15 Sustainable Wedding Gifts Eco-Conscious Couples Will Love
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliated; we may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. We only ever add brands & products we truly believe in. Thank you for supporting the brands who are making the world a better place!
Sustainable Wedding Gifts & Ideas for Your Registry
Weddings are always a memorable event, whether that is for the bride and groom or their friends and family. They are the ideal moment for you to show how much you love your newlywed friends and how much you wish them happiness.
One easy way to show them you care is by gifting them a meaningful, high-quality present they will cherish for years - something that will serve them for their new life as husband and wife.
But if the bride and groom are eco-conscious, or if you simply want to purchase things with a lower environmental footprint, why don’t you choose a well-made, sustainable gift for them?
You can find an eco-friendly version of almost anything and everything these days! It means that you can easily purchase something that won’t hurt the environment and that you can feel good about gifting to your friends.
Of course, you cannot go wrong by picking something on the couple’s wedding registry. However, if you prefer to buy something else or an extra present, we have compiled a list of 15 sustainable wedding gifts that eco-conscious couples will love!
WHAT MAKES A WEDDING GIFT SUSTAINABLE?
What makes a wedding gift sustainable depends on the item itself, but generally, choose presents made with eco-friendly materials and those that received an eco-certification, such as Fairtrade, GOTS or OEKO-TEX Standard 100.
Buy from brands that are known to pay their workers fairly and provide safe and healthy working conditions. A wedding gift is also often sustainable when it is handcrafted, and it should always be high-quality.
WHAT ECO-FRIENDLY MATERIALS SHOULD YOU SEARCH FOR?
Again, the materials will depend on what you are buying, but try to look for natural and biodegradable materials, like linen, hemp, cork or organic cotton.
Recycled ones are another sustainable option since old materials are being upcycled and turned into new products. For instance, you could choose recycled polyester, reclaimed wood or recycled glass.
As a general rule, avoid synthetic materials or fabrics when they are not recycled because they are made from oil, which is one of the most polluting industries in the world.
NOW, OUR TOP PICKS FOR THOUGHTFUL, SUSTAINABLE WEDDING GIFTS
1) Towels from Anact
Materials: Hemp, Organic Cotton
Price: $60
Surprise your favorite newlywed couple by gifting them two towel sets from Anact!
The towel set includes a bath towel, a hand towel and a wash towel, and each is made from hemp and organic cotton.
Hemp towels are not only a more unique gift, but they are also very sustainable and practical. They dry quickly and are biostatic and ultra-absorbent.
Hemp also needs a lot less water and pesticides to grow compared to cotton, and it has a smaller environmental footprint than synthetic fabrics.
Anact’s towels are carbon-neutral, so you can feel good about your gift: the brand offsets the carbon footprint from the extraction of raw materials and the production process for this product. By doing so, it contributes to planting trees in a forest in Northern New Jersey.
2) Bedding Set from Under the Canopy
Materials: Organic Cotton
Price: $76-118
This bedding set that includes a duvet cover and two shams is an ideal gift for newlywed couples. Made of 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton, the sateen duvet set from Under The Canopy is extremely soft, well-made and naturally wrinkle-resistant. It has a 300 thread count and a more compact weave, making it a high-quality bedding set that will last for years.
The duvet cover also features a 9-button bottom closure and corner ties to keep the duvet insert in place.
This set is OEKO-TEX Made In Green certified, meaning that it has been tested for harmful substances and made in a more sustainable and ethical way.
To reduce plastic waste, the brand sends its bedding set in a reusable, organic cotton bag, which is ideal for a gift!
3) Bathrobes from Coyuchi
Materials: Organic Cotton
Price: $148
The unisex Air Weight organic robe sold by Cuyochi will make anyone super cozy and comfy after a long, warm shower or bath.
It is made from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton that was grown and woven in India.
Very soft and featuring double belt loops, the robe is designed to dry quickly thanks to its absorbent weave.
Cuyochi’s bathrobe is Fair Trade and Made Safe certified, and the brand donates 1% of its sales to 1% For The Planet. This unisex model is perfect for a couple, and if you purchase two, you get 15% off!
You even get to see how much water is saved, how many emissions are avoided, and how much land is farmed without pesticides to produce this organic cotton robe compared to if it was made of conventional cotton.
4) Cookware set from Caraway
Materials: Ceramic, Aluminum, Stainless Steel
Price: $395
This complete cookware set from Caraway includes two pans, two pots, their respective lids, and a practical storage solution to keep them organized in the kitchen.
