Dear John,

A time of giving is upon us, and while the sentiment of the season is well intended, it unfortunately comes with lots of needless purchases and even more waste. As advocates for reducing waste, we encourage our community to give gifts of time, experiences, and love first and foremost. But we know that these kinds of gifts aren’t always possible.

That’s why we have put together our Thoughtful Giving Guide--a curated list of items from Coalition members that are built to last and designed to minimize their impact on the planet.

Click to browse our 2019 Thoughtful Giving Guide or view a selection below. Plus, check out our top five tips for reducing plastic during the holidays.

Happy Holidays!

Emily DiFrisco
Director of Communications
Plastic Pollution Coalition

Many pet lovers are also planet lovers, so why not get them gifts that benefit their fury friends and the environment?

Boba & Vespa

Boba & Vespa was born from a love for the planet and our furry companions, because they don’t believe that our love for our animals should come at the expense of the environment.

Water Gem - Cardboard Cat House - This beautifully designed cat house is the perfect place for cats to sleep, hide, and play. Best of all, it is made with no toxic dyes or glues, and, of course, no plastic!

BuyMeOnce

BuyMeOnce is an online store dedicated to selling quality products that really last. In a world where so many products are meant to break or wear out, BuyMeOnce is all about offering items that (you guessed it!) you only need to buy once.

Fire Hose Cat/Dog Bowls - These unique cat/dog bowls are handmade in the USA out of upcycled fire hose and non-toxic, food-grade silicone. It is durable, easy to clean, and environmentally- and pet-safe.

Recycled Glass Dog/Cat Bowls - These elegant feeding bowls are handmade in the USA from 100%  post-consumer recycled glass. Every bowl reclaims a minimum of four 8oz glass containers or industrial glass from landfill.

Lots of people who love to explore the world also have a passion to protect it. So what better gift to give the globe trotter in your life than a plastic-free addition to their adventure kit?

Khordz

Khordz Mugs makes unique mugs that allow people to live sustainably whether they are stopping by their favorite coffee shop in town or hitting the road for a wild adventure. 

Survival Drinkware - These mugs are made out of an endlessly reusable jar and 25 feet of paracord. An adventurer can do a lot with these two things: tie a hammock, make a snare trap, set a clothes ling, or hang a bear canister from a tree. 

Rewilder

Rewilder makes high-performance, reusable bags from 100% salvaged materials. Everything is washed, cut, and sewn in California.

Zero Waste Backpack - This durable, water-resistant backpack is made out of auto airbags and seatbelts, so your favorite adventurer can rest easy knowing that no new materials were used in the fashioning of this stylish bag.

Icon Lifesaver

Icon Lifesaver offers a range of water bottles and portable filters that can purify anything from tap water to dirty water from ponds, lakes, and rivers. They are ideal for everything from traveling to backpacking, hiking,  camping, and emergency prep. 

Life Without Plastic

Life Without Plastic is an online store with a large selection of items that help people eliminate plastic from their lives.

Stainless Steel Folding Spork - This stainless steel folding spork is both practical and handy. It comes with an organic cotton carrying case so it can easily fit in a pocket or be tucked into a backpack without giving up valuable space.  

Klean Kanteen

Klean Kanteen is a family-owned business that makes non-toxic, BPA-free stainless steel water bottles. They are also a certified B Corp and a member of 1% for the Planet, so you can feel great when you buy their high quality reusable water bottles. 

Klean Kanteen Water Bottle - This 64oz insulated bottle is perfect for the outdoors(wo)man in your life. Stainless steel and vacuum sealed, it keeps liquids hot for 38 hours and cold for 136 hours!

Klean Kanteen insulated food canister - This 8oz food canister is an excellent replacement for all kinds of single-use plastic food containers. Its double-wall vacuum insulation keeps food hot or cold for 5 hours. 

Zoetica Zero Waste Systems

Zoetica Zero Waste Systems redefine and elevate the style, convenience, and space-saving nature of the zero waste life with kits for everyday use.

