So 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…

You came to the right place.

Shopping sustainably is better for people and better for the planet (plus your products last longer)!

By choosing products made of natural, compostable, and eco-friendly materials—and avoiding products made of cheap materials—you are making an impact. You are voting with your dollar for the business practices you prefer. 

When you choose sustainable products, you support fair-trade working conditions. When you shop at local businesses, you put money back into your local economy. When you buy sustainable products, you invest in goods that are higher quality and are less likely to break—so you reduce the amount of waste created.

This is where the Sustainable and Ethical Holiday Gift Guide comes into play. It’s time to put your money where your heart is, while finding gifts your friends and family will love.

Listed below are companies that are doing better. These organizations are building the future they desire; they are leading the way in sustainable business practices by respecting the planet and the people who make their products! I’ve personally vetted these brands, and will be including many of the suggested items in my holiday giving this year.

#1. Reusable Straws

Strawesome, Glass Straws – USA company

The ideal gift for the person looking to replace disposable items with reusable ones. Help your loved ones ditch plastic straws this holiday season with these gorgeous multi-coloured glass straws. Strawesome is a family-owned business, and their straws are made in the USA. You might be thinking, Glass? What happens if they break? No worries, they will send you a free replacement! *ships to the globally

Discount: GOODGIRLGONEGREEN – 20% off  *excludes custom orders, gift cards, outlet & sale items

Enviro Straw – Canadian company

Live in Canada? Check out Enviro Straw. All the same benefits of Strawesome, but these beautiful straws are made in Vancouver Island. Enviro Straw is also a family-owned business who stands behind their product so fully they’ll send you a brand new straw if yours breaks. Grab anyone bulking up their reusable inventory one of Enviro Straw’s glass straws or even the stainless steel option. *ships to Canada|USA

Discount: GOODGIRLGONEGREEN – 15% off 

#2. Reusable Coffee Mugs

Hydroflask, Reusable Coffee Mug – USA  company

For the tea and coffee lover in your life. Help them break the disposable cup habit with their own Hydro Flask coffee mug! This stainless steel cup was designed with choice in mind—it won’t retain flavour, so those who love to mix it up won’t be forced to drink the leftover hint of their morning coffee in their afternoon tea. Plus, it keeps beverages hot or cold for hours. *ships globally

#3. Personal Care Products

Josh Rosebrook, Enzyme Exfoliator – USA company

OMG. This enzyme exfoliator is the bomb. It clears, softens, and renews your skin. Fruit, honey, and herbal enzymes and acids gently wash away dead skin cells while walnut shells reveal new skin and stimulate collagen production. All of Josh Rosebrook’s natural ingredients are organic, consciously grown, harvested, and produced. The Enzyme Exfoliator is recommended for all skin types—it’s perfect for the beauty enthusiast on your list! *ships globally

Wildcraft, Refine Face Serum – Canadian company

Another stellar option for your loved one who cares about clean and simple beauty. Refine Face Serum is lightweight and fast-absorbing to hydrate and balance your skin. Juniper helps regulate oil production and raspberry seed reduces inflammation in this serum. (Please note: this is best suited for combination to oily skin.) Wildcraft is a Toronto-based company devoted to creating 100% natural skincare products, which are handmade in small batches and intentionally designed with fresh ingredients. They take extra care to source quality materials that are organic, cruelty-free, elemental or plant-based, and sustainable and/or socially conscious. *ships to Canada

Discount: welcome5 – $5 off

Luxe, Marula Hydrating Serum – European company

For the minimalist who still values quality skincare, Luxe’s hydrating serum is divine. Transform dry, depleted skin with this replenishing, restorative, skin fortifying concentrate. Cold-pressed Marula oil infuses essential fatty acids and antioxidants that absorb into skin, sealing in moisture, and restoring a noticeably youthful appearance. Luxe is committed to green beauty, which includes sustainable ingredient sourcing (while avoiding those additives with negative health risks) and ethical business practices that aim to protect people and the environment. *ships globally

