With the holiday season around the corner, we all feel pressured to buy the perfect sustainable gift for our travel-loving family and friends. You most likely landed here, on this post, because you are a person who cares. You care about finding the perfect gift, you care about the environment, and you care about the people in the world. You may be a person who is trying your best to lead a sustainable life or care enough about someone who does, and hence you want to get the perfect sustainable gift. In either case, thank you for being here and having a read, I hope I can inspire you to make the best decision.
But before I start dumping a list of the coolest sustainable gift ideas for travellers, or whoever really, let’s remind ourselves what sustainability means. Sustainability is not about purchasing products labelled as “eco” or “organic” but about the positive impact they have on the environment and local communities overall. This impact is measured from the moment the raw materials are harvested until the product is sold in a shop. It is also measured by how well all employees and local communities are treated by each of the companies that help make that product. That’s why being sustainable and wanting to do the right thing entails a lot of research.
Whether you are a sustainable traveller and you are looking for ideas for your personal wish list or you are the one who has to make the purchase, look no further, this list is for you!
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Perfect sustainable gifts for each type of traveller
Instead of giving you an endless list of sustainable gifts, I thought it might be easier to break it down depending on each person’s lifestyle or travel choices. Obviously, these are just some ideas, but you can mix and match them to meet the needs and tastes of each individual.
PERSONAL CARE OBSESSED TRAVELLER
I recommend you purchase some of these eco friendly personal care products and create a beautiful and personalised zero waste toiletry basket. Go to your local zero waste shop before purchasing online, but if you are short on time, check online options.
Solid shampoos and soap bars.
A natural sponge or loofah.
Reusable cotton pads or a washcloth made from organic cotton.
Ecofriendly dental hygiene kit and zero waste toothpaste.
Crystal deodorant stone.
Zero waste toiletries make for great sock fillers or small Secret Santa gifts.
One of the easiest changes one makes when switching to a more sustainable life is reducing plastic use. There are a myriad of products sold in solid form, avoiding the use of a plastic container or wraps.
If produces locally and in small batches the ingredients are much more natural without any harmful chemicals.
This is a great gift for any sustainable traveller for two reasons: we like to use our personal products so that we don’t create extra waste with hotel amenities, and we can take them in our carry-on luggage without worrying about liquids!
CITY EXPLORER
For the city lifestyle traveller who loves coffee to go, eats takeaway at the park and does lots of walking around.
When I think about visiting my favourite city ever -New York- I automatically know I will spend my days on its busy streets, discovering charming corners, only going back to the hotel after 20000 steps. (Yay, health goals!) The most important thing you need is a good pair of walking shoes, and I cannot but recommend our favourite sustainable brand Allbirds, which offers a wide variety of styles, all of them ultra comfortable and breathable.
Another super useful item is a thermos or a bottle of water. My husband is a coffee lover and I drink more tea than water, so we love to visit local cafes. I never get to buy my own personal water bottles or thermos because I am a teacher and it seems like the default gift from parents and admin to teachers.
I recommend durable, insulated bottles because you want to keep your coffee and tea hot when you are visiting New York for Christmas, or ice cold water when strolling around a Bangkok market. My favourite bottle is Super Sparrow, which has a sling you can purchase separately to easily carry your bottle during your travels. (I don’t own one because of what I explained above but I bought it for both my parents and they were very pleased with the small gift.)
Now, to be walking around the city for hours, you need to carry a decent amount of items for different parts of the day, so even for a woman, I recommend carrying a backpack from Patagonia, the quintessential sustainable apparel shop.
Modest options for Secret Santa or stocking fillers:
The city traveller is going to eat in public spaces at times or grab a sandwich from a street vendor, so here are some great affordable options. Help your traveller friend cut on single plastic items with a reusable straw (metal or bamboo), a bamboo cutlery set, a collapsible food container or a fun reusable grocery bag for any purchase.
From experience, these types of sustainable gifts are for people who already have some zero waste practices in their daily lives and are willing to be proactive.
BEACH BUM TRAVELLER IDEAS
You may have not thought of this before, but sunscreen is actually quite harmful to marine life. A couple of thoughtful options to give the ocean a break is to use an eco friendly sunscreen, which is significantly less harmful. But if you really want a better option to protect marine life, UPF Swimwear is the way to go. It is useful for snorkelling and other related water sports.
This is a perfect gift that can be accompanied by a beach bag or a beach towel made out of recycled materials. I own this Nomadix microfiber towel made out of recycled bottles and I love it because of how versatile it is. (It’s great for yoga, too!)
OUTDOORSY TRAVELLER IDEAS
Sustainable comfort. Leave no trace behind.
I have already mentioned some sustainable gifts above that apply to the Great Outdoors, too, like buying from outdoor apparel brand Patagonia, sustainable shoes with Allbirds, or solid toiletries options. Another brand I discovered some time ago is Bombas, a certified B Corp that gives a pair of socks to homeless shelters for every pair you buy. They have a wide range of sock styles, including hiking socks.