The Ultimate Explorer For International Travel - This kit has just about everything you need to make your next adventure free of single-use plastic. It contains a backpack, a SteriPen for sanitizing water, a travel mug, a travel thermos, a shopping tote, a nested tiffin, a stainless steel straw, a gauze produce bag, stainless steel cutlery, an organic cotton napkin, and two reusable snack bags.

Traditional beauty products are notorious for having harmful effects on human health and the planet. But these products from our eco-minded Coalition members don’t sacrifice the health of the environment for the sake of personal care.

Green and Gorgeous

Green and Gorgeous makes beauty products that people can truly feel good about. Their non-GMO, organic, vegan, cruelty-free products come in eco-friendly, biodegradable packaging because they are passionate about protecting the planet.   

Aerosol-Free Dry Shampoo - This glass and stainless steel dry shampoo dispenser is a great solution to toxic and harmful Aerosol cans. Not only is it an adorable addition to a zero-waste beauty routine, it is also safe for you and the environment.

La Madera Beauty

La Madera Beauty No. 9 Eyebrow Brush - This sleek and stylish brow brush by La Madera is great for applying makeup, dry brushing, brushing with oils, and stimulating hair follicles. The best part? It is 100% plastic-free!

Pure Kindness

Pure Kindness stands by its ethos of ‘Kind to You. Kind to Your Community. Kind to the Planet.’ by offering 100% organic handcrafted products made from sustainable, ethically sourced materials. 

Lavender + Chamomile 3-in-1 Oil - Infused with locally sourced organic lavender and chamomile flowers, this 3-in-1 oil is an aromatherapeutic experience. It can be used to oil cleanse skin, as a face serum, and to smooth & boost your hair’s shine. And, of course, it is bottled in glass!

Sustainability Sanctuary

Sustainability Sanctuary is committed to ensuring that your lifestyle choices are sustainable with 100% natural or upcycled, no toxic chemicals,  and ethically made products. 

Deodorant Paste # 3 - This paste deodorant is powerful yet free of harmful chemicals found in conventional deodorants, such as aluminum, alcohol, and parabens. Packaged in recyclable glass and metal to reduce plastic waste in landfill, this deodorant will have the eco-minded beauty enthusiast in your life feeling great about their pits and the planet. 

Wonderbalm - This yummy-smelling balm assists with bites, scratches, dryness, and all kinds of other bothersome superficial skin issues. And (naturally) it is packaged in biodegradable tubs!

LUSH

LUSH offers a wide variety of handmade, ethically sourced, naked (aka unpackaged) luxury bath and body products that you can feel good about while indulging in self care.

Plastic-Free Bar Soap - LUSH offers a range of handmade bar soaps packed with fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and oils that leave skin smelling and feeling great. These are a sustainable alternative to body washes that come in plastic bottles

Circular Living Co.

The Circular Living Co. is a cosmetic company that makes products that are free from toxic chemicals and plastic packaging. The founders are dedicated to making circular living more accessible and plastic pollution a thing of the past.

Love Your Lymph Body Oil - This nourishing oil is a special treatment for your whole body, focused on loving your lymphatic system and sealing in moisture to hydrate the skin. It is free of solvents, synthetic fragrances, synthetic preservatives, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, GMOs, phenoxyethanol, styrene, PEGs, and, of course, plastic!

Homemade Betty

Homemade Betty offers a selection of organic, vegan, zero waste skincare products. Check out one of our favorite Homemade Betty offerings.

Organic Lavender Lemon Body Butter - Rich, creamy and handmade with love, this award-winning body butter comes in a zero waste jar that can be refilled and used again and again!

#NOTPLASTIC

#NOTPLASTIC offer a variety of reusable alternatives to single-use plastic items with carbon neutral shipping through reforestation.  

Beauty Kubes Organic Shampoo - This awesome shampoo bar leaves hair soft, shiny, and free of build up all while being: plastic-free, vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, and palm oil-free.

True Botanicals

True Botanicals makes pure, potent and proven products that are good for people and the planet. Every one of their products is MADE SAFE certified, meaning they are made without 5,000+ known toxic ingredients. 