#4. Body Scrubs

Big Bee Little Bee, The Original ScrubBEE – USA company

Another great gift for people looking to swap more of their disposable products for reusable solutions. The ScrubBEE is a bath and shower scrubber—the ideal replacement for those ratty, plastic loofahs that end up in our garbage cans. Made of 100% silicone, the ScrubBEE is super soft, highly effective, and built to last. For the pickiest person on your list, Big Bee Little Bee offers a 100% Happiness Guarantee. *ships to the USA

Discount: GOODGIRLGONEGREEN – 20% off 

#5. Toothpaste Tabs

Nelson Naturals, Crush & Brush – Canadian company

Raise your hand if you have someone in your life trying to reduce plastics. Raise your hand if their toothpaste still comes in a plastic tube. Ok, hands down. Say hello to Crush & Brush. A mess-free, convenient, portable, and perfectly portioned toothpaste tablet. These are seriously the best tooth tablets and your zero-waste friend needs them! *ships to Canada|USA

Discount: GOODGIRLGONEGREEN – 20% off  *Only for Nelson Naturals brand items

#6. Phone Case

Pela Case, Eco-friendly Phone Case – Canadian company

For the person who wants to protect their phone and be gentle on the planet. These beautifully designed and eco-friendly Pela cases are the world’s first truly sustainable, 100% compostable phone case. Made from flax shive and a plant-based biopolymer, they are durable enough to protect your phone from those inevitable drops and scratches. *ships globally

#7. Blue Light Blocking Glasses

Swway, Blue Light Blocking Glasses – USA company

Perfect for your friend or family member who loves looking good while staring at their computer and phone all day long. The average person spends up to seven hours per day looking at digital screens. Overexposure to blue light can cause serious damage to our eyes and general physical health. Swway’s Blue Light Glasses are equipped with lenses that reduce exposure to that harmful blue light spectrum our screens emit. Not just sustainable and sexy, Swway is smart. *ships globally

#8. Socks

Zkano, Organic Adult and Kids Socks – USA company

Oh my. This company has the best story and the best organic socks made in Fort Payne, Alabama! For the people on your list who want to know where their products come from, look no further. Zkano cares deeply about where their raw materials are sourced—their organic cotton is grown, spun, and dyed in the USA. Yep, their cotton farmers and yarn spinners are kind, hard-working people in west Texas and North Carolina. *ships to Canada|USA

Friday Socks, Organic Adult|Kids Mismatched Socks – Canadian company

For the funky sock lover, grab these fun patterns made with organic and/or recycled cotton. Friday Socks are purposely mismatched and the kids’ socks get three socks just in case one goes missing. (Brilliant idea, if you ask most parents.) The Canadian company based in Calgary ethically produces their socks in Italy at a small, family-owned factory who cares about quality and craftsmanship. *ships globally excluding UK – England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland

#9. Shoes

Allbirds – USA company

Do you have a runner or avid walker in your life? No need to support traditional running shoe companies, because it’s the only option. Allbirds shoes are the new and better alternative. The shoes are ridiculously comfortable and fashionable. And the cherry on top is they are sustainable, making use of natural materials such as wool, trees, sugar, castor bean oil, and even recycled plastic bottles and cardboard. They are a carbon-neutral company and B Corp certified. *ships globally

#10. Hair Elastics and Scrunchies 

Kooshoo, Organic Hair Elastics – USA|Canadian company

If anyone on your shopping list has long hair, Kooshoo’s elastics and scrunchies are a fashionable and sustainable gift. You see, most of the hair elastics you’ll find are made from synthetic materials, meaning they won’t biodegrade and are destined for the landfill once they inevitably break. But Kooshoo has your back with these organic cotton and fair-trade elastics! You can score these hair accessories in a variety of neutral colours, as well as some brighter hues, for all the little ones or adults in your life that want to rock a ponytail or bun. *ships globally

#11. Lingerie 

Brook There, Organic Lingerie – USA company

For that someone who wants cute and sexy lingerie, but doesn’t want to compromise the environment. From bralettes to bodysuits to bike shorts, this gift is comfortable and ethically made in Massachusetts. They use low-impact production methods and fabrics, including organic cotton made from GOTS-certified yarn that is milled and dyed in California. Plus you’re supporting a small business—the owner of the company designs each piece of lingerie. *ships globally

