25+ Sustainable Stocking Stuffers To Give This Holiday Season

It’s not always possible to buy that new greenhouse or build a rain garden as a holiday gift. At Insteading, we understand that garden gifts can easily run on the large and expensive side.

We wouldn’t want to substitute our love of natural and sustainable products for a plastic and battery-operated gadget, though, so we’ve compiled a list of less spendy items.

Our sustainable stocking stuffers are pulled from some of our favorite websites and feature smaller items, all under $50. Check out our top 25 favorites for some eco-friendly fun.

• Gifts to Eat & Drink
• Gifts for Kitchens & Homes
• Gifts for Gardens & Outdoors
• Gifts to Wear
• Gift for Children & Babies
• Gifts for Bath & Body

Gifts to Eat & Drink

I just love gifts I can eat and drink. I have a weakness for cheese, chocolates, and coffee. Also wine. As a former restaurant worker, I’m a bit of the foodie and am always on the lookout for new ethically sourced goodies or artisan eats for a holiday treat. Here are some yummy sustainable stocking stuffers for the foodies in your life

Organic Flowering Tea Set

Enough for 18 pots, this flowering tea set also comes in a pretty bamboo case. Brew a cup and enjoy some beautiful blooms in the coming winter months.

Ethical Bean Coffee

This medium/dark blend boasts flavors of wood and smoke. The beans are fair-trade certified, and you can request carbon-free ground shipping.

Barnana Snacks

Barnana snacks are both tasty and sustainable! Made of bananas that weren’t pretty enough to be sold in grocery stores, these are both gluten-free and a good source of energy!

Habanero Hot Sauce Set

Spice up your holidays with this handmade habanero hot sauce from Colorado. Flavors in this sample pack include Broja (tomato-carrot), Purple Blaze (blueberry-infused), Habacado (avocado), Strawbanero (strawberry) for a unique and fruity twist.

Tea Drops

Available in a pack of 8, these cute little tea drops can be added to a cup of hot water and dissolve completely. The perfect pick for the tea drinker on the go.

Equal Exchange Chocolate Set

Sourced from small farmer organizations, these USDA certified organic chocolate bars are made with the purest ingredients available. The six flavors include Panama dark chocolate, mint dark chocolate, orange dark chocolate, very dark chocolate, lemon ginger dark chocolate, and caramel milk chocolate.

Gifts for Kitchens & Homes

As someone who loves to cook, I constantly see kitchen gadgets that I’d like. I also have a hard time justifying the expense of these terrific gadgets, so I’m thrilled when someone sends me one as a gift. Here’s some sustainable stocking stuffers that are perfect for new home owners, at-home chefs, and more.

Vacuum Insulated Steel Water Bottle

These leak-free bottles are super tough. Save yourself from disposable plastic and BPAs with this hot or cold insulated drink container.

Foodie Dice

Do you have a foodie in your life? Check out these dice! Roll the dice to choose your ingredients and you’ll be making a one of a kind dish in the kitchen.

Chardonnay Bottle Tumblers

Wine bottles have a proven track record in storing wine, so why not use them for drinking too? I recommend these upcycled tumblers for a nice white.

80-Hour Vertical Beeswax Candle

Candles make for wonderful stocking stuffers. And given that this candle is made up of beeswax, it’s the perfect option for our sustainable stocking stuffers list! This eco-friendly candle burns for 80 hours and has an elegant design that’s perfect for the dinner table.

Himalayan Salt Shot Glasses

The makers say these shot glasses will add a touch of salt to every shot and recommend you use them for a nice tequila or mezcal. As an added benefit, these glasses are Kosher, gluten-free, non-GMO, AND biodegradable.

Bamboo Cutting Board

Fast-growing and organic bamboo also helps prevent bacteria growth by repelling water absorption in your kitchen.

Reusable Snack Bags

Because using plastic snack bags is so last year.

Stainless Steel Collapsible Telescoping Straw Set

Whether you’re taking them on the go or using them at home, collapsible straws are super convenient and easy to store away in a purse or kitchen drawer. This set comes with 2 straws, a pipe cleaner, and a storage bag. These sustainable stocking stuffers are perfect for the whole family.

Bamboo Tea Tumbler

Skip the disposable cup next time you get your tea to go with this beautiful bamboo tea tumbler. It includes a BPA-free reusable infuser and is insulated to keep your drink hot for up to 12 hours.

Gifts for Gardens & Outdoors

No Insteading list would be complete without at least a few garden gifts. Here are some of our smaller items. For a more extensive gardeners’ gift guide, check out our Garden Gift Guide.

Garden Dibber

What is a dibber exactly? Only the garden tool you never knew you needed. I was unable to find info on sustainable manufacturing, but this quality tool can be reused from season to season to cut your planting time in half, thanks to a comfy handle and point for hole-making.

Eco-friendly Fire Starters

Keep harsh chemicals away from your s’mores — give your outdoors, fire-loving friends these eco-friendly fire starters. Sold in sets of twelve, these tiny muffin cups are made from macadamia nut shells and soy wax.

Hori Hori Gardening Knife

Whether your loved one is a new or experienced gardener, they will appreciate this stocking stuffer. Hori Hori knives are one of our favorite gardening tools, and they will quickly become theirs, too!

