Zero Waste NYC Workshop
2021 Holiday Gift Guide
Hi everyone! Nicole here, Founder of Zero Waste NYC Workshop. Welcome to our 2021 Holiday Gift Guide!
The holidays are definitely an exciting time of year. Last year, most of us spent the holiday season in quarantine, away from our family, friends, and loved ones. This year, many of us will be traveling and reconnecting with the people we are closest to.
In a perfect, (zero waste) world, none of us would travel, we wouldn’t buy new things, and nothing would ever go to landfill. Unfortunately, that’s not the world we live in and it’s not very realistic.
That’s where this guide comes in. As most of you know, I will never be the one to tell you you can’t do this, or you shouldn’t do that. The reason I do what I do for this audience is to provide sustainable alternatives to things I already know most of us (including me) are going to do anyway. Of course, I hope there are some lifestyle changes you make as well, as a result of our workshops, but for the most part, you do not have to completely overhaul your lifestyle to lower your impact on the planet. It actually doesn’t take much work, once you establish new habits.
Alright, now let’s dive in!
Keep in mind that I may receive commissions when you click on the links below and make purchases. However, I vet all the brands and makers that I work with very carefully and do my best to ask the right questions so I am only providing the best and most sustainable recommendations.
Physical Gifts
For the Home & Pet
Earth Hero
EarthHero is a one-stop online shop for all things zero waste. One of the things I love most about them is their strict, 5-step sourcing methodology, where they ensure every brand and product on their site meets a certain standard for sustainable materials, manufacturing, packaging, and give-back. Every order is shipped carbon neutral and plastic free!
They are also part of 1% for the Planet and a Certified B Corp
Right now, EarthHero is offering 20% off site-wide and they are planting 5 trees with every order through 12/1!
Follow them on Instagram @shopearthhero
Grouphug Solar
I absolutely love this company. They make “ridiculously good looking solar panels that are easy to use.” How cool is that? And who doesn’t love a good Zoolander reference…
Grouphug launched in 2019 by product designer Krystal Persaud, who is one of the most awesome, badass women I know making her mark in sustainability right here in NYC. And, they don’t just sell solar panels, they also host free solar education workshops for the community.
Their Window Solar Charger is easy-to-install, stylish, and it charges your devices with the power of the sun. It really looks like a beautiful work of art in my living room window! And last, but definitely not least, Grouphug give 5% of proceeds to Native Renewables, an indigenous-owned solar nonprofit.
Gift a Window Solar Charger to a friend or loved one. Shop now through Cyber Monday for great deals!
Follow them on Instagram @grouphugsolar
Chippin
Chippin sells high quality dog food and treats that are also sustainable. They are a woman-owned, small business that care about the well-being of your pet, AND the planet. Their mission is to “reduce the carbon pawprint,” and they do so by sourcing only the most sustainable ingredients in their products. In fact, their products use 80%+ fewer resources.
Some common ingredients they use are Silver Carp, which is an over-populated and invasive species ( by buying Silvercarp, Chippin is actually helping to preserve the Great Lakes), Cricket, and Spirulina, which removes CO2 from the atmosphere!
Chippin is a great gift for family and friends that have pups! They’re offering 15% off for Friends of Zero Waste nYC.
Use Code ZEROWASTE
Follow them on Instagram @chippintime
Clothing, Accessories & Jewelry
Blue Urbane
Blue Urbane is New York City-based online sustainable fashion boutique. When Emily, the founder, became aware of the harsh environmental impacts of the fashion industry and specifically, fast fashion companies, she educated herself about slow fashion and started Blue Urbane to offer high-quality, sustainable materials made by women.
Emily carries handmade jewelry (crafted in the USA or fair trade in India) and small-batch clothing and accessories mostly made from upcycled or deadstock fabric. Blue Urbane also donates part of their proceeds to the development of solar energy through the Honnold Foundation.
Blue Urbane is offering 20% to Zero Waste NYC followers. Use the code ZEROWASTE20
Follow them on Instagram @blueurbane
Ultimate Diamond
Most of you know by now that I got my lab grown engagement ring from Ultimate Diamond in the Diamond District. What you might not know is that lab grown doesn’t just have to be about engagement rings, they also make great gifts. Lab grown diamond stud earrings are perfect if you’re looking for something special for a loved one, but can’t afford the price tag of natural diamonds.
To shop studs for this holiday season, email Ultimate Diamond’s private sales concierge, Danielle at danielle@ultimatediamond.com
Follow them on Instagram @ultimatediamondco and @thatblingbabe
Kids & Baby
Diaperkind
Being a new parent is hard! Being a new parents who is also looking to reduce the environmental impact of diapers on our landfills and natural resources is even harder.
Diaperkind is a cloth diaper service and shop that serves the NYC and NJ areas. Their prefold cloth diapers are organic cotton and the products are sustainably made. They make cloth diapering convenient by providing the diapers, as well as a pickup/drop off and washing service.
Consider a gift certificate to Diaperkind for a new, or soon-to-be parent in your life!
