Do you want to live a little more green this holiday season? 

Are you torn between wanting to shower your people with love and being kind to our earth in the process?

Because I know you understand that sustainable shopping is better for the people, the planet and your wallet!

When you consciously choose natural, compostable and eco-friendly products, you easily avoid products made of cheap, non-recyclable materials. 

That's how you can make an impact and create change by voting with your dollar.

You might think this is impossible and will add a lot of work to your already full holiday plate – but don't worry! I am here to save the day with today's episode.

Here's what to expect:

• Suggestions on shoes, socks and that lingerie lover in your life
• My go-to eco-friendly beauty products that scream luxury and pampering
• Eco-friendly toys for every age
• Stay hydrated with my easy reusable water and coffee/tea suggestions
• Fun, sustainable alternatives for the person that has everything

You'll discover that and so much more in this episode.

By the end of this episode, Green Junkie, you'll have the items crossed off your list and your loved ones taken care of in the holiday season. And guess what, Mother Nature thanks you too. 

If you love this podcast, be sure to leave a review and share a screenshot of this episode to your IG stories. Tag @thisisstephaniemoram so I can shout you out and publicly say thanks. 

Thanks for listening and being here.

Your green bestie,

Xoxo Stephanie

The Sustainable Gift Guide Mentioned in this Episode

Follow Me on Instagram

Follow Me on TikTok

Follow Me on Linkedin

Follow Me on Twitter

Wanna go the extra green mile? Binge (and download) my complimentary audio series to reduce your waste and learn how to consume less in just five days!

LISTEN BELOW

TRANSCRIPT FOR EPISODE 12

0:08 Hi, Green Junkie. I'm your host Stephanie Moram, and today I'm going to be focusing on the ultimate sustainable gift guide for the holidays.

0:17 Do you want to live a little more green this holiday season, and you want to show the ones you love how much you care but don't necessarily want to support big box stores?

0:27 Shopping sustainably is better for the people for the planet, and your wallet. So when you consciously choose products made of natural, compostable and eco-friendly resources, you're easily avoiding products made of cheap, non-recyclable materials. That's how you can make an impact vote with your dollar when you choose sustainable products. You're supporting Fair Trade working conditions. By supporting local businesses, you're putting your money back into the local economy. Plus, when you buy sustainable products, it's likely that you're getting higher quality and are less likely to break the bank reducing the amount of waste created.

1:07 You're probably thinking, reducing your carbon footprint during the holiday season is impossible. But not so fast, Green Junkie, meet my Ultimate Sustainable Holiday Gift Guide. Today you'll hear about companies that are doing better for the planet and eco-friendly products that I personally use on a daily basis.

1:27 Plus, I have scored some deals just for you Green Junkie. Best of all these companies are respecting the planet, as well as the people making the products. All the products and companies that are mentioned in this episode will be linked in the show notes just for you. Make sure you go and check them out. Get ready, Green Junkie, and stay tuned to the Ultimate Sustainable Holiday Gift Guide.

1:56 First off, let's talk about reusable straws. I want to talk about two companies I adore – Strawesome, a US-based and family-owned company, and Enviro Straw, a Canadian-based and family-owned business. So why not give this ideal gift to a friend or family member in your life that's looking to replace disposable items with reusable ones.

2:19 Help your loved ones altogether ditch the plastic straws this holiday season with a glass straw from Strawesome or Enviro straws, but you might be thinking, what happens if these glass straws break because they're made of glass? Well, the company will send you a new straw if they break, so grab one or two straws that you can give to your friends and families and like I mentioned at the beginning, you can check out both companies in the show notes.

2:51 Next up is a reusable coffee mug, which is a perfect gift for the tea and coffee lover in your life. You can easily help them break their disposable coffee cup habit and replace plastic waste by gifting your warm beverage-loving friend their own Hydroflask mug. I love Hydroflask. I not only have their mug, but I also have their water bottle.

