Gifts for Environmentalists
Environmentalist Gift Guide
If you know someone who says Greta Thunberg is their spirit animal, you might have a hard time buying a gift for them. Environmentalists don't collect "stuff" the way the average person does, because buying less physical items is a major part of reducing your carbon footprint. But there are still several ideas for useful items that will help a person reduce their impact on the environment. The ideas below are also useful if you are new to environmentalism and looking for ideas to help you reduce needless waste.
Environmental Care Package
Waste is ever-present in society, but there are some tools that help reduce waste. From reusable bags to metal straws, putting together items to help a person reduce their waste would be a very useful gift for anyone. Creating an "environmental care package" with several items that can be used in place of common disposable items is an excellent gift idea for the environmentalist in your life.
Reusable Bags
These reusable bags fold into fun shapes to be decorative and useful. Instead of a bowl of fake, plastic fruit by the door, a person could have a bowl of these reusable bags to have quick access to grab one or more when they are going to pick something up from the store. Below are reusable bags that can be folded into strawberries, fish, and flowers.
For bigger shopping trips like grocery shopping, there are these sturdy bags meant for carrying a lot of items. The bags featured here are capable of carrying 50 pounds. The bags on the left are machine washable.
Reusable Straws
Reusable straws are a great replacement for single-use plastic straws that are damaging to the environment. Featured here are a collapsible, metal straw that comes with a carrying case and brush. To the right is a reusable plastic straw that opens so it's easier to clean. Either of these would be perfect for taking on the go to use when visiting a restaurant. Whether you have sensitive teeth or just don't want to put your lips on a restaurant glass, reusable straws will help a person ditch their reliance on disposable straws.
Cloth Napkins
Napkins are something everyone uses everyday, usually multiple times a day, so replacing paper napkins with cloth napkins can save a lot of waste. These fun, colorful cloth napkins can also save a good amount of money in the long-term, replacing single-use napkins for years and years, potentially saving hundreds of dollars over the years.
Reusable Ziploc Bags
Reusable ziploc bags are great for sack lunches or storing leftovers. The bags featured here come in a pack with multiple sizes, so there are bags big enough for a sandwich and smaller bags for a snack. They are freezer safe, so they can also be used to store food in the freezer. Easy to wipe down, these bags are just as convenient as the disposable ziploc bags without the additional waste.
Reusable K-Cups
K-cups are convenient, but produce a lot of waste - and can be expensive if you drink a lot of coffee. If you have to use a Keurig coffee maker, whether because that's all there is in your office or because you wanted a fancy coffee maker so you bought a Keurig, you don't have to use a disposable K-cup. Reusable K-cups are easy to use and allow you to buy a bag of your favorite coffee and use it in a Keurig.