Follow them on Instagram @diaperkind
Personal Care
Tree*Star
TREE*STAR is another local, NYC company. They make awesome soaps using premium, organic, food-grade, plant oils. They’ve partnered with One Tree Planted so that every purchase made plants a tree!
Their soaps are handmade right here in NYC and come in really cool scents like Lemongrass and Poppy Seed and Tumeric, Orange and Ginger.
TREE*STAR makes the perfect holiday gift or stocking stuffer!
Other Great
Gift Ideas
Simple Switch
You’ve probably heard the phrase “vote with your dollar.” In this case, you really can.
Simple Switch believes in Positive Impact Purchasing, so everything for sale on their website has a positive impact on our world and the people in it. You can filter by impact areas such as Environmental (find a brand that plants trees, or one that’s plastic-free) or Social like empowering women or supporting education.
MPOWERD
MPowerd creates sustainable, affordable solar light products. I have a set of their solar powered string lights that I use during the summer to jazz up my balcony (and it charges my phone too!). Not only are their products cool and useful, but each product sold helps us provide clean energy to people around the world who need it most. They’re also a certified B Corp!
Pela case
Pela is a great option if you want a sustainable alternative for your phone case, but if you’re gifting it to someone, please make sure you educate them on how to properly dispose of a Pela Case at its end of life. The cases can be composted in a commercial facility where available (look into compostingcouncil.org to locate your nearest industrial composting facility and see if they accept bioplastics). However, if your city does not have an industrial composting facility, or does not accept compostable bioplastics, you can send your old Pela Case back to the company so they can reuse the material.
ECOlunchbox
These stainless steel food containers are great for kids and adults! ECOlunchbox makes non-toxic, stainless steel lunch boxes and artisan-made lunch bags to provide zero-waste solutions for consumers. This is the perfect gift for someone in your life who is trying to live a plastic-free lifestyle.
Green Kid Crafts
Green Kid Crafts is empowering the next generation of environmental leaders using creative, nature-based STEAM activities.
Through a partnership with One Tree Planted, Green Kid Crafts plants one tree for every order placed. They make the perfect alternative to plastic toys!
The gift of reuse
Gifting something that a friend or loved one can reuse is a fun way to introduce them to the world of low waste living. It’s also a great way to support your already low waste living friend. :)
Mason jar gifts are an awesome way to show off your cooking skills. Cakes, cookie mixes, and even savory treats look so much nicer in a mason jar! Finish it off with some ribbon (upcycled of course!) and you’ve got a beautiful, reusable gift!
Some other ideas:
Reusable coffee cup
Reusable water bottle
On-the-go cutlery set
SodaStream
Reusable makeup wipes
Safety razor
Bees Wrap
Stasher Bags
Experiences & “non” Gifts
In my opinion, as someone who lives a very low waste lifestyle, the best types of gifts are experiences. It allows you to feel like you are giving someone something but doesn’t come with the burden of end-of-life disposal for the gift recipient.
Here are some ideas:
Restaurant Gift Card
Eventbrite gift card, or tickets to virtual events!
Airbnb or Airbnb Experiences
CourseHorse, Skillshare, Coursera gift card
Duolingo, Babbel, or Rosetta Stone gift card
Audiobook subscription to Kindle, Nook, Audible.com, or Scribd.
Audm subscription
Luminary subscription
Subscription to any other form of online entertainment like Spotify, Netflix, HBO Max, etc. Seriously, if someone paid for six months of Netflix for me, I would be thrilled!
Pay for one month of their gym or fitness studio membership
And Another idea: Donations!
You know those people in your life that already seem to have everything and you never know what to buy them? Making a donation on someone’s behalf for a cause they care about is the perfect solution!
Some suggestions on local NYC based organizations who are fighting climate change you can donate to:
Sanitation Foundation
Grow NYC
LES Ecology Center
Big Reuse
Earth Matter
Surfrider NYC
WE ACT for Environmental Justice
NYC Environmental Justice Alliance
Sunrise Movement
Earth Justice
350 NYC
Community Mutual Aids
Community Fridges
Low waste
gift wrap
Low waste gift wrapping tips:
Use brown Whole Foods or Trader Joes bags that you have lying around
Plantable seed paper
Ribbons will usually get tangled in equipment at recycling centers. Use twine or hemp or any string from natural fibers that can be composted, and use real items as adornments (cinnamon, vanilla or real plants!).
Scrap fabric - think about clothing you have set aside to donate and cut pieces of fabric from that.
Paper tape
Fabric, or the item as wrapping paper. Example: scarf, pretty dishcloth, cloth napkin or produce bag.
Speaking of fabric as the wrapping paper, try Furoshiki! Furoshiki is a Japanese style of fabric wrapping using a square piece of cloth. The word refers both to the craft and to the cloth itself, which usually has an elegant, decorative design. Furoshiki has become increasingly popular with cultures around the world as it has transformed the art of gift-giving. Check out how to do it here.