3:15 Next up, we have personal care products for the beauty enthusiast in your life. I have three companies that I adore, and I do use their products. First up, we have the enzyme exfoliator by Josh Rosebrook. I love this stuff. I love it. I love it. I love it. It clears, softens and renews your skin. And for those with sensitive skin, this exfoliator provides a gentle but deep clean in your pores.

3:45 Next up, we have a Hydrating Serum by Luxe; it is divine and a perfect gift for the minimalist beauty person in your life. Do you know someone who suffers from dry skin during the winter because I know I do? So this is the perfect gift for me that I will be gifting myself this winter. This product will help them transform dry, depleted skin with this replenishing skin fortifying concentrate.

4:12 And lastly, Wildcraft, a Canadian-based company out of Toronto, is devoted to creating 100% natural skincare products. They sell thoughtful and minimalist handmade in small batches and simply designed with fresh and organic ingredients. Gift your minimalist beauty-loving friend one of these personal care products, and you can learn more about them in the show notes.

4:43 Next up, we have a body scrub by Big Bee Little Bee. They have created the original scrubby, so help your friends and loved ones say goodbye to those ratty disposable plastic loofahs. The big scrubby by Big Bee Little Bee is super soft, highly effective, 100% silicone and built to last. It has wider bristles, a larger grip and firmer, firmer bristles than the original scrubbee making the big scrubby the perfect gift for teens and adults. And the other thing that I love about this company is when you buy the scrubbee, it comes packaged in a reusable soap saver, so it's perfect for preserving your soap.

5:30 Next up, we have toothpaste. Now you probably have someone in your life trying to reduce plastic – or you might not be listening to this podcast. You can give them an eco-friendly present like bite-sized toothpaste tablets. Say hello to crush and brush. Nelson Naturals is a Canadian-based company, and it ships to Canada and the US. And it is one of my most favourite toothpaste. They're seriously the best toothpaste tablets. And your zero waste friend needs this in their life.

6:09 Next up, we have a phone case by Pelacase. So do you have a techie friend or family member that is vegan or a green living enthusiast? I'm assuming yes. First, share this podcast with them because it's all about green living. Next, buy them a beautifully designed eco-friendly Pella Case. Pela cases are for the people who want to protect their phones and be gentle on the planet at the same time. It's the world's first truly sustainable phone case. I love Pela Case; it is a Canadian-based company that ships to both US and Canada. And Pella cases are durable enough to protect your phone from drops and scratches and are also 100% compostable. Yes, compostable! Love it. I love it, love it.

6:58 Next up, we have blue-light-blocking glasses that I own as well. I just want to mention all the products on this list I owned myself. So while we're talking about phones and technology: Did you know the average person spends up to seven hours looking at a digital screen per day? That is a long time. We're constantly exposing our eyes to blue light, which can cause severe damage to our eyes and physical health. So that's why Swaay blue light blocking glasses are perfect for anyone you know because we're all digitally connected nowadays. My favourite ones are the gravity gray colour. They're pictured in the gift guide themselves, the digital gift guide, but I wear them all the time. And I love love love these glasses.

7:52 Next up, let's talk about socks. Everyone loves socks, right? Oh, My Socks. They're a simple and unfailing gift. The organic socks, my favourite socks, which are organic socks from Zanko, have the best story, and they're made in Fort Payne, Alabama. Give these organic socks to your friends and family members that want to know where their products come from. Their organic socks are grown, spun, and planted in the US. So they're cotton farmers, and spinners are hard-working people out of West Texas and North Carolina. That's awesome. It's so awesome that it's all being done in the United States.

8:41 And if you happen to live in Canada and don't want to get your stuff shipped from the United States, you can look at Friday socks. I love Friday socks. They're super awesome. They're purposely missed match organic socks for the funky sock lover. They're made with organic cotton, recycled cotton, which makes them all-around a perfect sock. And not to mention, when you buy the kid's versions of the socks, you get three socks, three, not two, three, just in case you lose one of them, you'll always have two. So how cool is that?! Friday socks is by far one of the most kid planet-friendly sock companies in Canada. So you need to check out both of these companies yourself. So you can visit the show notes. Like I mentioned, everything is in the show notes. You don't need to take notes while you're listening.

