Sustainable Ideas for Stocking Stuffers

November 26, 2022  •   2 min read

We’re sharing sustainable gift ideas for that are great as stocking stuffers, and that have been curated and hand-selected for the highest quality and ethical & environmental manufacturing processes. The people in your life are sure to appreciate a gift that benefits others in a positive way, and one that is socially-responsible. Whether you choose to surprise them with a delicious fair-trade chocolate, or a lip balm that gets them through the winter, support sustainable gifting during the most indulgent time of year.

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1. Baggu, Reusable Bags, $12 USD

For the one trying to cut down on their plastic bag usage, Baggu has a range of reusable bags to cater to all tastes and preferences. These bags fold up into a flat 5”x 5” pouch, that can easily be stashed in handbags, backpacks, cars, etc. The bags are durable, holding up to 50 lbs, and are made from 40% recycled nylon sourced from pre-consumer waste.

2. Simply Gum, Pack of 6, $15.99 CAD

Providing an alternative against the mainstream gum industry that makes their gum from a plastic base, Simply Gum offers up a chewing gum that is plastic-free, aspartame-free and free of synthetics. This gum is biodegradable, Non-GMO, vegan, kosher, xylitol-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free and soy-free, using only natural ingredients like organic raw cane sugar and natural chicle base. Chews an option that’s better for you and better for the planet.

3. Ten and Co x Forage and Sustain, Sponge Cloth, $6 CAD

Replace usual novelty stocking stuffer gifts with something incredibly useful and sustainable. These sponge clothes have been a staple in Swedish kitchens for over 60 years and can absorb 15x their own weight in liquid. Replacing the use of up to 17 rolls of paper towel, reducing plastic packaging in landfills, and saving trees from being cut, these eco-friendly cloths will clean all kitchen and bath surfaces. Made from a cellulose-cotton composition that is 100% biodegradable, these cloths can be composted when done with. Their naturally anti-bacterial fibres mean no “dish cloth” smell, so using the same cloth for 6 months or more won’t cause noses to wrinkle.

4. Alter Eco, Fair-Trade Chocolate, $4.24 CAD

Alter Eco’s Swiss-made chocolate is deep, dark and unbelievably smooth, and at the same time, crafted from organic cacao by farmers who are replanting South American rainforests. All Alter Eco chocolate is USDA Organic, Non-GMO, Fair Trade Certified, gluten-free, and Certified Carbon-Neutral. With full traceability, this brand knows which farms their cacao came from, the conditions of the working environment, and who harvested their ingredients.

5. Sahajan Skincare, Lip Karma, $19 CAD – use code FORAGE15 for 15% off

For the dry winter months, nothing soothes the lips like Sahajan Skincare’s Lip Karma. This luxe blend of castor, rapeseed and Argan oils offer deep hydration and just the right amount of shine. Sahajan has teamed up with Plan International’s Because I am a Girl initiative, where every Lip Karma purchased provides one day of school for a girl in a developing country. Kiss those chapped winter lips goodbye while giving a girl the ability to decide her own future.

6. Fysha, Soap Bar, £16

Based in the UK, Fysha makes all-natural soaps with swoon-worthy scent profiles, perfect to stuff stockings with. With a base of Extra Virgin Olive Oil that has been ethically cold-pressed in Greece, this brand believes in high-quality ingredients that complement the earth and our skin. Each bar of soap is handmade and cured for 60 days, hand-stamped, and hand-wrapped in plastic-free packaging that is FSC Certified, recyclable and biodegradable. The bars are all 100% palm oil-free, vegan, cruelty-free, and only use 100% plant oils and natural ingredients.

7. Terra Ties, Biodegradable Hair Ties, $14.95 USD

Billions of hair ties are used globally, most of which are made from materials harmful to our environment. These necessary, yet easy-to-lose accessories, are littered all over the world, usually ending up in landfills, water ways and on the ground. Since most hair ties are made from synthetic rubber and plastic, Terra Ties has come up with an eco-solution – hair ties made from 100% biodegradable natural rubber and organic cotton (dyed with natural dyes). These hair ties are soft, durable and plastic-free, ensuring that if any do get lost, they won’t further harm our ecosystems. Say bye to terra-ble hair ties and hello to earth-friendly ones!

