Are you on the final Polar Express train this year for getting Christmas gifts? Keep reading for a last-minute eco-friendly gift list that can easily be checked off at your local store!
Growing up, my mom and sister always had their Christmas gifts purchased and wrapped long before Christmas Day. My dad and I, on the other hand, had a traditional Father-Daughter date on Christmas Eve for present shopping. While my planning skills have gotten slightly better in recent years, I’m here for those of you who need some quick shopping ideas. Welcome to my 2020 last-minute eco-friendly gift guide!
I know that not everyone has access to local zero waste stores. In addition, small businesses often have more limited holiday hours and shipping windows get really tight for online options. Therefore, this gift guide contains sustainable present ideas that are easily purchased from chain stores. While I always prefer supporting small businesses, sometimes we just have to do the best we can.
So, buckle up, jump in your sleigh (or hail-damaged, old Honda) and get to the store. It’s time for some last-minute eco-friendly gift shopping!
Edible Gift Ideas
These are perfect gift ideas for the friend or family member who doesn’t really need a gift but would appreciate it all the same. Especially in 2020, where it’s not as easy to spend time with those you love, gifts are a way to be thoughtful. My first idea does take some baking skill, but I firmly believe that anyone can bake as long as you can read a recipe!
Sweet-Stuffed Stasher Bags
Ah, my good old friend, the Stasher Bag. Not only are Stasher Bags amazing for keeping food fresh, they also can be a fun spontaneous Christmas gift. They come in all sizes and colors too. May I suggest a green or red color for some Christmas spirit! While Stasher Bags can be purchased online directly from the company, they are also available at many chain stores like Walmart & Target.
And when you’re at your local Target, don’t forget to stock up on baking supplies too. You’re going to need them. Take a little time to bake a few old family Christmas cookie recipes or maybe find some new recipe ideas. Once the cookies cool (and you’ve sampled a few), start packing those Stasher Bags with cookies! Feeling extra festive? Finish the sweet Stasher snacks by tying a bow around the bag. Twine and a sprig of pine makes for a beautiful decoration idea too!
Christmas Coffee
We all have a coffee fanatic or two in our life and they will never say “no” to more coffee. While you could pick up a fun bag of coffee beans from a chain grocery store, there are also many local coffee shops that will have fresh beans for sale. It’s also not unusual to find local coffee at a chain store, although the beans might be a bit less fresh. Extra points if you at least know what kind of roast your gift recipient prefers! A chain store can work in a pinch if your local small coffee shop is closed.
Looking for a few coffee themed gifts to pair together? You could pair the bag of coffee beans or grounds with a fun new mug and a reusable coffee filter or reusable k-cup (if it’s for a Keurig user). If you’re a Twin Cities local, I am a big fan of Dogwood Coffee and would highly recommend their coffee beans!
Clean Green Gifts
Sometimes clean is used as a synonym for natural or organic. In this case, I really mean “clean,” as in gifts that will help keep both you and your house clean. This is one of the easiest last-minute eco-friendly gift ideas (no baking required!).
Potato Peel Pick-Up
Much of the holiday season seems to be spent in the kitchen. Whether it’s cooking, snacking, or playing some games around the kitchen table with a Christmas cookie in hand. It certainly feels like our kitchen is never clean these days, but sometimes the clean-up is as simple as scooping some potato peels into the garbage. Or wait, not the garbage, but the compost bin! I love talking about composting and the importance of not allowing organic waste to make it to the landfill.
It’s super easy to find little counter compost bins at a chain store, so this could make a great eleventh hour gift. I know that our local Target and Walmart both carry counter compost bins and compostable bags. If you’re looking to make your gift even more fun, you could include a little basket of your friend or family member’s favorite fruit! This could be a pear-fect gift that is both useful and environmentally impactful!
