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18 Sustainable Stocking Stuffers To Gift This Season

updated on February 3, 2023 by Jennifer Andrew

I love finding small thoughtful gifts for friends and family year round, so choosing stocking stuffers is definitely one of my favorite holiday rituals! And choosing sustainable stocking stuffers makes the process even more special. Much of my sustainability journey has been finding alternatives for personal items (beauty products, clothing, etc), but it’s also been about shopping sustainably for loved ones. You’ve probably heard that when you shop small, a small business owner does a little happy dance (it’s true!!). But that joyful feeling goes both ways. Shopping small during gifting season makes the experience so much less stressful and more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Here are some eco-friendly stocking stuffer ideas for everyone on your list (including a few from our own shop)!

where to buy sustainable stocking stuffers

column 1: tiered pom pom tassel by member tribe / lip-to-lid zero waste balmies by member axiology / lavender oversized silk scrunchie by charlie paisley / double dipped pink & lavender mug by sunflower studio pdx / sprinkles reusable dishcloths by hali hali design / high rise briefs in limited edition colors from member knickey (see our full review here)

column 2: mini rainbow notebook by moglea / moisturizing botanical bar by nopalera / bamboo charcoal makeup remover pads by clean circle / pastel pinwheel coaster set by eco club member KAZI / dark chocolate gift set by jcoco chocolate

column 3: clean lilac nail polish by BKIND / desert agave candle by TERRA (with plantable dust cover!) / duo-tone satin bow by member ks garner / seed salutations by modern sprout / heaven place mini puzzle from puzzle weekend / handmade natural scrunchies by member terrai

PS Wondering how to become a member of our sustainable directory? Membership is currently free to join, and this is a free resource we provide to our community of conscious consumers. We’re not paid to place these products in our gift guides, we only do because we love them (and the rest of the brands featured)! We review submissions every week and choose the brands that align with our ethical + sustainable shopping values and contain products we know our readers will love. Open to brands around the world, as long as they ship to USA. Click here to submit your brand!

Where to Shop on Small Business Saturday

updated on May 24, 2023 by Angela Hamilton

You’re undoubtedly inundated with Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Thanksgiving, blahblahblah sales (should we all just call it “sale month” at this point?), so I know when you see a gift guide these days you really want it to be something special. I feel the same way, which is why I spend probably way too long hunting down the perfect products to add to articles like this! (But if it influences *anyone* to shop small rather than mass-produced, it’s worth it, I think.) Small Business Saturday is a big buzzword for blogs like ours, dedicated to independent makers and shops. But it’s really about spreading the word about these businesses so that people will think of them when making a purchase not just this week or month, but all year long.

Below, we highlight some of our sustainable directory members and their small business Saturday/holiday season promotions.

Clothing

Back Beat Co (pictured above) is offering 35% sitewide with code BFBONANZA

LA Relaxed is a slow fashion brand making women’s essentials all under one roof in Los Angeles. They’re offering 40% (even on sale items) with code FESTIVE. They sent me the Dream Fleece Hoodie a while back and I can confirm it’s as comfortable as it sounds. It’s perfect when you want a really light, relaxed layer.

Knickey, one of my favorite sustainable underwear brands, is offering 25% off sitewide from 11/24 to 11/28. If you’ve recently started transitioning your bras and undies to sustainable brands, both WAMA (also reviewed in that article) and Knickey are great places to start because they are on the more affordable end, and these sales can go a long way for your necessities!

WAMA makes undies for men and women, as well as bralettes, from hemp. (Fun fact, I’m wearing them right now…) They are offering 40% off sitewide all weekend!

New member Cea is offering up to 75% their line of slow fashion loungewear and basics including womens sweat sets and tees. Their pieces are all organic and naturally dyed.

Maika Goods is having their biggest sale of the year, with 20% off orders $50+ and 30% off orders of $100+. They offer sustainably made bags and have a great variety of sizes, styles, and prints.

Another new member, Isabella Eve Apparel, who specializes in made-to-order slow fashion in custom sizes, is offering 20% off sitewide now through Tuesday with code BLACKFRIDAY. Plus, a freebie will be included with all orders!

The Waight, who makes the most beautiful, cozy hand-dyed organic cotton loungewear, offers 20% your first order with code ORGANIC.

Looking for bridesmaid gifts? Camas Lilly Co (pictured below) offers gorgeous sustainably made bridal and bridesmaid robes crafted from deadstock fabrics. Buy two items and receive 30% off!

Home

Zuahaza is hosting their holiday sale all November long, with 15% off and free shipping with code Z15NOV. See our latest favorites from this artisan home decor brand here and here!

For our new member Nightshade, which is an amazing hybrid plant/tattoo shop in Seattle, you can snag 25% off everything in the plant shop using code CYBER2022 for one day only, beginning midnight on Monday the 28th.