Each piece is ceramic-coated, has an aluminum core and stainless steel handles. A true staple for healthy cooking, the Caraway cookware set is non-toxic and free of harmful materials like PTFEs, PFAs, PFOA or heavy metals.
The pots and pans can be used on induction, gas and electric stovetops, and they are oven-safe up to 550°F.
Ceramic cookware is naturally non-stick, which means that you need less oil for cooking. Caraway’s set also releases up to 60% less CO2 emissions during the production process compared to traditional non-stick cookware.
5) Dutch Oven from Our Place
Materials: Ceramic, Aluminum
Price: $132
The Perfect Pot from Our Place is more than just a dutch oven: it is a multipurpose pot designed to replace a stockpot, a saucepot, a dutch oven, a steamer, a roasting rack, and other specialized cookware. Like a true kitchen must-have, it does everything a person may need, from boiling to roasting, baking to crisping. Available in seven colors, it features an integrated spoon rest, a built-in strainer and a removable roasting rack.
Not only is it compatible with all cooktops, but the Perfect Pot is also very lightweight as it weighs a third the weight of traditional dutch ovens!
Its body is made from aluminum to allow for quick and even heat distribution, and the coating is made of ceramic, meaning that it is free of toxic materials.
6) Kitchen Knife Set from Ozeri
Materials: Stainless Steel
Price: $40
This 6-piece Japanese knife set with its rotating knife block and tablet holder from Ozeri is the perfect gift for your newlywed friends if they love cooking.
The set includes a chef knife, a bread knife, a utility knife, a slicing knife and a paring knife. Each one is handcrafted, made of Japanese 420J2 grade stainless steel in an elegant satin finish.
They feature ergonomic stainless steel handles that make chopping veggies very easy and comfortable, providing stability and control. The knives are highly resistant to stains, odors, tarnishing and rust.
The whole Ozeri set comes with a beautiful, sustainably-sourced rotating knife block made of acacia wood. The block also doubles as a tablet holder, which is very practical for people who regularly look for recipes on their phones or tablets.
7) Wine Glass Set from Shades of Green
Materials: Recycled Glass
Price: $68 (set of 4)
The recycled wine glasses from Be Home Décor on Shades of Green's website are a meaningful gift for all wine lovers that also care about their environmental impact. Made from 100% recycled soda bottle glass, they come as a set of four glasses. These hand-blown glasses are made in Bolivia, and they are dishwasher and microwave safe.
With their beautiful shades of blue, they are a wonderful addition to any dining table!
The company that sells them is a small family-owned business and makes more than 90% of its glassware out of recycled glass. It has taken many steps to become more sustainable, from its materials to how its products are produced.
8) Table Cloth from Minna
Materials: Cotton
Price: $165
The Stacks tablecloth from Minna is a neutral, yet beautifully designed tablecloth that is perfect to use for special occasions. Available in blue-gray or cream, it is also a lovely piece to decorate a table on a daily basis. The tablecloth is ethically made using 100% cotton and is dyed with eco-friendly, non-toxic colors. It is handwoven by a family-run workshop in Mexico, and it gets softer and more absorbent with every wash.
Minna is a certified B Corporation, which means that the brand meets the highest standards for social and environmental performance. Its products are sustainably made, and the company works with small artisans who have mastered traditional techniques for generations.
9) Serving Board from Newly Goods
Materials: Reclaimed Wood
Price: $78
A good serving board is an important staple to have when someone has company over. From bread to cheese to hors d’oeuvres, it makes everything look so much better! The Di Lusso serving board sold by Newly on Made Trade’s website is an elegant piece that will embellish any dinner table. It is hand-milled and fashioned from reclaimed wood, so all the serving boards have small details that make them even more unique.
The serving board is made in the United States and shipped in 100% recycled packaging.
Made Trade donates 1% of each purchase to 1% For The Planet. It is also climate-neutral certified, meaning that it offsets its entire carbon footprint (from the production process to the delivery).
10) Throw Blanket from Anchal
Materials: Organic Cotton
Price: $298
Throw blankets are a gift that everyone loves receiving: they make everything immediately super cozy and welcoming! Who doesn’t like a beautiful, soft throw blanket?!
The Prism quilt throw from Anchal has a modern design featuring prism-inspired geometric stitchwork. It is made with six layers of 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton, and it has the hand-stitched signature of the maker.
The throw blanket is Fair Trade and made by a woman artisan in India.