Freshen Up
Though Grandma might not be coming over this year, it’s still important to get out of those sweatpants and freshen up every once in a while! The gift of new personal care items is always a hit, and it’s important to remind those we love to value self-care. This is especially true for personality types that tend to give to the point of burnout! The fun thing about toiletries is that they are often little, and I enjoy the idea of putting a little basket of Christmas love together for a gift.
Time to hit up the personal care aisle in the store to fill your cart with some sustainable toiletries. Here are some of my favorites that can easily be found at most stores:
- Davids Toothpaste (Toothpaste in a recyclable metal tube!)
- A bamboo toothbrush
- Reusable cotton rounds for makeup removal
- Native Deodorant (Choose the plastic-free model!)
- Burt’s Bees Chapstick (They have a partnership with Terracycle Recycling)
- Cocokind Products
- A natural bar soap
Place all the items neatly into a metal basket and add a ribbon (or whatever you have on hand) to spruce up the look of the basket. This last-minute eco-friendly gift is sure to bring some much-needed pampering into your loved one’s life.
Beautiful & Earth-Friendly
On a similar note, beauty products also make fantastic gifts. Now, make sure you know your relationship with the gift recipient, so they don’t think you are making a point about their under-eye circles! Makeup is expensive, so it’s fun to receive something new to try without having to pay for it. Many chain beauty stores like Sephora and Ulta (as well as places like Target and Walmart) carry eco-friendly and natural beauty products alongside their more familiar brands.
Some of my personal favorites include Ilia Beauty, rms beauty, W3LL People, and Glow Recipe. These companies represent both makeup and skincare options and have been recognized for their work in sustainability and natural beauty. Now, they are not perfect in terms of sustainable packaging, but I appreciate when companies are transparent about their efforts.
Creative Last Minute Eco-Friendly Gifts
If none of these items are quite hitting the mark, maybe it’s time to think outside the gift box a little bit. There are other last minute eco-friendly gift options that might not be as obvious.
Give the Gift of Green
I have about thirteen plants in my less than eight hundred square feet of apartment space. So, you could say that I’m a plant lover. There are so many incredible benefits to having plants in your home, including mood boosting and possible air purification. With all the snow and gloominess of Minnesota winters, I do enjoy having as much green as possible inside. Houseplants can be found at virtually any store, whether it’s a local plant nursery, greenhouse, or a Home Depot.
This is a gift that keeps giving in my opinion. While I appreciate a bouquet of flowers, the longevity of a living plant is more meaningful. In addition, nice or larger houseplants can be quite expensive. Since I don’t always want to spend that kind of money on myself, it’s a gift that I appreciate receiving. If you have some green thumbs in your life, they are sure to enjoy a new plant in their home. Mother Earth Gardens store in Northeast Minneapolis is a favorite of mine!
Connecting with Local Artists
If you are really down to the wire with your shopping, this might be a section to read for next year, but I do want to give it a mention. Connecting with local artisans can be a creative and surprisingly easy way to find Christmas gifts, even if you’re down to the wire. Our church does a Winter Market every year that supports local artisans in our community, and I also follow other Twin Cities artists on social media platforms. If you have these kinds of connections, it might be worth reaching out to see if these artists have any wares left.
If it’s a local artisan, you might be shocked at how easy a pick-up can be. From jewelry, to hand thrown pottery, or a paid-for photography session for your family, your last minute gift might be a big hit! It’s often the creative gifts that are the most meaningful. And why not support your local community while you’re at it!
Wishing You a Merry Christmas
Gift giving is a beautiful tradition, and even a last minute gift can be meaningful. I hope that these ideas ease the burden of any rushed shopping and provide you with some sustainable present ideas. But always, presence over presents. This year, the best gift may simply be the gift of time. I know I plan to spend time talking to my family and friends on the phone or over a video call. Connection matters.
“Good tidings to you wherever you are.” And truly, wherever you are this Christmas season and no matter if you are alone or with family, I wish you a safe and joy-filled holiday. Merry Christmas!
Be Well. With Love.
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