Climate-conscious gift guide
What to buy (and not buy)
Humans have been consuming alcohol for at least ten thousand years. If that isn’t sustainable, I don’t know what is…. You know what goes well with a drink? Music. Which also imposes no toll on sky or sea or forest… Combine alcohol and music and you get another ecofriendly phenomenon: dancing. The biosphere will support these three wonderful things in perpetuity.
Arno Kopecky, Let’s Get Drunk and Celebrate the Future
What would happen if instead of consuming new goods, we more or less just vowed to dance more? It’s a compelling thought experiment, and it’s also not too far from reality. One particular friend group of mine prides themselves on buying primarily investment pieces, like one incredible new pair of pants a year that might leave the rest of our mouths agape with sticker shock, that then merrily accompany them dancing in Bushwick.
The tricky thing about gift-giving, though, is that it’s much more about how the recipient feels than any point you’re trying to make. I’ve faced this tension ever since I started learning more about the climate solution and my potential role in it. If fall birthdays were the practice round in terms of reconciliation, then Christmas is the boss level. So how do we rescue “climate-conscious gift” from becoming an oxymoron? After some reflection, I believe that it starts with giving intentionally. This thinking is not exactly minimalism but does aim to minimize wasted resources.
Ask yourself:
What is an experience I can share with them?
What is something they need but haven’t gotten around to getting?
What is something they’ve been eying but haven’t treated themselves to?
Let’s brainstorm some ideas together. Your recipient might appreciate a special experience or service like:
a hiking or camping trip — reconnect with each other and nature (I’m still drooling over Getaway’s tiny cabin homes)
an acupuncture or massage package — relieve some stress (if you’re in Manhattan, I’d highly recommend Renew Body Wellness for massages)
an art or cooking class — do a quick Google search to find nearby one-off or semester-long classes (Manhattan — Happy Medium, School of Visual Arts; Houston — Glassell School of Art; for cooking, try to avoid Will Smith’s experience in Hitched, though)
tickets to a concert or ballet (it’s Nutcracker season)
Experiences are great because they’ll often introduce fewer emissions than physical goods. However, if your recipient typically appreciates gifts of the something ilk, try first for a digital good:
Crunchyroll — anime + manga subscription for uwu-lovers
Masterclass — platform for high-quality video courses from masters of their crafts
Criterion Channel — classics and independent films streaming service
Kindle Unlimited — books, audiobooks, and magazines subscription for the voracious reader
If the last thing your recipient wants is more screen time, and you like the idea of a high-utility gift, then go physical. I prioritize pre-loved over new and encourage you to, as well. Not only can you give a good a second life, but you’ll probably also get a great deal or find something very unique.
TheRealReal and Grailed — luxury consignment from brands like Jimmy Choo, Jacquemus, Rick Owens
Depop — secondhand for younger fashionistas
Etsy — vintage treasures, like this Soviet chess set
your local used bookstore / Amazon books — share an idea you can connect over
go on a thrifting date!
In the case that you’d like to purchase something new, gift from a brand that’s dedicated to lowering emissions. I’ve vetted over 100 brands; read on for the standouts.
🌎 These brands are climate-conscious because they combat overproduction + waste with new on-demand models or have adopted step-change improvements to materials sourcing, which typically accounts for a majority of emissions (Everlane at 61%, VEJA at 71%).
Clothing
PANGAIA and Bobblehaus — premium lounge and streetwear
KOTN, ALOHAS, and Reformation — classic looks (replaces Aritzia, Source Unknown, Mango, Zara, & Other Stories, Oak + Fort)
Girlfriend Collective — women’s athletic and loungewear (replaces Lululemon, Alo Yoga, Vuori, Outdoor Voices, Uniqlo)
For Days, MATE the Label, and ASKET — basics (replaces Uniqlo, Urban Outfitters)
Top/bottom pieces breaking the budget but still want to go bougie? Socks are seriously underestimated. I might make enemies with this recommendation but consider recycled cashmere socks.
Bags
Hyer Goods and Cuyana — leather goods for classic queens (replaces Madewell, JW PEI)
Baggu and Cotopaxi — sturdy, fun recycled nylon bags for the adventurous / gorp (replaces Urban Outfitters)
I’ve purchased Baggu’s cloud bag as an everyday and travel tote (laptop, books, water bottle) and am a huge fan. Gotten compliments as well.
Shoes
ALOHAS — wide-ranged fashion brand producing on-demand (replaces Stuart Weitzman, Mango, & Other Stories)
Feners — head-turning independent boots and sandals brand (same as above)
I’ve not yet tried either of these brands, but did 1) bring back to NYC the cowboy boots I asked for for my 16th birthday and 2) purchase shoes for a wedding from the luxury consignment platform TheRealReal.
Accessories
Meijuri, Linjer, and Automic Gold — fine jewelry from recycled metals
Akila and Le Sustain — clean-lined sunglasses with bio-based and recycled plastics
Le Sustain is a new product line from Le Specs—other companies trying to shift their product materials include Lego and Nalgene. Check out Lego’s botanical collection, which includes pieces made from bio-based plastic, and Nalgene’s recycled plastic bottles (also called Sustain).
Bonus Round
I wanted to highlight a couple of products that make me say “wow.” While each of these may or may not stand the test of time, they are at least comforting reminders of the hard technological innovation still happening.
Air Company’s Eu de Parfum is “the world’s first fragrance made from CO2” and features top notes of orange peel and fig leaf and a base of powdery musk and tobacco. “Made from CO2” means that carbon dioxide extracted from the air has undergone a photosynthesis-like process to produce an alcohol base for the perfume.
Karst’s stone-paper notebooks are exactly what they sound like — notebooks made from limestone in the form of calcium carbonate. The calcium carbonate powder is sourced from construction waste and pressed with resin to create “paper.”
Thanks for reading! I hope you feel a more prepared for the holiday season. Every consumer decision counts, and I’ve previously written about the “why” here. If you have ideas to share, leave a comment below. If you want personalized 1:1 advice, then join me at regulars.earth.