Eco-Friendly Holiday Gifts

Gift-giving is in the air!

But before you start shopping, let's have a little chat about how our purchases can affect both people and the planet. Don't worry, I'm not here to kill your shopping buzz!

Let's just say that we can all make a difference by making eco-friendly holiday gifts conscious choices. Check out my favorite gift options (many of which I personally use) that will help you get started. Ready to be a gift-giving superhero? Look for your person's interests below and be inspired.

Let's do this gift-giving thing with healthy eco-friendly gift giving intention!

Look no further! Bundle the only water bottle that filters out forever chemicals, microplastics and biological contaminants with a plant-based muscle/joint discomfort relief stick and birch tree extract that professional athletes love and use! 

Want to understand why you should never trust the water company's word on quality, check out my deep dive article.

We know, we know, your loved one may have fallen off the health wagon, but all is not lost! Why not gift them a personal training session or two? 

It's like saying, "Hey, I care about you and your health, so let's get sweaty together." If you're in Seattle, check out my friend Jim Spence at Todo Bien Wellness Center. He'll whip your body into shape with a total-body workout, boxing, or yoga. 

Gift certificates to personal training sessions are the perfect way to show your support and kickstart your loved one's health journey.

We all have that special someone who seems to have everything. How do you show them how much you care? Fear not, adventurous gift-givers! 

The solution is to create new memories through experiences, which is one of the more creative eco-friendly holiday gifts you can give. 

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Take your significant other on a fancy date night with reservations at a restaurant and a staycation at a local hotel (pro tip: many Seattle hotels offer discounted rates for locals).

For the music lover in your life, splurge on tickets to a show they've been dying to see.

Give the artist on your list a unique opportunity to get their hands dirty with a pottery or cooking class.

For couples, capture the magic of your relationship with a photoshoot. For the Seattle-area, I highly recommend my friend James Murphy of Trainman Photography! 

If you're shopping for a musical genius, sign them up for some instrumental lessons – they might even write you a song as a thank you! 

The past can be gifts, too! Re-live the good times by digitizing print photos or VHS and make a family movie or photo gift. Who needs wrapping paper when you have memories?

Want to give your wine-loving friend or family member a gift that keeps on giving? Sign them up for a natural wine club subscription!

What makes these wines special, you ask? They're crafted without all the extra additives that often lead to those nasty "wine headaches," and delicious: the perfect eco-friendly holiday gifts idea for your wine-loving person. 

If you're in the Seattle-metro area, check out mineralistawines.com - it's an online wine shop that is out of this world! My friend Alexa Skilling, a talented local sommelier, knows how to select the perfect bottle, whether it's a classic favorite or something new and exciting. I love trying unique varietals that Alexa curates for my Mineralista's Natural Wine Club subscription. Consider adding a few of Alexa's favorite Riedel wine glasses to your gift box for an added wow factor!

If you live outside of Seattle, check out this list of national natural wine clubs from Wine Enthusiast.   

Got a friend who's all about the green scene? Give them eco-friendly holiday gifts enveloped in mood-altering scents with my absolute favorite collection of pure, plant-based aromas and a trusty diffuser. This collection of amazing, therapeutic-grade plant extracts can improve things like mood, focus and seasonal discomforts. If you prefer to build your own kit, use this link and my name, Tanea Stephens, to get 25% off your purchases. 

Wanna go the extra mile? Toss in an exquisitely hand-made in L.A. soy candle for a total sensory experience that adds feng shui to any room and does no harm to  their health. I emailed LAWA and confirmed that they use pure aroma extracts and no synthetic fragrances. Oooh-la-la! 

Did you know that petroleum-based paraffin candles and synthetic fragrances can negatively impact people with allergies and pets? Consider ditching & switching to plant-based ambiance. 

If you're stuck on gift ideas for your favorite aunt, grandma, mom, wife, or even your local bricks-n-mortar business owner, we've got you covered. How about a subscription to a flower delivery service? My good friend Shelly Stock, an interior designer turned flower farmer-designer, whips up the most gorgeous bouquets in the Seattle-metro area – so beautiful, they'll make your eyes water (well, not literally, but you get the point).

Is your favorite outdoor enthusiast constantly taking notes in the rain with a soggy clipboard? Upgrade their gear with GAK Recycled Stone Waterproof Paper that's not only high-performance but tree-free! BAM! A creative eco-friendly holiday gift that will make your outdoor sports coach and Mother Earth smile. No special pen needed, and best of all, it's forever-chemical-free. Who needs cancer-causing chemicals, am I right? Check out this article for more info on why you should ditch those nasties.

