Hiya Gorgeous!
My holiday gift guide is here and this year, I’ve taken it to a whole new level. Only compassionate, eco-friendly gifts made the cut.
I believe that giving to someone you love doesn’t have to mean taking away from someone or something else—other people, animals and the environment included.
So much of our gifting culture is wrapped up in an excess of things. Wasteful things. Things with a short lifespan. Things that hurt our fellow beings or beautiful planet. That’s why I’m challenging us (myself included!) to give with a different mindset this year. Let’s focus on meaningful, caring tokens of our affection. On quality, not quantity. And on showing love not only to our friends and family, but to the creatures large and small, soil we tread on, water we drink and air we breathe.
Before we jump into the wonderful world of eco-friendly gifts, I wanna say one thing. I know that taking on a more sustainable, ethical approach to gifting can be overwhelming at first. Don’t feel like you have to go from zero to sixty right away. This is a process and it’s definitely not about being perfect. Every little bit you do makes a difference!
Alright, fellow eco elves, let’s do this!
For the Animal Activist
Have a friend who’s got a big heart for fur babies? These eco-friendly gifts are right up their alley!
Donation to an Animal Rescue/Advocacy Organization
Send in a one-time donation or commit to a monthly amount on behalf of your loved one. They’ve probably already told you about their favorite organization, but if you’re looking for inspiration, Second Chance Rescue NYC and Farm Sanctuary are two of my personal favorites. Second Chance’s incredible work helps abused, abandoned, and neglected cats and dogs find better lives—support their mission here. Farm Sanctuary has an awesome program that allows you to sponsor one of their furry or feathered residents—check it out here.
Christy Robinson Animals in their Natural Habitat Necklace – $18
Help your pal show off their passion style with one of Christy Robinson’s sweet pieces. My latest favorite from her collection are these Animals in their Natural Habitat necklaces. They’re beautiful, match with everything and come with a powerful message: Animals don’t belong in confined cages or on factory farms. They should be free to roam, play, smell the flowers and munch on the grass—whatever their beautiful hearts desire. Click here to gift a necklace!
Not a Purse and Not a Nugget – $9.95 each
These adorable books by Stephanie Dreyer are the perfect gift for animal activists of all ages! Whether your giftee is a parent, kid or kid at heart, this is a fun, creative way to learn more and spark conversations about living a compassionate lifestyle. Get Not a Purse here and Not a Nugget here.
For the Wellness Seeker
These eco-friendly gifts are exactly what your health-loving friend really wants this year.
Crazy Sexy Reset: 3-Day Plant-Based Cleanse – $29
My Crazy Sexy Reset is simple and FUN, because I believe that getting healthy doesn’t have to be a drag. It’s got everything your loved one needs to get back on track quickly, including scrumptious recipes and an easy-to-follow meal plan and shopping list. Plus, since they love learning about nutrition, your bud will devour the daily lessons and in-depth intro to plant-based nutrition, eating and living. Gift the Crazy Sexy Reset (available at a 50% savings) here!
Self-Care for Busy People Meditation Album – $15
This album is perfect for someone who’s new to meditation or has trouble finding time to maintain a consistent practice. And it’s digitally delivered, so no shipping, packaging or other throw-away materials are involved! The album includes calming, guided tracks (all under 15 minutes each!) for lots of different situations and times of day. Giving it is like lifting the stress and overwhelm right off your loved one’s shoulders. Get it for your wonderful wellness seeker here.
Extraordinary Meditations for a Magnificent Life Album – $20
My newest meditation album is great for someone who’s looking to deepen their meditation practice. Plus, just like my other album, it’s all digital—that means no waste and no WAIT (any other last minute shoppers out there?!). This album includes inspirational guided meditations, contemplations with mini-spiritual talks, breathing exercises, mindfulness training, affirmation work and an Extraordinary Living Journal to help reinforce the positive, self-loving mindset the meditations are intended to create. Gift the album here!
For the Self-Care Enthusiast
Not sure what to get for your friend who’s hip to all of the latest lotions and potions? Gift them an at-home spa treatment—no animal testing or yucky ingredients involved!