Moisture Lock Overnight Mask - This rich yet lightweight night mask is formulated to dramatically boost hydration for all skin types. This mask is free of pore-clogging waxes found in traditional night creams and will have you awaken to softer, more supple skin.

Beauty (Men's)

BuyMeOnce

Mark One Purist Shaving Set - This elegant shaving set means that your loved one can say goodbye to a shaving routine that pollutes the planet. It includes one safety razor, 10 double-edge razor blades, organic frankincense shave oil, an organic cotton flannel, and a presentation gift box.

Handmade Betty

Homemade Betty offers a selection of organic, vegan, zero waste skincare products. Check out one of our favorite Homemade Betty offerings.

Spicy Avocado Beard Oil - This beard oil is made with organic cold pressed avocado oil, organic tea tree oil, organic cedar wood oil, and organic Japanese peppermint oil. It is designed to not only keep beards looking and feeling fresh, but also to reduce irritation on partners’ faces during intimate moments. And the glass packaging is designed to keep plastic out of our oceans and landfills.

Too many modern kids toys are made of and packaged in hazardous, polluting plastic. Luckily, a number of our Coalition businesses offer engaging, sustainable, plastic-free gifts for kids.

Wisdom Supply Co.

Wisdom Supply Co. offers a wide range of zero-waste, plastic-free school supplies for kids of all ages. From crayons to binders to planners to lunchtime essentials, Wisdom has everything the eco-minded kids in your life need for a sustainable school year.

Wooden Toy Binoculars - These elegant and durable toy binoculars encourage kids to imagine, play, and explore. Handcrafted in New York from maple wood and cherry with a natural finish, these eco-friendly binoculars help develop hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and fine motor skills.

Wooden Toy Fishing Pole - This is another great plastic-free toy that can be found on the BuyMeOnce website. This wooden fishing game includes three tiny fish made from cotton and a small magnet. Kids can reel in the daily catch using the wooden fishing rod with a magnetic hook. This durable, plastic-free gift also helps develop hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and fine motor skills.

Lined Chalkboard Tablet - Revolutionize screentime by embracing imaginative play with these old-school chalkboards shaped as modern tablets! Featuring painted-on analog and digital clocks, this educational toy aims to teach little ones the concept of time by drawing on and where the big hand and little hand go. 

Woodland Puzzle Box - This wooden puzzle is great for children 12 months and older. Made out of sustainable rubber wood and water-based paint, it features 16 pieces illustrated with forest creatures and helps children develop hand-eye coordination as they try to fit the pieces together. 

Wooden Tea Set - When it comes to excitable toddlers, we know things don’t always last as long as they should. But this wooden tea set is durable, safe, and repairable. Made from sustainably sourced rubber wood and accented with non-toxic water-based dyes, this plastic-free tea set is sure to be a hit with eco-minded kids and parents alike.

Klean Kanteen

Kid Kanteens - Klean Kanteen offers BPA-free stainless steel water bottles perfect for babies, toddlers, little kids, and big kids. And with a variety of colors and patterns, you can find a bottle that speaks to the youngsters in your life.

LunchBots

Founded by a mother of two sons, LunchBots offers zero waste food containers that are easy to pack and that last a lifetime.

LunchBots Lunch Boxes & Bento Boxes - LunchBots offers a wide range of eco-friendly food containers that eliminate the need for single-use plastic including lunch boxes, bento boxes, thermoses, and dip/salad bowls. 

Let’s face it: food is one of the biggest culprits of single-use plastic packaging around. Fortunately, a number of our Coalition members offer a number of plastic-free food products and plastic-free food storage products. 

Pondicherry Dry Goods

Pondicherry Dry Goods is dedicated to creating an evolved community that values great taste, purity, and eco-consciousness. 

Artisan Tea - Pondicherry’s handcrafted artisanal teas are treasured for their flavor, goodness, and beauty. Handcrafted from seasonally harvested ingredients, you can take pride in the fact that when you sip their delicious teas you are supporting and empowering small farmers. While they promote loose leaf tea, they do offer handmade 100% cotton tea bags for convenience. 

