited until the last minute you should try out some of these gift-giving ideas. The environment will thank you and so will the gift receivers. Gifts don’t need to be store-bought to be appreciated. Anyone you know will enjoy these eco-friendly gifts!