Charlotte’s Web Hemp Infused Cream – $49.99
If you’ve read my CBD oil blog, then you know about the many potential benefits of this fascinating hemp extract—one of which is that it’s great for your skin! This luxurious cream from Charlotte’s Web is the perfect way for your loved one to test out the CBD skincare waters. It’s nourishing, non-greasy and smells lovely. Plus, the ingredients are sustainably grown, non-GMO, gluten-free, cruelty-free and packaged in BPA-free containers! Pick up a bottle (plus one for you!) here.
Nail & Bone Nail Polish – $9.99 per bottle
Polish with a purpose? Count me in! These polishes are Leaping Bunny certified (aka 100% cruelty-free!) and made without any of the nasty chemicals commonly found in nail polish. Oh, and did I mention that 20% of their profits are donated to dogs in need? I love this set ($26.99) that they collaborated on with Halle Berry. Each polish is named after one of her pets. A-freakin-dorable. Click here to give the gift of an at-home mani/pedi!
Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel Exfoliating Mask – $48
Top off your friend’s relaxing spa night with a fabulous facial! Juice Beauty’s products are all completely vegan and free of animal testing. They’ve also swapped out the chemical ingredients usually found in skincare products for clean, organic alternatives! This exfoliating mask really does smell like tart Granny Smiths and leaves your skin feeling soft and refreshed. Check it out here (psst… if your loved one has sensitive skin, check out this mask instead)!
For the Mover and Shaker
These eco-friendly gifts are for your pal who loves to get up and go!
Girlfriend Collective Leggings – $68
These leggings by Girlfriend Collective are made from recycled plastic bottles! This company seriously rocks. Their line is size inclusive, high-quality, and produced under fair and safe factory conditions. Plus, their leggings are comfortable for rest days AND sweaty workouts—the best of both worlds! Grab a pair here.
Yuhme Sugarcane Water Bottle – $34.99
Who doesn’t need a reliable, take-everywhere water bottle? I love this one from Yuhme because it’s made of sugarcane (what?!), which is a renewable resource, CO2 negative and totally recyclable. And if that doesn’t get you excited, Yuhme also partners with Water for Good to give 6 months of clean water to someone in the Central African Republic for every bottle sold. Order a water bottle here!
Erin Stutland’s Soul Stroll Volume I – $29
This is an incredible gift that doesn’t require your loved one to get any special equipment or drive to the gym. All they have to do is download the audios, pop in their headphones and step outside! Erin’s powerful guided meditations will help them de-stress while building their confidence and boosting their mood. And they get to enjoy some relaxing, mindful movement in the beautiful outdoors—what’s better than that? Get volume I of the series here!
For the Fashionista
Finding eco-friendly gifts for fashion lovers isn’t always easy… until now!
Everlane Slim Cotton Long-Sleeve Crew – $25
Comfy, high-quality basics are a necessity in every closet. Everlane’s mission statement says it all: “Exceptional quality. Ethical factories. Radical Transparency.” And by cutting out the middleman (meaning they produce everything in their own factories and sell it directly to us), they’re able to keep their prices nice and low! One thing to keep in mind: Not all of Everlane’s products are totally animal-free, but they have plenty of vegan options to choose from. I bet your fashion-forward friend would love one of these laid-back, layerable long-sleeves. Pick one up here!
Angela Roi Morning Crossbody – $145
A timeless, dress-up-or-down bag is a wonderful gift—and one that’s not made from animals is next-level awesome. Angela Roi’s ethical luxury handbags are stunning, versatile and expertly crafted. I love this everyday cross-body because it’s large enough to carry all the essentials, but small enough not to be a burden. Pick it up for your lucky friend here!
Rothy’s Pointed Toe Flats – $145
Walking can save the environment in more ways than one! These cute, easy-to-wear shoes are made from recycled plastic bottles AND they’re machine washable. So, when they start to look a little rough, don’t retire them—just give ‘em a good bath! Check out Rothy’s here.
For the Aspiring Interior Decorator
Ya know that friend who just has an eye for design? These eco-friendly gifts are for them!
