13 Unusual Christmas Gift Ideas with an Eco Twist

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! The phrase that gets used more and more often as the winter holidays approach us. If you are looking for the perfect Christmas gift guide, come and see what suggestions we at Project Nord have prepared for you!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

It’s December, the time of family, appreciation, love, and miracles. Even though Christmas is the time of winter solstice, the shortest day and the longest night of the year, as well as the layer of snow outside that indicates the temperature is below 0° Celsius, the cosy and warm feeling makes us so bright and warm inside.

It’s the time of the year that the shop assistants have been dreading... it’s the Christmas season! The time when consumers are willing to buy gifts for every member of the family without thinking twice.

Here is a list of 13 suggestions of what to get your loved ones for Christmas, while keeping green living and sustainability in mind! Check out the list and get inspiration for gifts that will not only bring smiles upon your family and friend’s faces but also benefit our planet.

Why are we exchanging gifts?

The cosy and magical Christmas time can bring a wave of stress upon us. We have to buy presents!

Even though there’s no clear answer to why the gift exchange phenomenon takes place, gifts themselves often serve as rewards. For example, for good behaviour children would get bigger and better gifts than kids who have misbehaved.

In addition, though Christmas is considered a Christian holiday, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, presents do not seem to have a clear connection to Christian faith. It’s true, religious leaders often criticise it as Christmas is now used for marketing purposes and added profit to companies, detracting from the true spirit of the holiday.

Even though every single Christmas elf in the form of a human wants all the best for the gift receivers, we at Project Nord want to suggest rather more sustainable solutions on how to make this Christmas special for your dear friends and family members.

Before we get to the list of gift ideas, consider implementing our concept of Christmas gift-giving among your family or friends! This year, you can make a lottery within the group of people you are celebrating with so each person has to bring one present to the person whose name they get in Secret Santa lottery. That way, the stress levels drop significantly and you can put more thought into the particular gift.

Keep reading to find out what our Christmas gift ideas are and surprise your loved ones with wonderful gifts that are better for our planet!

Here is the list of 13 eco-friendly gift ideas!

Beeswax wrap

This gift will be perfect for people who take lunch to work from home or enjoy a picnic outdoors, travel and anyone else who brings food with them at times.

Beeswax wrap is a piece of cloth covered with wax, which allows using it instead of plastic wrap. No more sandwiches covered in single-use plastic! In the long term, this gift not only helps saving money but also is so much better for the planet!

The wax cloth can wear off by time, but it is biodegradable and you can even use it as a fire starter when it is not able to fulfil its function anymore. While still in use, you are able to wash it with mild soap and cool water (as the hot water might melt the wax) and continue wrapping your sandwiches, leftover food or anything else that requires wrapping!

If you want to make this gift even more special, you can find tutorials on YouTube and actually make the wrap yourself! It is not too complicated and the gift receiver will for sure appreciate your efforts and make a lot of use of the gift.

2. A poster together with a tree planted in their name

A poster is an incredibly simple way to freshen up the apartment according to any season such as winter holiday, midsummer, Easter or any other. Indeed, there are also posters that will complement the interior of home at any time of the year.

Project Nord posters are a great addition to any design. Surprise your friends or family with a gift that will make their every day more enjoyable! In addition, we at Project Nord plant a tree for every poster bought. It will be the greatest addition to your gift!

Trees give us oxygen for breathing while we live our lives on this planet and there’s no way around it – humans do need oxygen. Give your friends and family the joy of having trees planted in their name!

With a gift from Project Nord, you are not only able to show your love for the planet, but also for the gift recipient. Make the Christmas time special and magical around you! Find your favourite poster on the Project Nord website now, so it can arrive before Christmas!

3. Planet-friendly drinking straws

If the person you’re looking to surprise this Christmas enjoys sipping any drink, iced coffee or water using a straw, this gift will be perfect for them.

Due to global warming and pollution, people have come up with other alternatives of single-use plastic products, one of them being the plastic straws that are replaceable with several alternatives. There are metal straws, paper straws, bamboo straws, and even collapsible straws to bring with you at all times!

A minus about paper straws is that they are still single-use products. Paper doesn’t resist water for a long time and falls apart soon after making contact with liquid.

However, the metal, bamboo and collapsible straws are not as fragile and can be used for years.

