Eco-Friendly Gifts

Eco Friendly GiftsWith an increasing awareness falling on how we can do a better job taking care of the environment, more and more people are trying to make smarter purchases. Making better choices, however, can sometimes be very difficult if you don’t know where to look for the right kind of gift. This is especially difficult if you’re buying for a child or for someone you don’t know very well. Below are some helpful suggestions for what to look out for when buying great gifts that are sure to please, but still keep an eye out on the environment.


If you’re looking to bring food to someone as a gift, either as part of a party offering, or because they need a little pick-me-up, the main thing to look for is whether or not it’s local and whether or not it’s organic. Organic foods contain less pesticides and are grown naturally, meaning they are less harmful to the land in which they are grown. Local foods cost less to transport to you, making them a much better choice in terms of keeping the environment safe. Plus, they usually taste better, since they don’t have to be picked so early! If you have any questions about the nature of a food you’d like to buy, never hesitate to ask someone at the store. They should know where the food comes from and how it’s grown. Keep in mind that the fresher the ingredients, the more you have to be careful about how you store the food. When in doubt, refridgerate!


Here’s a hard one. You’ll want to look for toys that are packaged in either only biodegradable material, or has minimal packaging. Whatever the toy is packaged in is just going to get thrown away, so it’s best to make sure that this is at least something good for the environment, or that you buy the least damaging product. It’s also a really good idea to try to buy toys that are also made out of material that can be recycled or will break down over time. Plastics pose the biggest problem, since they usually can do neither.

Soaps, perfumes, and lotions (oh my)

Some people have very sensitive skin, so you’ll be doing them a favor by buying something environmentally friendly. Most products made in a way that is good for the earth are also often good for the skin, and will be the best option for people who can’t use most products due to sensitivity. This is because these products have less toxins, less harsh chemicals, and are often based in plant matter. Aim for the safe stuff by making sure the base ingredients in all these products are both natural, as well as safe to use on skin. This is especially true of lotions and soaps, since the chances of them getting absorbed into the skin are very high. When it comes to taking care of the earth, also make sure to take some time to take care of yourself as well. Two birds, one stone!