It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.
From The Grinch Who Stole Christmas! By Dr. Seuss
No need to puzzle until your puzzler is sore - Foresight has suggestions for environmentally friendly holiday gifts. It’s never been more important to use our purchasing power to create change. Support local businesses and buy green this year!
Healthy home
Laundry detergent and home cleaners are usually not recommended as a gift, but what if they’re earth friendly? Tru Earth eco-strips make laundry healthier, more economical and friendlier to the planet. Nellie’s Clean makes biodegradable cleaning products with less packaging. BinBreeze’s powder takes the stink out of your compost. If you want to go big, check out the Drumi non-electric washing machine.
Know an artist that needs a gift? Beam Paints produces high quality pigments based on sustainable, traditional Indigenous practices. The focus on high quality pigment production yields fine paints and artists materials, all wrapped up in plastic-free packaging. Give the gift of colour this holiday season.
Pela Case is a unique way to protect your smartphone with a bioplastic case. With cases designed for most Apple, Samsung, and Google phones, you’ll find the right fit at Pela Case. And the best part? They’re compostable!
Green beauty
Famous for their Sweetgrass Lipgloss, Cheekbone Beauty has a full line of sustainable beauty products and 2% of sales are donated to organizations supporting Indigenous youth. Or how about carbon capture soap? That’s right, CleanO2 soap is made with carbon that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere.
Need somewhere to put that soap? How about a soap dish made from entirely recycled plastic from Flipside Plastics. These handcrafted pieces are made from coffee cup lids and come in lots of unique patterns.
Healthy food choices
Perfect for gift giving or entertaining, Save Da Sea makes plant-based seafood. If you like to support local restaurants by ordering takeout, look for establishments that use reusable packaging. Become a member with Reusables or Suppli, and pair it with a gift certificate for a special night out in the new year.
Clothing with a conscience
Clothing is a gift that everyone loves getting. Why not give something that the earth will love too? Ecologyst makes comfortable, stylish clothing made from sustainable, natural materials. Love trees? So does Tentree. So much so that they plant 10 trees for every purchase of their sustainable, ethically sourced clothing. Through their tree-planting partners Tentree has planted more than 67 million trees.
Embrace the reduce, reuse, recycle mantra this holiday season - especially the reuse bit! A gift bundle from Tradle allows you to gift baby clothes without the textile waste. Their subscription service provides parents with gently used baby clothes bundles from premium Canadian brands. When the kids outgrow them, parents send them back to Tradle to be used all over again.
Shopping for the outdoor adventurer on your list? Arc’teryx gear is built to last, not to end up in the landfill. Arc’teryx Used Gear buys unwanted gear back from their customers, and re-sells it for a heavy discount, so you can get high performance gear without the textile waste or the larger price tag.
Still need ideas?
Net Zero is on a mission to reduce the use of single use home care items with their line of sleek, reusable everyday essentials. Check out their collection of products, from eco-friendly soaps and detergents to silicone containers and beeswax food wraps.
And lastly, Expedition Air has a little something for everyone. With a wide variety of eco-friendly products made from captured carbon, you’re sure to find something for the environmentally conscious people on your holiday list.
We hope we’ve made it that much easier for you to shop locally and sustainably this holiday season. And if you end up buying something on this list, tell us! Tag us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. We’d love to see how you gifted green this year.