Christmas is that time of year where we just want to give to our loved ones, as well as those in need. Giving gifts makes us feel warm, fuzzy, and just human really. Of course, to give a gift means a product must be manufactured and likely shipped from a country far away. Not to mention the disposable wrapping paper, and all the decorations that go along with it. Does this mean we must stop giving for Christmas? Absolutely not, but we can choose more eco-friendly Christmas gifts to give our loved ones over this holiday season. Not only that, giving eco-friendly Christmas gifts can help to introduce your loved ones to a more sustainable lifestyle. Here are my top 12 picks for eco-friendly Christmas gifts in 2021.
Eco-friendly Christmas Donations
1. Sponsor a farm animal in need
Giving donations to farm animal shelters or sponsoring a farm animal in need is such a great Christmas gift. Most of us have an incredible love for animals, and to feel like we have helped them in some way is an incredible feeling. Not only do these types of donations provide food and shelter for farm animals in need, but you also reduce your carbon footprint and all the waste that goes along with tangible gifts. Farm Sanctuary has a wonderful way to give the gift of donations to your loved ones. For just 35$ you can sponsor a farm animal in need. You get a beautiful certificate and a photo of the animals you are helping. Check out my previous post on how to help your local farm sanctuary for more donation options
2. Plant Trees for Social Good
What better way to make your holiday an eco-friendly Christmas than to give the gift of trees! I don’t literally mean packaging up trees as gifts, but giving a donation to organizations that will plant trees on your behalf or on behalf of your loved ones. Christmas involves taking much from the environment, including living trees that will soon be discarded when Christmas is over. What better time than now to replenish what we’ve taken this holiday season, and give the gift of hope for our future world. If you haven’t already heard of One Tree Planted, now is the time to learn more. For only one dollar you can give the gift of a single tree. Your gift will be used to reforest areas that have been affected by natural disasters or to preserve the biodiversity in affected environments. For other organizations that also plant trees, check out my post on Canadian Carbon offsets in 2021
3. Sponsor a child in Need
We must also think about our fellow humans this Christmas season. It is estimated that there are 811 million people starving globally, even though there is more than enough food to feed every person on earth. Yet the majority of our food is rather used for feed in animal agriculture, resulting in a final product that is really only available for those that can afford it. So this Christmas, give the gift of food, health, shelter, and opportunity to those that need it. World Vision is a reputable Christian-based organization that will use your donations to help fight human hunger and malnutrition.
Sustainable Christmas Treats
4. Eco-friendly Wine
A nice bottle of wine can be a great Christmas present to your wine connoisseur friends or family members. But, there are a lot of emissions involved in the winemaking process, not to mention the bottling and shipping process. Not only that, many wines used animal-based fining agents. So why not introduce your family to eco-friendly wine this Christmas? Here are some really great BC wineries making sustainable wines.
- Burrowing Owl Winery- 2019 Pinot Noir – This wine will be an incredible accompaniment to your festive flavours, spices, and aromas.
- Tantalus Winery- 2018 Blanc de Blancs – Nothing brings in the holiday season like a bottle of sparkling wine, and this is sure to be a crowd pleaser!
- Tinhorn Creek- 2019 Sauvignon Blanc – This varietal is my favourite go-to wine for any occasion really, but particularly for the holidays it goes very well with many styles of cheeses ( vegan of-course!).
5. Plant-based artisanal cheeses
Pairing that incredible bottle of sustainable wine with plant-based artisanal cheese is a perfect gift. My absolute favourite vegan cheese is Blue Heron Cheese. They have an incredible assortment of cheeses with different textures and flavours, that pair incredibly with wine. My favourite this year is their Mostarda Cheddar and The Shore. Mostarda cheddar has this tangy sharp bite, with bursts of grapefruit flavours. This cheese will go very well with a nice cool-climate Sauvignon Blanc with earthy grassy and grapefruit aromas. The shore is similar in texture and is reminiscent of cheddar to me. It has flavours of citrusy pink peppercorns, with a little spice. This wine will go great with a nice peppery syrah. Be sure to check out my post on vegan cheese and wine pairing, or use this calculator to help you pick which wines will go with your favourite vegan cheese!
6. Ethical vegan chocolate
I suppose chocolate in essence is vegan, although over time animal dairy products have entered the mix. Not only that, chocolate bean farming has its own hefty carbon footprint. Chocolate is a very popular Christmas gift for kids and adults alike, so why not give the gift of sustainable and vegan chocolate! Purdy’s has recently added a new product to their brand, vegan milk and dark chocolate. This vegan style is made with rice milk rather than cow’s milk, and sustainable cocoa to appeal to more ethical and eco-friendly consumers. Likewise, another brand that is a great alternative to conventional chocolates is No Whey. They have everything from truffles, peppermints, cookies…you name it!