TerraKlay‘s sale runs through 11/29 and includes 20% off of everything on their site! You might remember them from our DIY Furoshiki gift wrap or holiday tablescape last year when we shared their shibori dyed napkins and table runner.

New member ichcha (pictured above), who specializes in hand block-printed textiles, as well as clothing and accessories, is offering 30% off with GRATEFUL30 and free US shipping on orders over $75

Made Trade‘s Black Friday and weekend sale is 15% off sitewide with code GREENHOLIDAY. They’re also offering up to 60% off select sale items. This is definitely a one-stop shop for ethical gifts!

Last but not least, we recommend our own shop that Jenn and I launched a couple months ago! Enjoy 20% off of gifts, decor, artwork and more on wallflower. Learn more about us here!

Check out our sustainable directory and be sure to click on each thumbnail for more promotions (and just to discover amazing ethical brands and small businesses in general)–this list is far from exhaustive and we’ve only highlighted a few above before running out of time to post! 😌

A final note… Even when it comes to Small Business Saturday and other more intentional movements, my idea of shopping consciously still applies. This means I don’t just buy something just because it’s on sale, and I take a bit of time to get to know the brand and learn whether I’d actually recommend them to a friend.

Carbon Footprint 101

updated on February 3, 2023 by Mindy Chung

I feel like sometimes—in all the hullabaloo about living sustainably, going green, and just being more eco-friendly—we forget that not everyone automatically knows everything about green living. More often than not, articles on being green offer suggestions and tips assuming that the reader has a baseline understanding about what it all means.

But what about the novice eco-warrior? How are they supposed to start their journey to being more mindful? Looking up essential terms like “sustainability” means a bunch of academic journals pop up; and no one likes spending hours trying to understand one article, let alone a whole virtual book of them.

Knowledge should be inclusive and transparent—and that’s why I’ll be taking us back to the basics today with something we’ve all heard of, but maybe don’t yet fully understand: the carbon footprint.

Carbon Footprint 101

What is a carbon footprint?

Your carbon footprint isn’t a literal thing; it doesn’t mean you’re taking a physical step that somehow creates carbon dioxide. Instead, your carbon footprint is this concept that every choice you make creates greenhouse gases, and that those gases in turn affect our planet.

Choices like the kind of produce you buy, car you drive, and where you get your clothing from, all create some level of greenhouse gases. For example, we know that gasoline comes from fossil fuels, and burning fossil fuels creates exhaust which contributes to the depletion of our ozone layer.

Why does that matter?

Think of the ozone layer like plastic wrap around the Earth; protecting us from the sun’s UV rays. The same way that guacamole turns brown if you don’t seal it in an airtight container, the ozone layer keeps us from turning brown (i.e. the bad kind of roasty-toasty) from too much exposure to the sun.

Now, as the human population has continued to grow, more and more people are making choices that create greenhouse gases. While it may not seem like a huge deal if one person drives a gas vehicle, when it’s people in the billions, that amount of pollution adds up!

This is where our carbon footprint comes into play.

The carbon footprint of the average US citizen is about 16 TONS. That’s four times more than almost anyone else on the planet. And while there’s a bunch of factors that contribute to this number, a lot of it comes down to our culture of consumption.

Creating positive change

When you look up tips for reducing your carbon footprint it’s always advice like “walk to work,” or “eat less meat.” And while that’s good advice, it’s hard to make the “right” choice sometimes. Fresh fruits and vegetables cost more than junk food. Meat is a more accessible source of protein than seitan or chickpeas.

We make choices that are convenient because choosing sustainability isn’t always an accessible option.

The size of our carbon footprint is not entirely our fault, and I think that’s an important distinction to make. While we can try to live greener, it’s crucial not to get caught up in guilting yourself for not “doing enough.” Educating ourselves is the first step to reducing our carbon footprint, and so long as you understand how you’re affecting your environment, you’re bringing change through awareness.

And let’s be real, sometimes it’s easier for us to create positive changes that balance out our consumption rather than cutting back entirely. For those who have to commute to work, planting a tree, making the most of your food scraps, or donating to a charity may be a more realistic option to reduce your impact on the environment. Small acts do add up.

Remember, there is no “wrong” way to approach sustainability. Keep educating yourself, aim for small, sustainable changes over grand gestures, and you’ll be making more progress than you ever thought possible.

Not sure where to start? Here are some articles to help you find eco friendly habits that work for you!

