Striving for a Zero Waste holiday season means thinking carefully about what we give and receive, along with choosing purchases that are useful, long lasting, and compostable or recyclable. It may seem counter-intuitive to gift someone interested in living a zero waste lifestyle more products, but reusable essentials are always worth the investment.
From reusable water bottles, to cloth bags, and jars there are loads of items you can give someone hoping to limit their waste production. We focused on essentials for the home that are plastic-free, eco-friendly and artisan-made.
Here are 15 sustainable products, for the perfect zero waste holiday:
1. Glass jars
Jars are essential for storing just about everything: rice, flour, left overs. And they also double perfectly as cups. The Le Parfait jars come highly recommended for all of your food storage needs.
Price: $19.40 on Amazon
2. Reusable water bottle
Reusable water bottles are a must for anyone looking to cut back on their waste production. And why not trade your water bottle habit for the insulated Coldest Water bottle? It promises to keep your water at a deliciously icy temperature for up to 36 hours.
Price: $26.96 on Amazon
3. Baggu tote bag
Baggu’s signature shopping bag folds up into a flat five by five inch pouch, can hold two to three grocery bags worth of products, and comes in a number of fun designs.
Price: $34 on Baggu
4. Earthwise Reusable Mesh Produce Bags
These bags arent just for fruits and veggies, you can use them as toy storage bags, snack bags, small item laundry bags and much more!
Price: $11.99 on Amazon
5. A set of stainless steel drinking straws
Ditch plastic straws, and invest in metal straws (complete with a scrub brush) to make sure you never have to compromise your love of iced coffee with your love of Mother Gaia!
Price: $3.99 on Amazon
6. Insulated grocery bag
Insulated bags are perfect for transporting perishable items, packing a picnic, and a million other things. Not to mention, having an insulated bag can reduce the risk of any of your food spoiling, meaning you create even less waste.
Price: $17.99 on Amazon
7. Handkerchief
Eco Hanky’s cotton handkerchiefs are super absorbent, hypo-allergenic, and made out of a moisture-wicking material.
Price: $8.99 on Amazon
8. Bamboo travel utensils
100% Organic All Natural Healthy Bamboo Utensils. No Plastic. No Petrochemicals. No Varnishes. Just Pure Raw Organic Bamboo Cooking Utensils.
Price: $7.99 on Amazon
9. Bee’s Wrap
A far better alternative to plastic wrap, this beeswax wrap can be reused over and over again. Made out of cotton, beeswax, tree resin, and organic jojoba oil, Bee’s Wrap is eco-friendly, as well as biodegradable. Each pack comes with a small, medium, and large wrap to best suit all of your food wrapping needs.
Price: $18 on Amazon
10. Bamboo makeup remover pads
Instead of using cotton pads to remove your makeup or apply toner, use these reusable bamboo pads, that promise to do more heavy lifting than your typical cotton pad.
Price: $12.99 on Amazon
11. Cloth napkins
By using cloth napkins you actively cut down on your paper towel usage, not to mention they’ll give your home a chic update. CB2 makes gorgeous, simply designed napkins for a reasonable price, sure to impress all of your house guests.
Price: $14.99 on Amazon
12. Indoor Food Recycler and Kitchen Compost Container
A big part of going zero waste is composting, but if you don’t live in a house or have a backyard, that can prove difficult. This one is all in one food composter makes composting kitchen waste a snap. Reduces kitchen waste up to 90% of it’s original volume. Kitchen Compost Shredder Composts to a viable soil amendment in less than 3 hours. Odorless and environmentally conscious kitchen compost container
Price: $595 on Amazon
13. A gallon jug of their favorite soap
MADE WITH ORGANIC OILS and CERTIFIED FAIR TRADE INGREDIENTS: Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Liquid Soaps are made with over 90% organic ingredients. Over 70% of ingredients are certified fair trade, meaning ethical working conditions and fair prices
GOOD FOR YOUR BODY and THE PLANET: Dr. Bronner’s liquid soaps are fully biodegradable and use all-natural, vegan ingredients that pose no threat to the environment. Our products and ingredients are never tested on animals and are cruelty-free.
Price: $57.59 on Amazon
14. Wool dryer balls
An organic alternative to disposable dryer sheets, wool dryer balls help soften your clothes without creating waste.
All you need to do is throw them into the dryer with all your wet clothes and you’ll be surprised by their effect every time you use them.
Price: $14.99 on Amazon
15. Pressure cooker
Pressure cookers are invaluable when going zero waste as they reduce most cook times — meaning, you’ll use less energy than you normally would preparing a meal.
Presto makes a super affordable pressure cooker that has an easy to use cover lock, and comes with a 64-page book of recipes, perfect to help you get started!
