Gifts for the Sustainable Traveler: These gifts with a purpose make the holidays even more enjoyable. Exploring the world invites gratitude – shouldn’t give a holiday foster the same spirit? From protecting vulnerable wildlife and the environment to benefitting women entrepreneurs and indigenous peoples, these gifts give back to making the world a better place.
Socially Conscious Gifts for the Sustainable Traveler
- Luxurious Plastic
British accessories designer Anya Hindmarch continues her environmental activism with the “I Am a Plastic Bag” collection, which includes 32 half-liter plastic bottles and this tote made from ecologically tanned leather. $1,050, anyahindmarch.com.
- Warm Vibes
This wool-and-cotton-blend intarsia-knit sweater feels even warmer and fuzzier: Getting to know it by sustainable fashion pioneer Stella McCartney. $1,295, stellamccartney.com.
- Hair hero
HiBAR’s all-natural solid shampoo and conditioner come in recyclable boxes to eliminate polluting plastic bottles and packaging—and leaks—in your carry-on. From $10, hellohibar.com
- Bubbles, No Trouble
French Champagne house Ruinart is breaking away from traditional cardboard gift-box packaging with its Second Skin Case, an innovative protective shell made entirely of wood fibers sourced from sustainably managed European forests. $90, premierchampagne.com.
- Charmed Giving
Tiffany & Co.’s Save the Wild collection helps protect African animals – it has already raised more than $10 million to aid the Wildlife Conservation Network’s efforts to protect lions, elephants, and rhinos. From $275, tiffany.com.
- Woman Power, Packaged
The Tory Burch Foundation’s annual seedbox is filled with Tory Burch signature scarves, along with products from female entrepreneurs (Terra Beauty Bars Floral Body Oil, Little Postage House Stationery, and more). All net proceeds benefit the Tory Burch Foundation, which advances women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship for US$98, toryburch.com.
- Connected to Communities
This dramatic cotton sunglasses chain is handmade and made by artisans in Thailand for equine hands, a brand founded by a Laotian refugee turned American fashion entrepreneur. The brand is dedicated to empowering communities through economic development, education, and environmental protection. $95, equalhands.com.
- The Power of Whole Grains
Xoopar’s Mister Bio Eco-Friendly Universal Multi Charging Cables feature a braided cord made from recycled plastic bottles and a biodegradable enclosure made from natural wheat. Even better: At the end of the charger’s usable life, it is designed to be completely dismantled. $31 for a set of two, neimanmarcus.com.
- Brush With Greatness
MamaP’s bamboo toothbrushes are made of 95 percent less plastic than standard drugstore toothbrushes, and their handle colors match the charitable cause that each purchase supports (blue for ocean conservation, blue for saving bees) yellow, and so on). From $8, mamap.life.
- Cocoa Connection
Vosges puts Haute-Chocolate Italy on the dessert menu with its nine-piece Piemonte Hazelnut Praline Bonbon collection. The Chicago-based artisanal chocolate company adheres to the Green Purchasing Oath, using only post-consumer paperboard for packing materials. $34, vosgeschocolate.com.
- Reinvented Chic
Tom Ford timepiece fights against pollution with this minimalist men’s 002 ocean plastic watch, which features an equivalent of 35 bottles in elements ranging from a hand-wrapped strap to a matte black case surrounding a Swiss-made quartz movement. Reproduces the equivalent of plastic. $995, neimanmarcus.com.
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