And don't stop there! Plenty of companies are now offering eco-friendly outdoor clothing made without those pesky forever chemicals. My family's top pick? The Australian brand Jack Wolfskin. But wait, there's more! Head over to my low-tox products page for even more green options.

I hope you're inspired by my short list of favorite clean beauty products for this year's eco-friendly holiday gifts. One I am most excited about is one that was gifted this Rugged Beauty nail polish from my friend Theresa and it saved my nails from gel and dip addiction! Now my nails are healthy with long-lasting protection with just a few occasional touch-ups for chips. Plus, this polish is made in the USA, animal product, synthetic fragrance, harsh chemicals & cruelty-free - talk about a win-win!

Do you know what's better than a gift that looks good? One that's also good for you. That's why I love Beauty Counter cosmetics – with 90% of their products Environmental Working Group (EWG) Verified, you don't have to worry about any sketchy ingredients causing developmental-, reproductive- and immuno-toxicity. 

Get your hands on this amazing holiday Beauty Counter mini-sized makeup gift box and make someone's day (and skin) brighter! I love that Beauty Counter is leading the way to protect the health of consumers through policy change! Read more about it here.  

Everyone's skin deserves to be pampered with toxin-free goodness (even if you're as rough as sandpaper). This year, don't settle for mediocre gifts – give your loved ones the ultimate end-to-end bundle of doTERRA's nourishing, plant-based skincare products for normal to dry skin. They'll thank you for the gift of smooth, glowing skin!

Last but not least, giving a thredup.com gift card is a perfect opportunity to give the gift of barely-worn high-end brands, while feeling good about curbing your chemical footprint. Plus, your recipient will save cash and look like a fashionista. What's not to love?

Do you have a friend or family member who loves birds but hates rats? Help them out with a collection of anti-rodent gadgets I use myself to keep those 4-legged critters at bay. Say goodbye to rat poison and hello to rodent-proof seed and suet feeders, a seed net to keep fallen feeder-seed off the ground, and a baffle for a pole-feeder system. Special note: even though many of my recommended products are branded as "squirrel-proof" they also work to deter Seattle-sized rats when used in a food-attractant-free yard. Want to know more about deterring rats? Reach out! I've learned a lot about this in my wildlife conservation passion project with Raptors Are The Solution.  

Plus, for those wildlife enthusiasts, we've got a stunning wildlife 2024 calendar and special edition "Raptors of North America" poster. Every donation supports my passion project – Raptors Are The Solution – and supports our public awareness and policy change campaigns to keep wildlife safe from rat poison that moves up the food chain. If you ask me, supporting wildlife conservation is a  perfect eco-friendly holiday gift. 

Let me hit you with one last pearl of wisdom: you can't mess up with an easy-to-carry monocular! Take it from me, I bring it with me everywhere just in case I stumble upon a group of exotic birds (or any wildlife, really). It even attaches to smartphones for pics!

Listen up, folks! Did you know that most of the baby care products sold in the US are loaded with harmful chemicals? 

That's right, you heard it here first. Those chemicals can mess with your baby's development, hormones, liver, and even fertility once they become adults. Who wants that? Not us, and definitely not your precious little bundle of joy.

You know what babies deserve? A fresh start free of toxins. So, here's a thought: inspire new parents to ditch those old-school products and switch to plant-based alternative products. Trust us; the parents and baby in your life will thank you later.

Get your hands on a plant-based baby care kit today! It includes everything you need, from body and hair wash to lotion, diaper cream, lavender oil, and even a diffuser to help your little one sleep soundly through the night. And don't forget the laundry soap – because, let's face it, those messes aren't going to clean themselves.

Whether you're buying for a new parent to a human or a furry friend, you need to check the quality of the tap water. And, if you don't believe me, check out my YouTube video that explains the process. 

Here's the deal: I've found the perfect water pitcher and easy-to-install under sink system to filter out not one, not two, but nine cancer-causing chemicals, forever chemicals and microplastics. And guess what? These filters make for an excellent gift for new parents!

Yo, it's time to stuff those stockings right with some eco-friendly flair! Check out these sweet eco-friendly holiday gift suggestions, guaranteed to warm your loved ones' hearts.

Give the gift of a movie experience because who doesn't love entertainment?

For all the teenagers out there, reusable stainless straws are where it's at. Plus, it's a great way to flex on the environment.

And last but not least, aromatic treasures! Buy this bundle and split it up among all your stockings! Because let's face it, who doesn't need a little aroma therapy in their life?