Purchasing a wedding gift from Anchal means that you are supporting a non-profit organization. The brand works with small artisans who left the commercial sex trade and helps them be more independent.
Thanks to Anchal, those artisans now have the means to invest in their health and their children’s education, and they can live a safer and healthier life.
11) Handwoven Basket from Obakki
Materials: Palm
Price: $118
This large woven palm basket from Obakki is a beautiful wedding gift that can be used both as a storage solution and a decor item.
Thanks to this sturdy and large basket, your newlywed friends will be able to tuck away their throw blankets, store their knick-knacks out of the way, or simply use it as a laundry hamper.
The Obakki basket has black and natural stripes, and it is made with sustainably-sourced palm and colored using natural dyes. The palm is hand-braided and sewn together by weavers in Mexico.
These talented artisans use traditional skills and techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation. Each Obakki item they create is handcrafted in limited quantities to make sure they are unique, well-made and sustainable.
12) Rug from Kiliim
Materials: Wool, Cotton
Price: $95
This Bricks wool rug sold by Kiliim on Made Trade’s website will give any home a cozy, comfortable and home-like feel. Made of wool with a cotton base, it is a piece of art in itself!
This rug is handcrafted by artisans in Egypt who use traditional kilim weaving techniques.
The cotton used is premium Egyptian cotton that is sourced from local markets in Cairo.
The colored wool yarn is spun from upcycled remnants from local carpet factories that would have otherwise thrown them away.
The Kiliim rug is Fair Trade, meaning that the artisans who made it are paid a living wage and work in safe conditions. As mentioned previously, all Made Trade orders are carbon-neutral and the brand is a member of 1% For The Planet.
13) Organic Kitchen Herbs Growing Kit from Gardener’s
Price: $60
For couples who love gardening or simply try to live more sustainably, why not give them a gardening kit with some organic seeds as a wedding gift? This would be a more unique and personalized present, and any gardener would be very excited to receive it! This galvanized organic kitchen herbs growing kit from Gardener’s is easy to use and ideal for people who love adding a few aromatic herbs to their homemade meals.
The kit includes five galvanized steel pots with drainage holes, a leak-proof tray, five packets of organic seeds, a mini trowel and an organic seed starting mix.
Whether your friends prefer to grow their herbs in a garden, in their kitchen, or on their windowsill, they will be able to pick some fresh organic thyme, basil, parsley, dill or cilantro at all times.
14) Composting Bin from Subpod
Materials: Polypropylene
Price: $150
If your friends who are getting married are into sustainability, they would probably love to get a composting system like the Subpod Mini!
The Subpod Mini is an in-garden composting system and worm farm that only requires five-minute weekly maintenance.
It is a great system for both first-time composters and more advanced gardeners.
The Subpod Mini is pest-proof and smell-free: its ventilation system disperses odors before we can even smell them. It comes with a food-grade, stainless steel aerator, a natural jute worm blanket and a practical composting guide.
With this composting system, your newlywed friends will not only divert their food scraps from landfills, but they will also improve the quality of their soil, and thus, will be able to grow healthy veggies in their garden.
15) Luggage Set from Paravel
Materials: Recycled Polycarbonate, Aluminum
Price: $825
What better wedding gift than a luggage set to encourage your favorite couple to go on many adventures and trips together?
The Aviator luggage set from Paravel includes a carry-on and a bigger checked suitcase. Both feature 360° frictionless carbon steel bearing wheels, a telescopic handle, interior pockets, an accessories pouch, an interior compression board, side handles and a TSA-approved lock.
The suitcases are made with recycled materials: the exteriors are produced using recycled polycarbonate, while the waterproof interiors are made from a total of 36 recycled water bottles. The brand also uses aircraft-grade recycled aluminum for the handles as well as recycled zippers.
Not only are the materials sustainable, but the Aviator suitcases are also carbon-neutral: Paravel offsets the carbon emissions from the production process and shipping!
About the Author
Eva Astoul is a French freelance writer, specializing in content related to sustainability, simple living, and a growth-focused healthy lifestyle. She runs her own blog, Green With Less, to inspire people to live a more minimalist and sustainable life.
MAKE SURE TO PIN THE PHOTO BELOW TO SAVE THIS POST FOR LATER!
WANT MORE SUSTAINABLE BRANDS? VISIT OUR BRAND DIRECTORY!
Our Brand Directory is home to hundreds of sustainable brands, from makeup to cleaning supplies, from underwear to shoes. We have broken everything down by category for easy shopping, along with discount codes unique to Sustainably Chic viewers.