P.F. Candle Co. Terra Soy Candle – $30
Not only are these candles made from 100% domestic soy wax and natural fragrance oils, they also come in the most adorable reusable pots I’ve ever seen. That makes this gift a twofer! First, your giftee gets to fill up their cozy space with a delicious scent like juniper, rosemary or lavender. Then once the candle is gone, they can use the container to plant a sweet little succulent or collect odds and ends on their desk. Order their new favorite candle here!
The Little Market Striped Sisal Nesting Baskets – $8-72
These gorgeous handmade baskets come in all shapes, sizes and colors. They’re made out of sisal—a type of agave plant native to Mexico but grown in Kenya—by the Kasigau Basket Weavers (female artisans ages 25-90). Any one of these baskets is sure to make your interior deco-loving pal smile. Click here to support these talented artisans!
Coyuchi Cirrus Supersoft Organic Cotton Throw – $148
Keep your favorite homebody warm all winter long with this beautifully soft blanket! It’s made of 100% GOTS certified cotton, which means it’s produced under strict social and environmental standards from start to finish. Cozy and kind—what more could you want?! Check it out here.
For the Chef
Here are some perfect eco-friendly gifts for your bud who loves to cook up a storm.
Hedley & Bennet Woodstock Classic Apron – $94
This super functional apron is exactly what your master chef friend needs to take their kitchen game to a whole new level. It’s handmade from recycled materials and the company is female founded (woo!). You can even get it embroidered with their name so everyone knows who’s the boss at mealtime. ? Check out Hedley & Bennet here.
Purifyou Reusable Produce Bags – $14.97
This may seem basic, but reusable produce bags really are a game changer when it comes to creating an eco-friendly kitchen. This set comes with nine bags in a variety of sizes. They’re made without BPA, lead or mercury, and produced in a facility free from harmful manufacturing chemicals. They’re also machine washable, which is a huge plus! Check them out here.
KitchenAid Sparkling Beverage Maker – $187.85
Single-use plastic bottles are a major source of waste, but we can make a difference by choosing alternatives like this sparkling beverage maker! Gift it to the creative cook in your life so they can make infused sparkling waters and fun cocktails for their next dinner party. Fancy AND good for the environment? Oh la la! This is the one I have (you might’ve seen it hanging out on the counter in one of my videos!), but I noticed there’s low stock, so here’s a backup.
I hope this list of eco-friendly gifts makes your holiday shopping a little bit easier (and kinder!) this year. I’m sending you lots of love, stress-free vibes and big, jolly Santa hugs!
Your turn: What are your favorite eco-friendly gifts to give? I love learning about products and companies that are doing good things for people and our planet. Let me know in the comments below!
Peace and kind gifting,
I have been a fan of everything Kris does since stumbling upon crazy sexy cancer in an overnight shift many years ago and I then bought crazy sexy diet and I refer to it constantly… over the past few years life has been so busy and I have gotten way off track and I purchaded the 3 day reset and I loooooooove it I want to eat like this all the time!!!! I wish you had a book with weeks of diets and prep like this it was so easy to follow I am doing the 3 days over and over?….. I am such a fan and love your advice your books are my bibles and I am forever grateful !
Hi Tracy! Thanks for your lovely comment. I’m so glad you enjoyed the Crazy Sexy Reset (and I hope you’ll revisit it again and again whenever you need it!). Sending you lots of love!
Please pass this info to Director Jen,
In reading many of the things that CBD oil can help with, and I would like to share a very important one I discovered. I had been on 2 mg of xanax for 2 yrs after my little sister who was my best friend. After some time you become too disconnected from life and emotions, I was nearly rear-ending cars while driving. That was my wake up call to stop taking xanax. I took CBD oil for 3 times a day and just knew in my intuition that this CBD oil would lock into the part of the brain that used xanax thus take away the need for my body to use it anymore. I stopped taking xanax in 3 days just using the CBD oil. Now hoping to see if will also work on cutting down on my pain meds. I am recently in heavy chemo from triple negative breast cancer, so want to know all the way that CBD and THC can help me through the nasty side effects. Thanks in advance for reading this. I just had to share the info about using CBD oil to so benzodiazepines, just using a few drops on CBD under the tough for 3 days in a row, I was able to walk away from xanax without side effects at all none.