9:29 Next up, we have shoes. Do you have a runner or avid walker in your life that doesn't want to throw money at traditional running shoe companies but also needs high-quality gym shoes? Allbirds is your answer. They're ridiculously comfortable, fashionable and the cherry on top. They are sustainable. Allbirds is a carbon-neutral company, and B Corp certified. I own the shoes, and I have the dark green ones. They're awesome. They're just all-around great company. So again, check out the show notes. So you can find out more about Allbirds.

10:06 Kooshoo Organic hair elastics and scrunchies are the perfect gifts for little ones or adults in your life that need to put their hair out of their face and want fashionable and sustainable products. They are based out of the United States and Canada. I love this company. I use hair elastics all the time, and my daughter uses their elastics. They have many different types of hair elastics and other colours. They also have scrunchies. So it is the perfect gift. It's a great gift to give to somebody that has long hair. You can score these hair accessories in a variety of neutral colours, as well as any bright hues, by visiting their website. Again, everything is in the show notes.

10:52 Number 12, we're almost done -lingerie. I have two great companies that I want to talk about, one based in the United States and one based in Canada. So next up, it's the gift for the minimalist who loves sexy lingerie. The first company called Brooke There, based out of the United States, is organic lingerie that is both comfortable and ethically made in Massachusetts. The owner of the company designs each piece and uses natural materials to handcraft every garment. Cotton is kind against your skin and the environment. Plus, it'll last you much longer than synthetic materials.

11:30 Next up, we have a Canadian-based company, Thief and Bandit, also an organic lingerie company. Their bras and underwear are gorgeous, one of a kind, again made of organic cotton. Their small design team creates every collection from sketch to see and has done everything on their own for over ten years. All their fabric is printed by hand. Garments are sold by hand, and every order is fulfilled in their fashion studio. Grab ethically made cotton lingerie and give the gift of organic lingerie this year to your eco-loving friends with Brooke There or Thief and Bandit.

12:10 Let's check to clothing. I got two great brands as well that are clothing: one US-based and one Canadian-based. The first one is called Winter Water Factory. I googled high and low to find this company. And they are fantastic. They make organic sweatpants and sweatshirts from organic cotton. When I saw this company, I needed one of their sweaters. Winter Water Factory sells organic clothing for women, men and kids. And they're all made in Brooklyn, New York. This is the perfect gift for someone who wants comfy clothing and wants to show off a fun part of their personality because all of their clothing has prints on it. Super, super cool. Super, super cool. And so who doesn't want a sweater with garden vegetables on them because I know I want a sweater with garden vegetables on them. So I'm glad I found this company, and it's a great gift to offer to your friends.

13:07 Next up, we have a Canadian-based company Ecologyst; they make lots of different clothing, but I'm going to focus on their organic hoodies. So everyone loves hoodies, right. I know I can't see you but raise your hands. But it can be tough finding the perfect hoodie for the perfect person. So Ecologyst has you covered. They sell soft and comfortable organic goodies ethically made in Canada, and everything is made on the west coast. So show your friends that you can support ethically made organic clothing not made in sweatshops by supporting Winter Water Factory or Ecologyst.

13:44 Next up, we have toys, right? You want to get your kids a little toy or your grandkids or your nieces and nephews, whatever it is. Green Toys is a great option. So if you're a parent, you probably might want to have more sustainable options, right? So Green Toys has you covered. When my kids were really, really little, I got them the recycling truck, the plane, the tea set. We actually still have the tea set. They're all made of recycled plastic from milk jugs, which is super cool because you are there minimizing the amount of plastic that ends up in the landfills by creating toys with them. So you can check out green toys available in Canada and in the US. These are good quality toys that you can find to give to somebody that needs a toy in your life.