101 Organic Gardening Hacks Book

We all know that the holiday season tends to all be the gardening off-season. So rather than wallow in the fact that you have to wait till the spring to get back outside, why not read up on some ways to make your spring garden the best it can be?!

Gardener’s Gold Soap

Handcrafted in Seattle, this gardener’s gold soap is made out of coconut oil, carrot, rosemary, lavender, and grapefruit. This artisan soap is packaged in a recycled, reusable tin and is free of any chemicals or preservatives.

Brass Herb Plant Markers

Sure, you could DIY some plant markers for your garden. But if you want to give plant markers as sustainable stocking stuffers, consider these handmade, elegant brass plant markers! Pair these lavender, oregano, thyme, and sage plant markers with their respective seeds and you’ve got the perfect gift for a gardener that’s dreaming of Spring!

Gifts to Wear

Whether it’s an apron, some jewelry, or a seasonally-appropriate scarf or beanie, some of the best sustainable stocking stuffers are those that can be worn long after the holidays are over. And those gifts are even better when they’re sustainably sourced or support a good cause.

Alaffia Market Basket

Okay, technically you carry a bag, but how useful are these fair trade baskets from Alaffia? Not only are they functional and made sustainably, but Alaffia is a local Washington state brand based in Olympia, WA.

Darn Tough Hiking Socks

Made in the USA and designed for all-weather use, these wool socks from Darn Tough are available in a variety of colors and sizes. They’re also guaranteed for life, and Darn Tough will replace them at any time, no questions asked. These are perfect for the adventurer in your life.

Epimonia Embracelet

If you’re looking for a gift with a story, consider this bracelet from Epimonia. Available in orange, blue, red, and black, these bracelets are made out of recycled life vests that were once worn by refugees and collected on the island Lesbos in Greece.

Made by refugees in Minneapolis, MN, each color bracelet reflects a different program and nonprofit partner that Epimonia donates 50% of the profits to. The orange bracelet above helps refugees find employment opportunities. And these aren’t just a gift with a purpose — they’re quite elegant and look good with stacked beaded bracelets, too!

Recycled Patchwork Scarf

Crafted out of recycled polyester, acyrlic, and cotton, this patchwork style scarf is stylish and warm and cozy, too. Some of the material in this scarf is sourced from recycled plastic bottles, making it a sustainable gift to give this holiday season.

Egg Collecting Apron

Now, not everyone in your life might wear an egg-collecting apron or are even familiar with what it is, but the chicken keeper in your life with love this functional gift! This apron holds up to 12 large eggs and features an adorable chicken print.

Reclaimed Guitar String Earrings

Ever wonder what happens to those guitar strings after they snap ubruptly? Usually, they’d end up in the trash, but here, they’re transformed into perfectly elegant earrings. These are a great gift for the music lover or earring collector in your life. And they’re sustainable, too!

Gift for Children & Babies

Kids help us enjoy the holidays, but it’s easy to fall into a plastic and battery-operated trap with their toys. Try some of these sustainable creations for a child and planet-friendly alternative.

Recycled Bear Crayons

Ever wonder what happens to the little end bits of crayons? Well, some of them turn into these cute teddy bear crayons!

Organic Wooden Teether

This tiny teether is made from hand-carved beechwood and organic linseed oil, safe for even the smallest tot.

Natural Inspirations Coloring Book

Combine coloring with conservation, thanks to this animal-themed coloring book from the World Wildlife Fund. The gift comes as a thank you for any $25 donation. Proceeds go to help their conservation efforts across more than 100 countries.

Natural Wooden Stacking Toy

Just about everyone will recognize this time-honored children’s toy. Rather than being made out of plastic, however, this stacking toy is handcrafted out of oak and maple. This is the type of toy that your kids will want to pass on to their kids.

Crocheted Fruits For Baby Gym Mobile

Teach your kids to eat their fruits by playing with them first! These adorable crocheted veggies are the perfect addition to a homemade baby gym mobile.

Gifts for Bath & Body

Handmade or eco-friendly bath and body gifts make great sustainable stocking stuffers. Pamper your favorite friend with some eco-friendly grooming solutions.

Cocktail-Inspired Handmade Soap

With so many natural soap options available online, it can be difficult to pick just one to give as a gift. Try a whole bunch of different soap samples with this cocktail-inspired soap set. Separate the set out for sustainable stocking stuffers for the whole family, or keep them as a set for that one person who loves all things bath and body.

Natural Sea Sponge

This sponge is biodegradable and naturally sourced. Perfect for toddlers, babies, and adults with sensitive skin.

Calming Lavender & Goat’s Milk Bath Soaks

Who doesn’t need a little soak after a long day of work? These calming lavender bath soaks are both relaxing and detoxifying, and the apothecary jar is beautiful too.

Sandalwood Comb

Described by the seller as eco-friendly, this sandalwood comb is said to promote silky hair.

Bamboo Toothbrush

Have you ever considered how much waste is produced by switching toothbrushes every 6 months? These bamboo brushes offer a biodegradable alternative made from highly renewable bamboo. It’s like your giving a gift of sustainability and good oral hygiene all in one. This might be the most useful item on this list of sustainable stocking stuffers!

So, what will you gift your family this holiday season? No matter what you go with, you can rest assured that whatever pick for this list of sustainable stocking stuffers is something that’s good for the environment and the people you love!