Hi Robin! Thanks so much for sharing your CBD success story with us! We’re sending you loads of continued health and healing, and please keep us posted on how the CBD oil works for pain and for calming those nasty side effects. Big hugs! xo, Jen
Sconely vegan gift boxes with Blueberry Matcha Lemon, Chocolate Pecan Salty Caramel and Ancient Grain Apple Raisin Cinnamon scones are available in LA! I created Sconely while searching for healthier baked good options after overcoming cancer and found a lack of vegan options at events. Now, half our menu is vegan, with lots of gluten-free options as well.
Yummmmmm sounds delish, Julia! Blueberry Matcha Lemon…. drool! xo
I highly recommend Eve Cork bags, I recently received one for a gift (the Montana backpack, I’m using it as my every day purse) and I absolutely love it! They make a variety of bags for men and women, all made from cork, so they are vegan and eco friendly 🙂
Great recommendation, Sara! Cork is such a good material and I’m always impressed by how many uses it has. Mwah!
Is the summit package still available to purchase?
Dear Kris,
It’s funny how you sent this message out today while this month I have been really placing a lot of thought into my gifts. The same way I have transformed my way of nourishing my body, I’ve also began the journey to give with mindfulness. The gifts I am choosing this year are free of waste, meaningful, cruelty free, useful, and with intention for the receiver to engage in some good old self care! If we look down now and see no “fear” or “suffering” on our plates, lets carry that over to gift giving! The energy that is shared in this way gets paid forward multiple times and goes a long way. Two gifts that have been coming to mind for me this year are a Weighted Blanket and an Air Fryer. Adults, teens, and children can benefit from weighted blanket therapy. They are a safe and effective non-drug therapy for anyone seeking a solution for loss of sleep and relaxation. These blankets work by providing input to the deep pressure touch receptors throughout the body. Deep pressure touch helps the body relax. Like a firm hug, weighted blankets help us feel secure, grounded, and safe. One company that I researched seemed to be eco-friendly and cruelty free using no toxic products. They are all handmade in the USA (Mosaic). Many studies have shown conditions such as anxiety, ADD, insomnia, Restless Leg Syndrome, Autism, and others have been improved with its use. Plus they are super comfortable! Air Fryers are the new, fun kitchen toy many are introducing into their lives to avoid all the soaked in oils. Maybe we really can have fries from time to time (yay), and other foods to satisfy those cravings without all the health problems that accompany too much saturated fat in our food. I can just taste of all the kale chips made with nutritional yeast and some cayenne for a tasty crunchy treat instead of chips! Thanks for the idea about the bags for veggies!!! I will be grabbing those for myself!! XOXO
Such a good idea, Ana Maria! A weighted blanket is such a loving, thoughtful gift. Plus, it’s a great idea for someone you don’t get to see too often—like giving them a hug from far away! I’ll definitely check out Mosaic. And an air fryer would be a fab gift too… yummy and healthier than standard fried food, what could be better than that? xo!
Hi Kris…how do I purchase the meditation for busy people album via email for someone else so they can download it to their phone?
Thanks.
Hey Margaret! The link to the album above takes you straight to the gift version. Once you complete the order form you’ll be redirected to a page where you can send your lucky loved one the album. Hope that helps and let me know if you have any other questions. xo!
Hello, all you compassionate hearts!!
Because I’m living in Greece right now (amidst a slow recovery from an economic crisis), I’m trying to support as many local businesses as possible. One local business I found is called “Mia Tribe.” This company makes handmade, ethically sourced jewelery and helps provide a skillset to vulnerable women in Greece. I met with the owner today and she was very passionate about the work she does. Please visit their website; the jewelry is very unique! And reasonably priced to boot!
Thank you, Kris, for all the lovely suggestions. ?
Love to all,
Gentry
This is WONDERFUL. Thank you, Gentry! You’re right—supporting small, local businesses is so important (and fun!). Sending lots of love to you in Greece. xo
I have bought Erin Stutland’s Soul Stroll last year and I recommend it to anybody!
Isn’t she awesome? So glad you think so, too! xo
Hi. I’m making beeswax wraps for gifts this year. Just another idea to add into the mix.
love and best wishes to all,
Janice
Homemade gifts are the best! Thanks for sharing, Janice. xo!