Kitchen Witch Bone Broth

Kitchen Witch Bone Broth is a woman owned and operated company dedicated to producing the highest quality organic, grass-fed bone broth on the market. Unwilling to sacrifice the health of the planet or its customers for the sake of profit, Kitchen Witch has packaged their top shelf bone broth in endlessly reusable glass jars since day one. 

Clover Sonoma

Clover Sonoma is a California-based dairy company that is committed to its customers, its community and the planet. With a genuine concern for the environment, they are currently on a journey to eliminate single-use plastic from their product packages. 

Lactose Free Milk - Clover approached Plastic Pollution Coalition earlier this year with questions about reducing their single-use plastic packaging. Clover Sonoma has taken  meaningful steps to reduce their plastic footprint by removing the plastic caps from their lactose-free milk line.

Numi Organic Tea

Numi Organic Tea makes a wide range of teas that are USDA Organic and Fair Trade Certified, plastic-free, and absolutely delicious. Their commitment to the planet, global communities, and their consumers means you can feel great about giving the gift of Numi to the tea lovers in your life. 

Khala & Company

Khala & Company is a Colorado-based company that makes vegan and beeswax wraps for food on the go. They are also a Green America certified business and a member of 1% for the Planet.

Beeswax Wraps - Khala & Company beeswax wraps are a great way to store and carry food without resorting to polluting plastic cling wrap. In addition to eliminating the need for single-use plastic wrap, you can feel great about using Khala Cloths because their beeswax is sourced from sustainable, bee-friendly apiaries in their local Colorado area! 

Abeego

Abeego picks up where the peel leaves off. Their beeswax food wraps protect and breathe like nature’s peel and preserve food for longer than you’d think.

Beeswax Wrap - Abeego offers plastic-free wraps in a variety of sizes, so they are any eco-minded foodies who need to keep lunches or leftovers fresh without resorting to single-use plastic.

Stasher 

Stasher offers a range of reusable silicone bags that are better for you and better for the planet than single-use plastic baggies. Stasher is also a member of 1% for the Planet, which means that they donate 1% of their sales to environmental non-profits. 

Lovers of the Sea

Lovers of the Sea is an eco-friendly lifestyle brand that offers a range of products for people who love and care for the sea. 

Reusable Organic Cotton Shopping Bag - These 100% GOTS certified organic cotton net shopping bags are durable, reusable, washable, natural, and eco-friendly. They are sturdy enough to carry a watermelon yet light enough to conveniently bring to the grocery store. 

Do you have someone on your shopping list who is all about making their home and garden beautiful, comfortable, and sustainable? Well, we’ve got some great gifts for them!

Honey Bee Candles

Honey Bee Candles make beautiful handmade candles out of sustainable, ethically sourced natural beeswax. They are naturally colored with the pollen the bees leave behind and they give off a subtle honey aroma when burned. All of their products and packaging are completely plastic-free, zero-waste, biodegradable, and palm-oil free. 

Miyabi

Miyabi is a plastic-free solution for better tasting tap water. They use a sustainable material (bamboo) and never activate with chemicals, so you can toss it in your compost when you’re done.

Berkey Water Filters

Berkey Water Filters are elegant countertop water purifiers that remove over 200 unsafe contaminants from water. Say goodbye to single-use plastic water bottles with one of Berkey’s toxic chemical-free, all natural water filters. 

Kempii

Kempii is a company that adheres to the principles of REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE, ROT. The name comes from Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys Kempii), the rarest species of sea turtle and one of the thousands of ocean species threatened by plastic pollution. Their hope is to inspire people to create a better future for Lepidochelys Kempii and other wildlife. 

Compost Pail Caddy  -  Designed to look great on your kitchen counter, this compost caddy stores food scraps before you add them to your compost collection bin or your own composter. 

Wooden Paper Potting Set - This paper potter set allows garden lovers to make limitless supply of compostable pots for seeds, seedlings, and young plants, simply by using old newspaper. Say goodbye to plastic starter pots that take up valuable garden space and end up polluting the planet. With this wooden pot maker you’ll never need to buy seedling pots again!