How to Quit Palm Oil
Your Guide to Vegan Leather That’s Actually Sustainable
6 Sustainable Apps to Help You Become a More Conscious Consumer
A Beginner’s Guide to Shopping More Sustainably

Photo by cottonbro studio from Pexels

Sustainable Holiday Cards

updated on February 3, 2023 by Angela Hamilton

I love stationery no matter the occasion and often send cards to friends throughout the year, but there’s something special about sending a note during the holidays! And I’m definitely not one to buy a boxed set of 200 cards and send the same thing out to everyone I know (as if I know 200 people, haha). I love picking out a specific card for each person on my list… I’d say it’s because my first job was Hallmark, but the obsession began long before age 16. Anyway, to me, greeting cards can be an affordable way to support small design houses and independent artists and gift something that is just as display-worthy as art, but more accessible. Here are all the best sustainable holiday cards I’ve seen so far this year, by so many artists I admire.

17 sustainable holiday cards from our favorite artists

left to right, top to bottom: sister paper co merry and bright candles card / carolyn suzuki goods winter crew greeting card / modern peace & love holiday card / sending all the love christmas card / cozy + bright card from people i’ve loved / dear santa fundamental rights card / cozy holiday plantable card by plantedroot / blush season’s greetings card / naomi wilkinson merry christmas / klingercreative mushroom new years card / sister paper co driving home christmas card / merry christmas table setting card / holiday plant shelf card / carolyn suzuki goods season’s greetings card / plantedroot plantable cozy fireplace card / moglea holiday confetti / meowy christmas card by missive

Whether it’s mailing holiday cards or topping gifts with them, this is my favorite easy way to spread holiday cheer. If I’m giving it with a gift, I’ll often ditch the envelope (and save it to use later when I need one) or simply not write on it so that the recipient can reuse it. (Just another strange quirk my friends have come to expect from me, which complements my obsession with saving and reusing tissue paper.) Let us know which designs are your faves, and be sure to follow the artists you discover and love!

Cute Handmade Felt Ornaments

updated on February 3, 2023 by Angela Hamilton

I love DIY. Around this time each year, you can find me crafting Christmas ornaments, festive garlands, or cute gift toppers to embellish my gift wrap. But by now I know my limits when it comes to crafting. There are some things I just don’t have the skill (or patience to acquire the skill) for. And I learned long ago that working with felt was one of them, despite my love of it. So these cute handmade felt ornaments, all by different artists mostly on Etsy, are on the top of my list should I find space on my tree this year.

I came across these felt bird ornaments by Savana Lawler Textiles when searching for something else, which kicked off too much time spent searching for felt pretties!

The same designer also sells sparkly roller skate ornaments and these cute hand embroidered name baubles.

Pretty pink felt and needlework bulb ornament by Nviri Armenian Gifts

Sweetest Dala horse by bake apple designs

Orange felt ornaments by Citrus & Poppy which also make great party favors or a sweet garland. They also have lemons, limes, and peaches.

Felted wool woodland mushrooms by Mandys Favorite Things

Love the simplicity of these neutral felt embroidered star ornaments by Sweet Bow with Love

These brown and aqua felt mushrooms by Pills Against Boredom are too cute.

Custom felt initial ornaments with embroidered embellishments by Shop Elysian Fields

Hand embroidered hearts by Mexican Beauty Shop for the colorful Christmas tree

These intricately embroidered initial ornaments by Nelly Makes Embroidery might be the most beautiful ones I’ve seen! This shop also sells the loveliest mini embroidery hoop fits for the DIYers out there.

Frockdolly also offers embroidered felt ornaments in traditional bulb shapes. Stunning!

Love the sequins adorning these layered felt Christmas trees by Silk Road Bazaar Shop. BTW if you’re looking for quirkier or more novelty ornaments, definitely peruse this shop for more designs.

More mushrooms? Why not? These felted mushrooms from farmhouse pottery come in really pretty colors.

If you’re looking for something to jazz up a holiday gift, by the way, I definitely recommend tucking one of these pretties into the ribbon of your box! It’s so fun to offer a little gift before the gift.

Artisan Home Decor for the Conscious Maximalist

updated on May 24, 2023 by Angela Hamilton

It’s been a minute since we shared a moodboard for the conscious maximalist, so in honor of cozy season we’ve got one featuring our favorite artisan home decor in natural and warm hues. Perfect for fall, but work just as lovely in any other season, so you know you’ll keep it on display for a long time.

Like much of the internet, I’ve become obsessed with the pairing of lush, sagey greens and oranges, corals, and pinks. It’s a bit deeper than I usually go in my own decorating, but I find myself gravitating to it more and more, so I think it’s beyond a trend for me at this point!

My primary muse for this collection is that WIP (Work in Progress) LA Rug and how it marries warm color with green and blush. The rug is made in Bhadohi, India using mid-weight, flat-weave cotton. It also comes in a runner style which I’ve been dreaming about for my tiny kitchen!

Find more artisan home decor brands in our sustainable directory.