Whether you’re shopping for the perfect birthday, anniversary, or baby shower gift, it’s important to understand what type of consumer you are and the impact your gift will have on the environment. These days, more and more people are pushing to be conscious consumers, meaning they’re shopping for eco-friendly and sustainable gifts that aren’t harmful to people, society, or the environment.
Without further ado, we curated a list of local and environmentally friendly products that’ll not only impress the giftee, but will last a while, too. Do both the Earth and your family and friends a favor thanks to this comprehensive gift guide.
Butter and Cheese Making Classes
Tulip Tree Creamery offers a variety of classes that teach patrons how to make different cheeses and butter, which make for more sustainable living. The class boasts the opportunity to learn about dairy science, tips on how to store and use it, and concludes with a tour of the Tulip Tree Creamery facility.
Butter and cheese making classes, starting at $60 at tuliptreecreamery.com
Munchtime Chopsticks
Using chopsticks just got easier with these Munchtime chopsticks. In addition to a shark, the chopsticks are available in a frog, dino skull and T-rex options. However, the best part is that when squeezing the chopsticks open and closed, so too does the animal’s mouth move.
Shark munchtime chopsticks, $10 at silverinthecity.com
Batik Flour Sack Small Produce Bag
The next time you make a grocery store run, don’t forget these produce bags from Global Gifts. These cloth bags are handmade in Ghana and are available in five different color options.
Batik Flour Sack Small Produce Bag, $3 at globalgifts.com
Indianapolis Petite Market Bag
This market bag is perfect for quick adventures to the farmers market! The bag features soft leather handles and a spill-proof inner lining, and it can even hold up to 50 pounds.
Indianapolis Petite Market Bag, $64.95 at decorateindy.com
Angel Dear Heirloom Chickens Bamboo Swaddle
Nurture Baby and Child is a boutique that offers a selection of organic and eco-friendly gifts and accessories for kiddos. This bamboo swaddle is soft and adorable, perfect for swaddling and nursing.
Angel Dear Heirloom Chickens Bamboo Swaddle, $24 at nurtureonline.com
Seed Card Sticky Notepad
This might look like a normal notepad, but it’s far from it. Once you’re done with the notepad, it can be planted because it’s covered in corn poppy seeds.
Seed Card Sticky Notepad, 150 for $2.19 at bright-ideas.org
GRANOLA Girl Skincare Body Solid Lotion Bar Tin
This body lotion features eco-friendly and reusable packaging and uses natural plant-based olive oil. It’s full of natural scents, giving off the aroma of fresh lemon, geranium, and grapefruit.
Granola Girl Skincare Body Solid lotion Bar Tin, $10.50 at homespunindy.com
Bees Wax Food Wrap
Say goodbye to saran wrap and hello to this self-adhesive food wrap. With proper care, it lasts about a year and is compostable and biodegradable.
Bees Wax Food Wrap in Square, $4 at rooftopfruit.co
Rolled UNpaper Towels in Rainbow
Save both the planet and your grocery bill with these reusable paper towels. Each UNpaper towel is single-ply, 100% organic cotton flannel and is easy to roll onto a dowel.
Rolled Unpaper Towels in Rainbow, $34 at rooftopfruit.co
Clear Zinc Sunscreen Cream SPF 40
Protect both your skin and the planet with this sustainable sunscreen. This mineral zinc oxide rubs in clear and is sweat-resistant for up to 80 minutes.
Clear Zinc Sunscreen Cream SPF 40, $12.75 at good-earth.com
Samantha Kupiainen is a regular contributor to Indy Maven.
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