Second hand gear. Have you heard about REI’s garage sale? They have them at least twice a year and they have very decent gear. I myself have purchased hiking shoes there.
Modest options for Secret Santa or stocking fillers:
As someone who hikes, I always make sure to pack everything I need for the perfect day. I find beeswax wraps or reusable silicone bags a great eco-friendly option to store sandwiches or snacks and finally cut off Ziploc bags.
The most original sustainable gift ideas I have seen are related to using nature’s bathroom. AKA anywhere behind a bush. One is the Culoclean, a hilarious name for a device that gets attached to a water bottle and imitates those fancy Asian bidets. Another item is the antibacterial pee cloth by Kula. No more leaving toilet paper behind. Genius! These two gifts are a great option for a White Elephant gift!
Road trippers
Anyone going on road trips needs special gear to maximise the limited space a car gives you. I love my Scrubba washing bag, which is great for washing a few clothing items as you go.
FASHIONISTA TRAVELLER
It is well known that the clothing industry has very negative environmental impacts, especially with the ultra-fast fashion industry on the rise and our obsession with overconsuming. That’s why I do not recommend buying any piece of clothing unless it is necessary. However, here are some sustainable alternatives:
- Thrift shops or second hand markets are a great place to find unique pieces and give them another chance to be used.
- Clothing brands that upcycle and recycle materials, reducing waste in the process.
- Brands endorsed with certifications of sustainability, like Certified B Corporation, Bluesign or FSC Forest Stewardship Council.
YOGI TRAVELLER
Who doesn’t enjoy a cup of tea after their yoga practice? Hold on… who doesn’t love a cup of tea at any time, any day? I guess I didn’t know where to put tea on the list, so here it goes. Loose-leaf tea is better for the environment because it reduces packaging and it avoids the release of microplastics in the water. Find a local tea shop (Teavana, I miss you!), get some great quality loose-leaf tea, and a tea canister as a beautiful alternative for gift wrap.
A sustainable gift does not have to be a tangible item
Instead of actual gadgets, give away experiences. Objects will ultimately become trash sooner or later. If you are looking to get a gift for a person who basically has everything, consider the gift of a cool experience.
- For a foodie, you can get dinner at a farm-to-table or eco restaurant, or even a cooking class.
- For the sports person, a kitesurfing lesson, ski lesson… Think of what is available near your area.
- For the nature lover, a weekend getaway near the mountains or beach. You can also adopt a tree in the name of your sustainable friend. In Spain, I found out you can sponsor an olive tree and then you get some olive oil as a thank you token.
- For the animal lover, a responsible nature experience, like visiting a sustainable farm or going to an animal sanctuary.
- For the artsy person, a workshop to learn how to make your own eco-friendly products, an upcycling class, a pottery class…
- In the digital world, many subscriptions for premium services can make great gifts. Some examples are music and movie streaming services, digital book subscriptions like kindle unlimited or Audible, or learning platforms like Skillshare.
- Is the person you know passionate about a particular cause? Make a donation in their name! Local animal shelters, education funds, Red Cross, food banks…
Sustainability is not only about the final product
As I mentioned above, being sustainable is not only about buying trendy eco friendly products, but supporting those businesses who include sustainable practices. Therefore, you can also contribute with the following sustainable gift ideas:
- Locally owned shops. It boosts the local economy and helps small businesses survive. If you avoid shipping you will also be cutting off CO2 emissions.
- Social enterprises or companies that give back to the community. What businesses, big or small, are trying to make a difference where you live? For example, the quilting centre in Ulaanbaatar hires women with mobility difficulties and they give them the chance to work from home with flexible hours while paying them a fair salary.
- Companies who carry out sustainable practices and are transparent about their business practices. Brands like Patagonia, Nike, Adidas or Tropicfeel strive to make business in a sustainable manner.
Final thoughts
If you are here to look for the perfect sustainable gift, the person who will receive it will appreciate how mindful you have been to choose something that makes a little difference. On the other hand, if you are a sustainable traveller looking for ideas for your own wish list, don’t be afraid to be very specific or mention the brands that you would like to support to your family and friends.
It is very difficult to find a product that will tick all the sustainability boxes. There are way too many variables to look into and we don’t always have all the information available to us. But as the saying goes, we need a lot of people doing a few sustainable things, rather than a few being perfect. A lot of people doing small actions like this is what will make a difference.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me and of course, let me know if you end up buying something from this list.
I love the ethos behind this article. I’ve struggled to find a good shampoo soap bar, but you’ve reminded me I really ought to give it another try.
thank you for the kind words, i really appreciate them. I encourage you to continue looking for the perfect shampoo bar :). I wonder what problems you are facing to find something that suits you. My main problem with other solid shampoos has been that gets dirty much faster.
I love this list & the principles behind it. I have tried to buy products which are more locally produced on recent travels but you have really highlighted to me to focus even more on this. Some excellent suggestions here …& I clearly need to go to Mongolia as these products sound amazing 😉
Glad you enjoyed the list! Buying locally produced goods is a good way to promote sustainability. My souvenirs always come from local shops or artists.