7. Environmentally friendly coffee
It is always nice to get a bag of artisanal coffee for the coffee connoisseurs in the family. But just like chocolate, coffee bean farming takes a toll on the planet. I really like introducing coffee-lovers to sustainable and ethical coffee for Christmas time. Not only is this kind of coffee incredible, it tells a great story and introduces the concept of eco-friendly living and the importance of knowing where your food comes from. There are some really great shade-grown coffee brands out there, but one of my favourites that is easily accessible is Frog Friendly Coffee. Not only is it sustainably grown, but it is certified organic and also lower in acidity for those that have sensitive stomachs.
8. Plant-based food gift basket
Another favourite gift I like to give to the family is a plant-based food gift basket. I often find that most people are not willing to take the risk and buy plant-based food in the event they don’t like it. What better way to introduce your family to plant-based living than by giving them a gift basket full of all your favourite vegan items! Here are some of my favourite plant-based foods that are a great addition to a Christmas gift basket.
- Blue Heron Cheese
- Earths Own Oat Nog
- The Very Good Butcher Charcuterie Box
- Miyokos Cultured Vegan Butter
- Homemade vegan chrismas cookies
Eco-friendly Christmas gifts for him and her
9. Online newspaper/magazine subscription’s
For those that may love to read the Sunday paper, why not give the gift of an online newspaper subscription? Your loved ones won’t have to wait to get the paper delivered, and fewer emissions will be spent in delivering that paper to your door. Likewise, cutting down paper waste is incredibly important. For those within Vancouver, there are quite a few options for an online newspaper subscription. The Vancouver Sun is available online, as well as The Province.
10. Refill shop gift card
Even though most of us are doing our best at buying products that are more sustainable and ethical, we can’t always get away from plastic waste. Most perishable food products come wrapped in single-use plastic that can’t be recycled easily. I have found that refill shops help to fill those wasteful gaps in my eco-friendly journey. I can bring my old glass jars, wine bottles, really any reuseable container and buy anything from dish soap to shampoo, and many food items without the packaging waste. One refill shop that is absolutely incredible is The Soap Dispensary and Kitchen Staples refill store. I highly suggest checking it out and getting your loved ones a gift certificate for the holidays.
11. Plant-based leather handbags and wallets
For the ladies of the household, handbags are always a nice and popular personal gift that will be sure to please. Of course, giving the gift of animal leather brings with it environmental pollution, animal suffering, among other problems. There are some amazing new brands out on the market that are making handbags from cork! That’s right, your know the cork you use to plug your wine bottle? Well, there are now handbags made from that same cork, and they are incredible. Cork by Design is making everything from mini backpacks, to purses and wallets. But not only does this brand make items for ladies, but there are also wallets and bags for men too! I personally recommend the cork wallet, it is durable, beautiful, stylish, and have received many compliments on it. If you are interested in plant-based products like these, check out how some other brands like Mylo-Unleather are making plant-based leather from mushrooms.
12. The gift of plants
Last up and certainly not least, is to give the gift of plants. For beginner gardeners, you might want to give them a gardening book, with tips and instructions on growing their own food. Likewise, the gift of wild and heritage seeds is a great gift for those who like to grow organic and non-GMO plants. But, you can also give the gift of houseplants. In fact, this research study found that having indoor plants reduced physiological and psychological stress in research participants. With most of us working from home, this is a great must-have!
Make Your Christmas Eco-friendly and Sustainable
Christmas time is a great way to show your family and friends how much you care. But, it is also a time to be grateful, and that means to give back to the world and the environment. This involves making donations to animal sanctuaries or sponsoring a child in need. You can also help to give by spreading awareness this season. This entails giving eco-friendly Christmas gifts to introduce your family and friends to more environmentally friendly products. Try out one of my 12 eco-friendly Christmas gifts this holiday season, you will certainly bring the best story to the party!
Check out more sustainable lifestyle posts
Brittany Goldhawke
Brittany Goldhawke has a B.Sc. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of British Columbia. She worked in research with yeast for over 5 years, for environmental, food, and beverage purposes. Brittany also has extensive experience in winemaking and has a WSET level 3 certification in Wine. Brittany likes to write about microbes and their benefits to the environment, sustainable living, and of course eco-friendly wine and food products.