14:34 Next up, we have some soft toys for babies. It's called Under the Nile fruit and veggie toys. We still have these toys because my kids still play restaurant and stuff like that. So we still have these veggie toys. They're so cute. My daughter's 11, so they've lasted a long, long time. So they're the cutest little plush fruits and veggies, and they're perfect for babies in your life that want to chew on something as well. Every toy is made and stuffed with 100% Organic Egyptian cotton. They're safe for your little foodie baby to bite and chew on. Under the Nile was started by a mom who was looking for clothing that would not irritate her baby's skin. Now, she works with Egyptian farmers to make organic cotton products sustainably and ethically. So not only do they make toys, they do have clothing and other baby things available on their site. So again, head to the show notes. And you can find all of these different companies.

15:30  Next up, plants. So if let's say you don't want to get a typical gift for somebody, why not get them a plant. Get it for your plant-loving minimalist, who prefers natural things over material things. So one company I did find is based out of the United States; they're called Bouqs. Their philosophy is super, super simple care about people, the planet and the process of growing flowers. And as you probably know, as a Green Junkie, I fully support this. They believe in farm direct, transparent sourcing, which means partnering with farms whose sustainable growing practices, like minimizing waste and recycling water, so you can shop these beautiful flowers and plants. If you're not in the United States, find a local plant shop where you can get a plant for your plant-loving friend or family member.

16:25 So we've talked about physical gifts that we can give people what what about the gift of an adventure or an experience because sometimes it's tough to find the perfect experience for the minimalist, who does prefer adventures over material items. But don't overthink it. Give the adventurer in your life a weekend stay at an Airbnb or hotel, or mail them a subscription to their favourite magazine. Create a scavenger hunt in your house. Or take them to one of your favourite places. Maybe it's a park, a library or a restaurant. Giving the gift of an experience is invaluable. And best of all, it can be cost-effective.

17:04 Next up, how about homemade food. This is a gift that no one can turn downright. Simply make your homemade cookies, pies, cakes or muffins. Grab some old jars or reusable boxes that you have saved because, as many of you know that I collect glass jars. So I love to give away homemade goods because then I'm also reusing the glass jars that I have. So use some reusable packaging. This will save you a trip to the store. It'll save you money because you don't have to go out and buy packaging. So cooking for the holidays is the time to let your creative skill shine and use locally sourced ingredients because the best gifts are the ones given from the heart. And cooking food requires lots of love and care in the process and lots of patients. If you're not a baker, it requires lots of patients.

17:51 And lastly, how about a donation. It's certainly not the least in the Green Junkie Holiday Gift Guide. Do you know someone who prefers a donation made in their name to an impactful organization? One organization that I support and that I recommend is the World Wildlife Foundation. This organization is working to conserve species at risk, protect threatened, habitats and address climate change. Their long-term vision is simple to create a world where people and nature thrive. As a Green Junkie, my goal is to guide people to a zero-waste lifestyle, mainly for the longevity of our planet and to preserve it for future generations to come. The health benefits and everything else that comes with green living is an added bonus our planet and wildlife are the most important. If you wish to donate to the WWF as a gift to someone else or just because you feel like giving, you can find the link to WWF in our podcast show.

18:49 So your loved ones that you care about on the planet this holiday season, shopping sustainably helps the planet and supports companies doing their part to better the world we live in. When you consciously choose to buy products for companies that support compostable and eco-friendly resources. You easily avoid companies that use cheap, non-recyclable materials. That's how you make a simple but impactful. Vote with your dollar. When you buy sustainable products, you also support fair trade working conditions and buy from local businesses. It's putting your money back into the local economy. Gift your loved one a sustainable presence this holiday season and reduce the amount of waste that will end up in landfills. That way you can enjoy your holiday with friends and families without feeling guilty. Keep these tips in mind during birthdays and anniversaries or whatever occasion you give presents.

19:42 Remember that living a green lifestyle is simpler than you think. Make sure you subscribe to the Green Junkie podcast to get notified when new episodes are uploaded every Tuesday. Show us your holiday spirit by giving Green Junkie podcast a like on Instagram @greenjunkiepodcast. You won't want to miss what I have in store for you down the road Green Junkie. Thank you for tuning in. And I'll see you next week.