I asked my friends at Sustainable Westport to share their favorite sustainable gifts to give this holiday season and they understood the assignment! Check out their incredible comprehensive list of sustainable gifts you can buy online and scroll down if you’re local to support some wonderful local businesses that have lots of sustainable gift options.
Thank you Johanna and Gately for this beautiful guide and for everything you’re doing in our community! If you live in town, check out their website and Instagram to get involved and learn more!
Sustainable gifts to buy online
Upcycled glasses, $20: Made from Topo Chico bottles, these stylish 8 oz glasses make for a great vessel for any beverage. Dishwasher-safe.
Buffy Cloud comforter, $159: Buffy’s original cloud-like comforter is covered in a super soft earth-friendly lyocell fiber and filled with layers of 100% GRS-certified, BPA-free, recycled PET fill. Each comforter uses approximately 50 recycled water bottles – https://buffy.co/products/the-buffy-comforter-trial?size=Full%2FQueen
Stasher silicone reusable bags, $12: Pack more eco-friendly lunches for your kids by using these endlessly reusable silicone bags instead of single-use plastic. Or, use them to store foods in the freezer. When you’re done, just pop them in the dishwasher!
Bamboozle Bamboo Compost Bin, $50: Love the idea of composting but cannot stand the sight (or smell) of those awful containers? This chic food waste collection bin is worthy of your counter space and good for the earth.
Blueland Dryer Ball Set, $18: Reduce wrinkles and static, soften and separate clothes and faster drying time decreases energy. Not only a waste source, did you know those dryer sheets leave chemical residue behind? At 1000 washes/ball that’s a huge win.
Outerknown S.E.A. jeans, $128: These soft, rugged everyday pants are made from organic cotton and produced in a fair-trade facility that recycles 98% of the water used during the production process.
The Ultimate Solar Honey Gift Set ($65). These five delicious spreads are made with honey harvested from bees on pollinator-friendly solar farms. The bees visit flowers growing underneath and around solar panels (an ideal habitat).
Sockeye Nova Lox Filet, $69-$179: Give the food-lover in your life this beautiful whole lox filet that has been sustainably harvested and prepared with no nitrates or artificial preservatives.
Go Lightly: How to Travel without Hurting the Planet, $18: This sustainable travel handbook inspires readers to explore our fascinating planet without causing it further harm.
Sustainable gifts you can buy locally in Westport
SUX straws, $22 for traveler set: Plastic straws are banned in Westport; use stylish stainless steel, dishwasher-safe, and environmentally conscious straw instead to drink from your Yeti tumblers and coffee mugs. These reusable straws were created by a local mom, Anne Epstein.
Recycled Retro X Men’s Fleece, $199: Support Patagonia, a world leader in sustainability. Patagonia donates 1% of the company’s annual sales to environmental non-profits working to defend air, land, and water around the globe. Recipients of the funds include Honest Tea and Boxed Water. They are working to become a true zero waste company.
Upcycle unused jewelry at Faye Kim, prices varied: Take your grandmother’s dated brooch or your aunt’s “interesting” earrings and turn them into jewelry pieces that you can treasure and wear. Faye Kim will help you create something unique and beautiful.
Marley’s Monsters Reusable Facial Rounds at Urban Outfitters, $5: Trade your single-use rounds out for these fantastic washable substitutes and you’ll make a difference every time you wash your face! Marley’s Monsters has a wide variety of other reUsable items that will cover a spectrum of needs throughout your bathroom and entire home!
Adidas Women’s Ultraboost 4.0 DNA at ASF, $180: These sneaks are made with recycled high-performance material, made in part with Parley Ocean Plastic. Adidas is committed to innovating in the area of sustainability until they reach their goal of being completely off virgin polyester by 2024.
Beauty products at Organachs Farm to Skin, prices varied: For the beauty product lover in your life, head to Organachs Farm to Skin and pick up a gorgeous bottle of Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum ($185) or Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence ($72).
Simon Pearce Woodbury Horizontal Photo Block, $150: This beautiful keepsake frame is made of hand-blown glass, often from recycled and sustainable materials.
Keen Howser III Shoes at Sundance, $80: These quilted nylon bed slippers/shoes are lined with plush microfleece for warmth without bulk. A memory foam footbed forms to your foot while cushioning every step, and the rubber outsole stands up to outdoor wear. Keen is a family-run business that believes in making the planet healthier and building strong communities. One of their goals is to create footwear that is 100% free of the most toxic chemicals.
Green Toys School Bus at Awesome Toys, $32: Bring it back to the basics with these toys that require no batteries. They are made with no screws, glue or even paint from 100% recycled materials (mostly milk jugs) in the USA. Even the packaging consists of all recycled materials! Just add imagination and have some fun.
Men’s Boise Cord Sherpa Trucker atMarine Layer, $185: This is sure to be a win if you’ve been watching Yellowstone! Marine Layer is committed to sustainability through the use of low-impact materials, a strong recycling program, and community contributions. Did you know that they offer credit for old tee shirt donations (to be recycled), in-store and online!
Recycled Glass Oil dispenser at Terrain, $48: You don’t need much of an excuse to patronize this beautifully curated local garden and home shop. Pick up a recycled glass oil dispenser or reusable food storage and marvel at the seasonal holiday decor.
Specialty oil and vinegar from BD Provisions in Fairfield: Fill your new dispenser with the wide selection of specialty olive oils, syrups, honey, or vinegar. Also browse among the bins of coffee, tea, grains, baking essentials, snacks, and sweets. BD Provisions is a family-owned zero/low waste bulk store where you buy (or bring your own) mason jars to fill up and then return them to be sanitized and reused. And if this all seems too overwhelming, they also offer curated gift boxes.
Relax Gift Set at Lush, $39 For your t(w)een or MIL who loves a good “self-care” set. LUSH products are ethically-sourced, cruelty-free, vegetarian, handmade, and low-waste, plus they smell and feel great. Take a browse through the boutique at the SoNo Collection, you might even find something for yourself.
Local to Market gift card or basket: For the Foodie in your life, this new-to-Main Street store is like an indoor farmer’s market. Founded by a Westport couple, it is exclusively stocked with Connecticut-based products ranging from specialty jams to chocolates to charcuterie. You can even pick up take-away lunch or dinner options!
Cooking Classes for kids at Wakeman Town Farm, $300: For kids ranging from grades K-12, WTF offers options for every little chef or baker. Ranging over multiple weeks, kids learn the basics of culinary arts in Wakeman’s gorgeous community kitchen, then enjoy eating their creations.
Sustainable Westport Water Bottle at Earthplace, $20: Need a refresh on the metal water bottles you use in the kids’ (or your) lunchbox? Help support Sustainable Westport in their mission toward Net Zero by 2050 by reducing plastic use and feel great going into 2022.