We recommend the metal and collapsible straws for a Christmas gift. The straws are aesthetically pleasing so will make a beautiful gift. While metal straws will be perfect for use at home, the collapsible ones will help the gift receiver avoid plastic use not only at home, but also while getting a drink on the go!

There are plenty of straw designs on the market at the moment, so be sure to find the one that you like the most and delight your friend or family member with the trendy gift.

4. Melt your old candles into new ones

Let’s talk wax again! The perfect handmade gift from you to your loved one will be a handmade candle.

We are all familiar with how the candles, which are not made in a glass container or metal case, can burn out leaving candle wax behind. A sustainable way to make sure to use all the leftover candle wax is to remake it in new candles.

The directions are simple! Melt all of your leftover wax together, pour it into a silicone candle form and be sure to add the wick, so the candle can burn. By the way, there are plenty of silicone forms available online, so you are able to create a candle in a shape that will look amazing in the gift receivers’ interior!

Here is a tip for you – if you have leftover candles in different colours, melt them separately and create a multi-colour layer candle! By the way, if you add any scented oils, the candle will not only bring light, but also put a lovely aroma around the room. The fact that the candle will be handmade and will not create any excess waste is a wonderful addition to a Christmas gift.

5. Reusable ‘cotton’ pads

Reusable cotton pads are a sustainable alternative to those that are used daily to remove makeup by billions of people all over the world. The common cotton pads are wrapped in packs of plastic in order to remain clean while sitting on a shelf in a beauty store or supermarket.

We’re always looking for new ways to reduce unnecessary purchases and avoid waste. Even though the price might seem high at first glance, in the long term it pays off to use the reusable pads. They last for years! Another benefit is that you don’t have to worry about purchasing a new pack of cotton pads every month or so, as you will have a bundle that lasts for a very long time.

They can be washed in the washing machine and do not require any special care. Take one concern off a friend’s beauty list by giving them a gift that will last for years to come!

6. Hemp clothing

Even though hemp is a cousin of the famous plant marijuana, they are notably different and hemp carries many beneficial qualities. Hemp has none of the THC substance, the one that is found in cannabis and that people use for getting high. Hemp is a different story, yet overshadowed by society’s negative assumptions about marijuana.

Did you know that hemp saves water? Hemp only uses 1/20th of the amount of water as regular cotton to grow and process! Hemp fabric is highly durable and gets softer to the skin as it wears.

A great addition to hemp clothing is that it saves skin by naturally filtering UV light. It’s more sustainable, requires less water and is better not only for the planet but also for the person who is wearing it.

Hemp clothing is a fantastic way to surprise your loved ones for Christmas. Wearing the clothing will make the person feel better in it, as it comes with many inspiring qualities to live a life that leaves less of an ecological footprint. Show them what they didn’t know they needed!

7. Power bank with solar charging

Yes, you heard that right, a power bank that soaks up the light energy from the sun and can charge without the usage of outlet power from your home! It will be a fabulous gift for travellers, as well as anyone else who can use the extra battery of portable power bank.

There are several reasons why a solar power bank is the way to go. The owner can charge it anywhere there’s sun, leaving one less gadget to charge at home! There’s no use of an empty power bank, as there’s no way it can help you with your dying phone.

Make sure to put this gift under the Christmas tree this year! It will be an unexpected and fascinating gift.

Find your favourite poster on Project Nord website!

8. Reusable water bottle

Even though at this day and age we like to believe that anyone carries a reusable water bottle with them, it’s not always the case.

Think about who on your Christmas list doesn’t have the reusable bottle and be sure to present it to them this Christmas! There are so many designs and sorts of reusable bottles – plastic, stainless steel… even insulated bottles that will keep your water or beverage warm during winter months and fresh and cold for summer!

The market is very broad for reusable bottles at the moment so be sure to do your research and find the one you have been looking for. By the way, in case you don’t have your own water bottle now, what about gifting yourself one this Christmas?

The reusable water bottle will not only save your money in the long term but also take care of our planet. Reduce the cheap, single-use plastic use and bring quality solutions in your life, as well as for your friends and family this Christmas.

9. Reusable coffee cup

Continuing the theme of liquids, a thermos cup for taking the hot beverages on the go is a great gift idea! It can be useful for those who take drinks with them from home as well as for the daily coffee shop visitors!