Thief and Bandit, Organic Lingerie – Canadian company

This is for the lively and wild-spirited human you know. Their bras and underwear are gorgeous and one-of-a-kind made with organic cotton. Their small design team crafts every Thief and Bandit collection from sketch to seam and prioritizes production integrity. All of their fabric is printed by hand, the garments are sewn by hand, and each order is fulfilled in-house. Committed to sustainability, they only use organic textiles including jerseys, cotton, raw silks, georgette, and french terry. They print with water-based, non-toxic acrylic inks that are safe for our waterways and oceans. *ships globally

#12. Clothing

Winter Water Factory, Organic Sweatpants|Sweatshirts – USA company

When I found this company, I knew I needed one of their sweatshirts. Their creative, organic clothing for women, men, and kids is made in Brooklyn, New York. This is the perfect gift for someone who wants comfy clothing, but also wants to show off a fun part of their personality. Who doesn’t want a sweater with garden vegetables on them? *ships globally

Ecologyst, Organic Hoodies – Canadian company

Looking for the perfect hoodies for the perfect person? Well, Ecologyst has you covered. ​​This will likely be the softest and most comfortable gift you give. Ecologyst uses 100% biodegradable materials and chooses to make smaller collections with fewer products, so there is less waste. They take pride in crafting apparel you can love for decades, instead of trends that are thrown out with the changing seasons. Each of their products is made ethically in Canada. *ships globally

#13. Kids Toys 

Green Toys, Cookware|Dining Set, and Recycling Truck – USA company

For the littles that want traditional toys, but the parents who want a more sustainable option. The tea set is adorable and the recycling truck is awesome. Any kid would love to have them! From using 100% recycled materials to their US-based manufacturing, they are raising awareness about sustainability while delivering reliable, safe products. They believe the best way to encourage environmental change is through the goods people buy and use every day, including toys and children’s products. *available globally

#14. Soft Baby Toys

Under the Nile, Fruit and Veggie Toys – USA company

For the smallest people on your shopping list, you can’t go wrong with Under the Nile’s adorable fruits and veggies. They are made from 100% certified organic Egyptian cotton, and they're safe for your little foodies to chew and love on. These baby toys and toy sets are all sustainably made of leftover scraps from the brand’s clothing production and are produced in their fair-trade facilities. Each fruit and veggie toy is made by a woman from a village in Egypt, empowering her and uplifting her community. *ships to USA|Canada|United Kingdom|Australia|India|Hong Kong

#15. Plants

Bouqs, Organic Flowers and Plants  – USA company

For the plant-loving minimalist, this is your one-stop shop. Send a potted plant, a flower bouquet, a wreath, or more. The Bouqs Co. is committed to caring about people, the planet, and the process of growing. Bouqs partners directly with farmers who use sustainable growing practices, such as minimizing waste and recycling water. Skipping the middleman and being extra choosy about growing practices guarantees your gifted plant will stay fresh longer. 

#16. The Gift of an Adventure and/or Experience 

For that special someone who prefers adventures and experiences over physical gifts. This could be as simple as a night or two at an Airbnb or hotel, a subscription to their favourite magazine, or a gift card to a local restaurant that serves farm-to-table meals.

#17. Homemade Foods

A gift no one can turn down! Am I right? Simply make your own homemade cookies or pie or muffins or other delectable goodies. Bonus points if you look for and incorporate locally sourced ingredients. Package your treats in those old jars or boxes you’ve been saving—put your creative skills to work.

#18. Donation on Behalf of the Receiver

For the big-hearted person who’d prefer a donation made in their name to an impactful organization rather than more stuff. This is as green as it gets.

One organization I support is WWF, who works to conserve at-risk species, protect threatened habitats, and address climate change. They are implementing nature-based solutions (oftentimes incorporating and drawing from Indigenous knowledge) and redefining humanity’s relationship with the planet. Their long-term vision is simple: create a world where people and nature thrive.