15 Eco-friendly Stocking Stuffers

Who doesn’t love stocking stuffers? We sure do. As Christmas is just around the corner, here are our picks on sustainable and eco-friendly stocking stuffers for your loved ones.

Yes, we all know that Christmas isn’t the most eco-friendly season of the year. Gift shopping, gift wrapping, traveling, food preparation, the decorations… However, there’s a lot you can do to make it a little bit more sustainable without losing the Holiday spirit. DIY decorations, eco-friendly presents, sustainable gift wrapping, zero waste cooking, and so on. 

If your family is into stocking stuffers, here are some eco-friendly ideas that they’ll absolutely love. All on a budget and undeniably useful.

Bamboo Toothbrush

This is pretty much one of the easiest eco-friendly swaps and one most people are most willing to give a try.

While this is not the most original eco-friendly stocking stuffers there is, it’s certainly one of the most useful. 

You can find it pretty much everywhere. From your local zero waste store to your everyday supermarket or even online. 

Tooth Tablets

Regular kinds of toothpaste are one of the biggest struggles among eco-friendly enthusiasts. There’s plastic everywhere, even in its filling (in the case of some brands).

While coconut oil-based toothpaste may not be everyone’s cup of tea, tooth tablets are a different yet effective approach.

The best part? Easy to carry around, time-saving, and plastic-free.

Compostable Floss

We all know floss is a fundamental part of every dental hygiene routine. The problem? Standard floss is not recyclable or biodegradable and has plastic in it.

The solution? Swap it for a biodegradable alternative. Like the ones from Georganics.

Remember, this might be the starting point of a more environmentally friendly dental care routine. One of the most eco-friendly stocking stuffers there is, right?

Shampoo Bar

Even though swapping their regular shampoo for a solid option is one of the most common eco-friendly swaps, there are still a lot of people having second thoughts about the concept.

Mostly, because they struggle with the idea of how effective it will be. In terms of cleansing and, of course, the final result.

So, why not seize this opportunity to introduce your loved ones to shampoo bars? 

Don’t forget to find out their hair type (normal, oily, curly, dyed) and get them one that suits their needs.

We’re in love with the ones from Mind The Trash and The Singular Olivia. Natural formulas that are gentle with your scalp and the planet, effective, and long-lasting. 

Ahh, don’t forget to tell them how to use it and it’s benefits. Feel free to share our article with them. 

Handmade Soap Bar

We’ve probably never paid so much attention to soap bars as we’ve been doing this year. Right? 

Yes, swapping your liquid hand soap for a solid version is one of the easiest and cheapest swaps you can do. But with all the hand washing that we’re doing on a daily basis, this became an absolute staple for everyone.

Instead of buying one at the supermarket, use this opportunity to support small businesses and local producers on Etsy. In case you don’t want to purchase anything online, your local zero waste or bulk store will have you covered. 

Deodorant

Let’s be frank, we all use it. On a daily basis. The problem? A lot of people are still using standard ones, packed with ingredients that are not so good for your health.

Luckily, there are more and more nasty-free options popping up in the market. Like Ben & Anna or Kutis. 

However, if one of these is over your budget or you want to DIY… here’s our homemade deodorant recipe. The best part? You can customize it by using the essential oil of your choosing. You’re welcome!

Reusable Cotton Rounds

Cotton rounds are an easy zero waste bathroom swap. They’re just like the not so eco-friendly ones we’ve been using for years. 

Is there any difference? Well, yes. Reusable cotton rounds can be used over and over again, which translates into money-saving. 

While this isn’t probably one of the first things that pop in your mind when you think about eco-friendly stocking stuffers, it’s certainly one of the most useful. And that your loved ones will thank you for when they put these into the test.

Where to buy these? Mind The Trash has the best waste-free ones (because their squared, so no fabric waste involved), Natura just launched theirs and you can even find these at Sephora. 

Reusable Cotton Swab 

So simple, so useful, and the perfect solution for one of the biggest environmental problems. That’s why a reusable cotton swab was a mandatory item on our eco-friendly stocking stuffer list. 

You can find these at your local zero waste store, online, or even at Natura stores. 

Natural Chapstick

Winter is coming. Which means layers and layers of clothes, cold hands, dehydrated and sensitive lips.

A chapstick is an oldie but goodie when it comes to Christmas stockings. So, why not make it more natural and eco-friendly?

Brands like Burt’s Bees and Dr. Bronner’s are some of the easiest to find options. But you can also make your own at home and store it in tiny tins, here’s the recipe. 

Fair Trade Chocolate Bar

Chocolate is one of those absolute Christmas staples or, at least, one of the most expected items when it comes to Christmas stocking stuffers.

It’s simple, affordable, and delicious. Plus, it will certainly put a smile on your face on a gloomy day. And we already had quite a few this year.

So why not give a sustainable touch to this oldie but goodie? Instead of a mainstream chocolate bar, get your loved ones a fair trade or artisanal one.

Where to get these? Local markets and local bulk stores are the perfect places to look at. If you happen to be in Madrid (Spain), Pepita y Grano usually has a fine selection at this time of the year.

Reusable Coffee Capsules

OK, this is probably our absolute favorite of the entire list when it comes to eco-friendly stocking stuffers. Yes, a bit more expensive than the other options (depending on your coffee maker) but totally worth the investment.

This is the present that any coffee lover and eco-friendly enthusiast will rejoice. 

Not only you’ll help them pursue their zero waste mission, but you’ll also help them save a lot of money in the long run. Especially because you can reuse these over and over.

While the ones made from plastic are quite easy to find especially on Amazon, the stainless steel ones can be used for a longer period of time. Which makes these a better investment. 

Organic Coffee

If the reusable coffee capsules are out of your budget, there’s another thing that the coffee lover in your family will absolutely love. Come on, this one is quite obvious. It’s coffee, of course.

How can you add an eco-friendly touch to it? Well, there are two things you can do: buy organic or fair trade and in bulk.

Coffee beans are an absolute staple among bulk stores and most grind your beans at the moment. So these are fresher than ever.

Ask for recommendations, try to find out what the coffee lover in your life loves most (arabica or robusta, they’ll know about this - trust us), and get them something special.

Organic Tea

While coffee isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, there’s probably a tea for everyone. Thanks to the many blends and medicinal purposes.

Just try to find out their taste preferences before you head to a tea shop. Otherwise, you’ll probably end up feeling overwhelmed and leaving the place empty-handed.

Your local bulk store is also a great place to shop for organic tea. In this case, don’t forget to bring a clean (and special) container.

Is this the most special item in this eco-friendly stocking stuffers list or what?

Cloth Napkins

Yes, cloth napkins are back in fashion.

While they’re probably not the first item that comes to your mind when it comes to eco-friendly products, they’re actually quite simple to use and money-saving.

Which makes this one of the most original eco-friendly stocking stuffers there is.

Don’t know where to find these? Etsy is undoubtedly a great place to start, plus you’re supporting a small business at the same time.

Reusable Snack Bag

Even though our lives are mostly spent indoors these days, a reusable snack bag always comes in handy. 

Beeswax wrappers, snack’n’go, stainless steel containers are all really nice and affordable options.

Want to add a special touch to it? Make your own at home. All you need are fabric scraps, wax (beeswax or vegan wax), and an iron.

In case you’re also looking for eco-friendly gift ideas for the holidays, don’t miss our article.