A great bonus of this gift is the money it saves! It’s for sure cheaper to make your morning coffee at home rather than in the coffee shop. However, if that is what your friend or family member prefers, many coffee shops offer a discount if they make the drink in your reusable cup. How amazing is that?

There are also coffee cups that are not meant to keep the drink warm. It can happen sometimes that the thermos mug holds the drink hot so well, that tongue is burned and the beverage is undrinkable for a couple of hours. A great alternative is a cup that is made of glass, yet has the lid to keep your drink safe from spilling! Perfect temperature for your drink and zero waste, it’s a win-win!

Think about which one of the reusable cups will be better for your friend or family member and be sure to make their daily routine more planet-friendly while saving the buck!

10. Vegan cookbook

Many people have a distorted perception of the vegan diet. They might think that it’s impossible to feel full after having vegan food and that vegan dishes consist only of carrots and green leaves. Yet, it is surely not true!

The vegan diet is considered to be the most sustainable and planet-friendly. A huge reduction of meat-eating is essential to avoid climate breakdown! Beef consumption needs to fall by 90% and be replaced with plant-based options, such as beans and pulses.

An enormous reduction of farming and meat consumption must take place, as these are factors make the worst impact on our planet.

Hereby a gift idea of a vegan cookbook is the perfect way to show how wonderful vegan food can be! It’s healthy and fun, be sure to make your family and friends try it! Plus, this sort of gift will be great for vegans, vegetarians, and also people who consume meat.

Mother Nature will thank you for promoting the sustainable diet and so will the gift receiver, as they will enter a whole new world of fabulous meals!

11. Lunch box and spork

Are you a bit confused about what a spork is? Don’t you worry, we will tell you about it and why this is a wonderful Christmas gift.

Lunchboxes are regaining their popularity now while people are more engaged with the sustainability topic. We want to keep our planet healthy for as long as possible and lunchboxes can actually help with single-use plastic usage reduction!

While it might seem appealing to go and grab a sandwich from a supermarket or vendor during lunch break, you can also prepare a tasty meal for yourself at home and take it with you. It will not only keep more money in the bank but will also reduce the waste, as your food will be in a reusable lunch box and not wrapped in single use plastic!

Now let’s talk spork. A spork is a combination utensil combining the fork and the spoon. It means that you can not only eat soup but also have a proper meal that requires a fork to eat. The spork doesn’t consume a lot of space and therefore will be a perfect companion for your lunchbox. Throw it in your bag and start noticing how often you can actually put it in use!

A lunchbox and spork can also be of great use when travelling. Eat your homemade lunch on the top of the mountain or on the 5 hour train ride without the presence of single-use plastic.

Be sure that your friends or family members have the opportunity to have an environmentally-friendly meal anywhere they want!

12. Garden in the kitchen

Bring a real garden to your friends or family’s kitchen! A great idea of Christmas gift that will be useful at any season is preparing them pods with soil and seeds of plants that they can use in the kitchen when they grow. Now, they only have to add some water and wait for the greens to grow.

For example, basil, peppermint, dill or even rocket salad! The opportunities are broad; just see what seeds are available to you at the local supermarket or shop to create this gift now!

This gift will be perfect for a person who enjoys cooking or loves the taste of summer. Now they will be able to add fresh ingredients to their meals. The best part is that these plants will grow in their kitchen! In addition, they will appreciate your efforts in choosing and formatting beautiful containers where the goods will grow.

Of course, this is a sustainable gift and they won’t need to purchase those plants wrapped in plastic, because they can get the fresh produce from the window sill in their kitchen!

13. Audiobook subscription

The last but not least in the Christmas gift idea guide from Project Nord is an audiobook subscription! This is a great way to get through the long books in just a few hours and develop new knowledge in any field without effort.

Audiobooks are the same books that we can find in a library or bookstore, but the reading of them is recorded in an audio format so it’s marvellously easy to get through them!

In addition, there’s no unnecessary product consumption as the audiobook listening only requires an app on the phone and headphones, in order to be able to listen outside of the house.

Broaden your friend’s and family’s perspectives; keep their brains sharp and active. This is a great way to show how much you love and care about them! Knowledge is the best gift to give at any time.

We do hope you found your perfect Christmas gift with an eco-twist somewhere between our recommendations. We wish you a wonderful holiday season and strength and happiness in the New Year. We hope 2020 has plenty of wonderful surprises aligned for you.