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Our Favorite Affordable, Sustainable Gift IDeas
If you’re on a budget, have a lot of gifts to buy, or are looking for smaller gifts to send through the mail, this gift guide is for you. All of the eco-friendly and ethically-made gifts on this guide are under $50.
The joy of gift-giving doesn’t have to break the bank!
Why Affordability is Important to sustainability
Affordability and accessibility is a crucial part of true sustainability. If it’s not accessible to the majority, then “sustainability” is just another exclusive term for the elites of our society. That’s why—while we also don’t believe that a $5 t-shirt can be truly sustainable either—we strive to recommend sustainable and ethical brands and products at lower price ranges as much as possible.
P.S. If you’re looking for more affordable and eco-friendly brand recommendations, check out our post on affordable sustainable clothing brands, or check out this article on the best places to buy and sell vintage and secondhand!
Our Top Picks for Affordable, sustainable gifts Under $50:
Wooden Pin from Small Victories
Price: $10
A fun little stocking stuffer for your nature-loving friend, this cicada wooden pin from Small Victories is made with maple wood from fast-growing trees sourced from responsibly managed forests.
Did you know these musical insects emerge in synchronized cycles every 13 to 17 years across Eastern North America? We're sure you are familiar with their unique sound!
Small Victories, based out of Easthampton, MA, specializes in plantable seed cards, original illustrations, pronoun badges, and accessories. Plus, 10% of the profits are donated to LGBTQ+ and ecological organizations.
Gift Card to Wearwell
Price: You choose!
Wearwell is a curated marketplace, membership, and styling service that would be a perfect gift for the sustainable fashionista in your your life. You can choose your gift card amount or gift a one-year membership to wearwell (for $96). Then, your loved one can cash in their gift card for clothing, accessories, home goods, or a membership and get 10% off every order, free shipping and returns, access to stylists who can help them decide on what looks are best for them, and more perks.
Undies from Subset
Price: $18-20
I absolutely love my Subset undies and bralettes—they’re so comfortable but also cute.
They’re all Fair Trade Certified and made out of 95% GOTS and OEKO-TEX certified organic cotton, combined with 5% elastane for comfort and stretch. They come in a range of neutrals along with beautiful, limited-edition hues.
Oh, and for the soon-to-be-moms out there, they have a new maternity collection as well!
Toiletry Bag from Anchal
Price: $36
The cross-stitch toiletry bag is made from GOTS-certified cotton and canvas lined. The beautiful cross-stitch design comes in 6 colors. Anchal is women-owned, with Fair Trade products that support artisans in India. The toiletry bag has a front pocket, as well as the main compartment, for storing small items and ones you need to reach easily – we love multi-pocket bags.
You can read more about why we love Obakki here.
Aubergine Scarf from Obakki
Price: $37
This beautifully vibrant, modal-blend scarf benefits the community of Obojil, Uganda, where the only water source is a contaminated stream that takes over two hours to reach and makes everyone sick. When Obakki sells 500 of these limited-edition scarves, 100% of the net proceeds will go directly toward drilling a water well in Obojil, changing every life for the better. They have several different gorgeous patterns and bold colors!
Statement Roll-On® Bracelets from Aid Through Trade
Price: $38 for Set of 3
Aid Through Trade (one of the founding members of the Fair Trade Federation!) is the original creator of the famous Roll-On® Bracelet. Now, the brand employs over 200 female artisans in Nepal. All of their Roll-On® Bracelets are made with the highest quality glass beads and hand-dyed cotton thread and come with a lifetime guarantee. They fit most wrists and come in a variety of colors.
Hamesha Socks from FAZL
Price: $29
These super cozy socks are hand-knit in the Himalayas of India using indigenous designs that have been passed down from mother to daughter. Fair Trade and vegan, the socks are made from acrylic yarn which is super durable and long-lasting, and doesn’t come with the itch that a lot of winter socks do. And the team at Fazl is in the process of transitioning to even more sustainable materials. Plus, every purchase gives back to an orphaned child in India.
Mediterranean Turkish Towel from QuiQuattro
Price: $45
This lightweight and versatile towel is hand-loomed out of 100% Turkish cotton and non-toxic, AZO-free dyes - a great gift idea for the jet-setter in your life because it's compact & easy to travel with, whether you're headed to the beach or resort (or just to the pool down the street!). Plus, with each purchase, you support a micro-business in Turkey & give back to the communities they work with to promote women's education.
Free to Protect Tote Bag from The Tote Project
Price: $36
All of The Tote Project’s canvas tote bags and pouches are made out of organic cotton and water-based, eco-friendly inks.
They’re all ethically made in India by a fair trade social enterprise, and 10% of their profits give back to fight human trafficking and support survivors.
They truly have some of the cutest designs!
Organic Cotton T-shirt Hair Towels from Sunrise Bliss
Price: $30-39
Handmade from 100% GOTS certified organic knit cotton and low-impact dyes, these soft, absorbent t-shirt towels dry hair quickly while leaving you with less breakage, tangles, and frizz. They’re super lightweight, too, so they’re great for everyday use as well as travel. They come in three different sizes for various hair lengths. You can read more about why I LOVE these towels here and here!
Variety 6-Pack of Lip Balm from Zambeezi
Price: $21
Zambeezi’s six organic and Fair Trade flavors will leave your loved one’s lips looking and feeling as luscious as ever!
The flavors include: gingery Lemongrass, tangy Tangerine, delightful Wild Rose, tantalizing Sweet Basil, naturally-protecting Suncare and moisturizing Honeybalm. Each purchase helps to regenerate communities and ecosystems.
Superwhisk & Matcha Kit from Golde
Price: $50
Golde’s Pure Matcha is made with 100% pure, shade-grown green tea leaves from Uji, Japan. It’s great for lattes, smoothies, and more. This kit comes with a Superwhisk, which is a USB-rechargeable whisk that instantly froths your favorite superfood lattes to perfection. It’s handheld and rechargeable, so it’s perfect for your caffeinated friend on the go.
Champ Portable Charger from Go Nimble
Price: $49.95
This would be a great gift for your friend or family member who is always on their phone. Eco-friendly tech is still pretty difficult to find, so I’m always excited when I find tech accessories made from more sustainable materials.
This one from Go Nimble is made from recycled aluminum and plastic. It will work with both Apple and Android devices and you can get up to 80% charge in 30 minutes!
Colorful Mini Porcelain Vase from Made Trade
Price: $22
How sweet is this vase?! It will surely add a cheery pop of color to a desk, windowsill, or countertop. Artisans handcraft them out of clay porcelain in the ancient kiln city of Jingdezhen, China. (Jingdezhen’s was a major kiln site in the 11th century — over 1,000 years ago!)
Made Trade carries an entire collection of gorgeous vases if you want a different size, color, or design.
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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.