Ooh, I absolutely love this post! That soap sponge thing looks amazing, and I’ve been searching for a yoga mat small enough to take with me when I travel. Thank you so much for the amazing ideas 🙂
i totally recommend the yoga mat, I love it!
I absolutely love this list. So many cool and unique gifts that I never would have found otherwise!
I am glad you found the list helpful! 🙂
Great list and insider tips! I haven’t tried toothpaste tabs either, but it’s a great idea for those who don’t have dental issues. I have sensitive teeth, so I’m pretty particular about my toothpaste, so that’s one item I have yet to find a good eco-friendly alternative. So many good ideas for gifts!
I also use toothpaste for sensitive teeth, but i would love to try the toothpaste tablets for a week trip or so, I find them so convenient, especially long haul flights
I agree that a few small sustainable changes made by all of us is important to help the planet. I love the idea of giving an experience rather than a gadget.
Love the list. Great ideas for a gift. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for this! I’m always trying to travel more sustainably but it can be hard to find the right products – this list is great!
This is great as a gift list…but also for extra ideas how we can reduce our waste. I used the crystal as an alternative to deodorant. I love it (and how much plastic it cut from my life.)
I keep meaning to get one of those kula cloths too (although I would only buy that for someone that I know really well. I imagine it would freak some people out!
haha, definitely! I would only gift a portable bidet of a kula cloth to someone who has said wants one for Christmas >D Too personal to pick that as your first choice.
Yay! I love all these ideas! <3 I've been working on using up all my stuff so I can switch to hopefully most solid body care stuff (e.g. shampoo/conditioner/soap). I've been really interested in Bite too! Will let you know if I try it out! 😛 (If you end up trying it before me, lemme knowww!)
I love the part about giving away experiences too–I know I'd definitely love those more so than anything else! :]
This is such a useful post! I think that weekend getaways are one of the bests gifts there are – unfortunately every year I tend to get so many things that I have to give away, so I’d not get this problem with a holiday haha.
Love these ideas! The shampoo and conditioner are such great ideas! Dinner at eco-farms are the best way to travel–yummy food, meet the locals and get out of the city!
Thanks for the message Dana, I am glad you like the ideas 🙂 Let me know if you end up getting inspired and get something from the list 😉
Great sustainable gift ideas. I have a favorite shampoo bar that I use. You’re right every sustainable and/or local product helps.
I had never thought of these gift ideas for people! This is so creative and NEEDED! I love this site!
Your words are so kind, thank you!
I love that towel you listed that doubles as a yoga mat. I’ll have to try that out. I’ve been trying to find a good travel towel for ages.
This is a wonderful guide! I was looking for something like this and this is perfect for my shopping – I am always looking for sustainable ideas, and inspiration and you have amazing tips here. Thank you!
I love that you mentioned sustainable gifts don’t have to be tangible! A skillshare class is a great gift idea 🙂
Great list! I like the sound of those shampoo bars from La Perla, I’m going to try find them. L’hamour is one of my favourite brands in Mongolia, I’m always buying their products as gifts for my family overseas and they have really cool salt lamps.
Yes!! 🙂 The shampoos are in the Bioamidral shop, which apparently now has a different name (GER living or something?) I love L´hamour too! I brought some creams 2 years ago for secret Santa and my uncle loves them!! (I do too!!)
Such a great list. I feel now is as important as ever to shop sustainably this holiday season!
This is such a great list of gift ideas! I also love your note about sustainability not only being about the final product but that you can also support local businesses and companies that give back to the community 🙂
These are fantastic sustainable gift ideas! Great change from the usual gift guides I see.
There are some excellent ideas here! It counts as a gift if I’m treating myself….right?
These are great sustainable gift ideas. The crystal stone deodorant sounds interesting!
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Love these! Always searching for more ideas, especially sustainable ones! This year tried to combine some of these, I love soap bars (any!) so trying to get other people to use them by adding small pieces in gift boxes just to try them. Thanks for the suggestions, pinning it for later 😀
A sustainable yoga mat sounds perfect. I’ll have to check out the brand you recommended.
I have thought of buying a pack of dry shampoo so many times, but, I have been procrastinating it thinking that it might be not that useful.
I really love the idea of experiences over gifts. Most of us don’t need more stuff but would love to travel and have adventures as gifts.
Insulated water bottles are so awesome! I think they make great gifts, too. I’ve also been interested in getting some reusable bags. Thanks for much for this great list!
Yeees I am so a fan of those crystal deodorant stones. We have been using one for the last couple of years and I have been so, so impressed with it. Plus it saves soooo much plastic!
What a GREAT read! Thank you so much for soooo many ideas.
I am obsessed with the reusable and WASHABLE bags! As a mommy of a very active son who is always on the go, I appreciate CUTE bags to store his dirty clothes, clean change of clothes, change of shoes, our snacks, his snacks …just to name a few uses!