8. Oui the People, Bikini Mask, $8 USD

A unique product like no other, these biodegradable, medical-grade cellulose bikini masks are here to help with irritating razor burn. Manufactured in a facility that uses 100% renewable electricity, these masks will biodegrade after 6 weeks of discarding. Paired with a plant-based organic serum with ingredients like honey and rose extract, these masks soothe, nourish and brighten skin for a smooth look and feel. Now these are the kinds of masks we can get excited about!

9. Raaka Chocolate, 3 Bar Gift Box, $25 USD

It isn’t the holidays without good chocolate, and Raaka is all of that and more. Certified organic, non-GMO, kosher, free of gluten, soy and dairy, Raaka uses traceable, single origin cacao in their bars, believing in a transparent pricing model (which is published on their site). The gift sets are not only super cute, but house bars available in the yummiest flavours: Rose Cardamom, Bourbon Cask Aged, Waffle Cone, Green Tea Crunch?! Raaka up your favourites and go nuts – this is chocolate that is 100% guilt-free.

10. The Winter Elephant, Silk Scarf, $93 CAD – use code FORAGE15 for 15% off

Keep your loved ones warm this year with a scarf that doubles as a gorgeous evening wrap. Silk scarves by The Winter Elephant are feather-light, incredibly high-quality and made to last, with silk being a versatile fabric that keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. These scarves are ethically handmade in India, using 100% fair-trade, traceable labour, made using traditional practices by expert craftsmen. Produced in small-batches to reduce wastage, these scarves will soon become a staple in your loved one’s wardrobe.

11. Mellow Bath and Body, Bar Soap, $12 CAD

Mellow creates mindful bath and wellness products that are simple, clean and vegan/cruelty-free. This line of handmade soaps is luxurious, moisturizing, and soothing, unlike so many of the mainstream options that strip skin of essential hydration. With fully recyclable and plastic-free packaging, this brand plants a tree with every order as a way to give back.

12. Picot Collective, Refresh Hand Sanitizer, $15 CAD

Unlike most hand sanitizers that leave hands sticky and still feeling unclean, Picot Collective’s lightweight yet effective spray rubs in within seconds, leaving hands feeling clean and fresh. Made without any harsh or hormone-disrupting ingredients like many regular sanitizers, this product is perfect to stuff stockings with. We love that it comes in a recyclable/reusable glass bottle, instead of wasteful plastic.

13. Good Juju, Laundry Strips, $14.99 CAD

With sustainability at the heart of everything they do, Good Juju is committed to donating 1% of their sales to environmental organizations. Since their launch in late 2020, they have already prevented over 60,000 plastic bottles from entering the waste stream. Their laundry strips contain a super-concentrated formula that requires no plastic bottles. Each 30-strip envelope prevents one 1-litre jug from entering landfill, resulting in a 94% reduction in transport-related greenhouse gas emissions!

14. Heirloom Art Co., Pewter Bee Magnets, $14 USD

The cutest little stocking stuffer for the one who is doing all they can for our fuzzy, buzzing pollinators. This tribute to the honourable honey bee will bring new life to your loved one’s refrigerator, a daily reminder of how wonderful our earth is. Set of 6, Made mindfully in the USA.

15. Fredericks and Mae, Wildflower Seed Paper Cannon, $14 USD

Skip the confetti made from plastic, and go for this paper tube that shoots paper embedded with wildflower seeds! Stuff your loved one’s stocking with this delightful gift, which they can use during the holidays, NYE, birthdays, gender reveals, weddings, graduations – ALL the events. The compressed air in the canister makes a notable sound when launched, flower bombing those in its vicinity. Black-Eyed Susans, Cockscomb, and Sesame flowers will grace your garden come spring.

16. Anima Mundi Herbals, Black Elderberry Syrup, $33 USD

Offerings from Anima Mundi are all powerhouse herbal remedies, made using the best ingredients, sustainably and ethically sourced. Their Elderberry Syrup is double extracted, high potency, and a powerful antiviral offering up incredible immune support, while being touted as a renowned respiratory tonic. Vegan, and fortified with a range of mushrooms, this syrup is a stocking stuffer that’s berry effective!

17. Play in Choc, ToyChoc Box, £2.25

A conscious take on the familiar Kinder Surprises, these ethically-sourced Play in Choc boxes are the perfect thing to stuff a little one’s stocking with. Each box contains two individually wrapped, deliciously creamy, organic, dairy-free, nut-free chocolates, a 3D cardboard puzzle toy to assemble, and a fun facts card. This plastic-free sweet gift is also refined sugar-free, so you can feel good about letting them indulge. Please search local retailers / websites for this product, if you don’t live in the UK.

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