The Eco-Groovy Gift Guide

Help your loved one kiss plastic straws goodbye with one of the best reusable straws on the market. While it does take some time to get used to, the FinalStraw 2.0 quickly becomes a joy to use with silicone tips, a carrying case small enough to clip to a keychain, and an included extendable mini brush for easy cleaning. As if things couldn't get any better, the company donates 1% of their sales to environmental nonprofits.

On the road, these lightweight, highly-absorbent microfiber towels make a great catch-all. Literally. Pick up a couple of different sizes and your favorite eco-traveler can use them as a napkin, pillow, or an actual towel. Plus, they’re exceptionally soft and made from bluesign® approved materials. Because they're microfiber towels, it feels a little odd against the body, but their packability and quick-drying nature make them totally worth it.

Patagonia’s entire Black Hole line is ideal for eco-warriors who long to see the world (you can easily get sucked into the black hole of online shopping when pursuing this line...ha). We’re digging these packing cubes, which are made from 100% recycled, bluesign® approved polyester ripstop with a 100% recycled polyester lining. Plus, they’re built to last, so they won’t end up in a landfill by February. Sustainability aside, these cubes are great for organizing clothing and miscellaneous items on the road, ensuring you can pack more stuff more effectively.

If you’ve got an eco-groovy Survivor fan on your list, a Buff makes a fabulous gift—if you and your giftee have never heard of Survivor or a Buff before, a Buff still makes a fabulous gift. This nifty gadget works as a hat, scarf, sweatband, sleeping mask, bandana, helmet liner, bathing-suit cover, and approximately a bazillion other things. It’s great for summer—the fabric has an SPF of 50—but also makes a great wind-blocker on those freezing cold days. Plus, it’s made from recycled polyester derived, in part, from plastic bottles.

If your loved one is about to embark on a trip around the world—or a backpacking adventure through the Wilderness—these compression packing cubes will make a great companion. They’re lightweight, water and stain-resistant, and, of course, compressible, so you can pack a ton of stuff in a small space. Backed with Eagle’s Creek’s lifetime warranty, these cubes won’t end up in a landfill anytime soon. And the “tech” versions are made with bluesign® approved materials.

Made of bluesign® approved polyester, this handy pouch is a great way to stay organized on the road. Your loved one can toss it in their pack or—if they’re especially hip—use a carabiner to hook it through their belt loop. And because it’s water-resistant, they can bring it to the beach or rock it in a rainstorm without worrying about ruining their stuff.

This seriously-sticky tape seals tears and prevents them from spreading—ensuring an unfortunate run-in with a sharp rock doesn’t send a perfectly-fine jacket to the landfill. Plus, it’s tape, so it doesn’t require the same finesse to work as a needle and thread.

Approximately 100 million disposable chopsticks are thrown away every year. Madness, right? While not everyone on your list will need or want reusable chopsticks, help your favorite sushi aficionado reduce their eco-footprint. These chopsticks from Snow Peak are made from bamboo and titanium, which not only looks classy but makes them easy to use and clean.

Everything from Patagonia’s Black Hole line is ideal for environmentalists—they’re all made from recycled, bluesign® approved materials. This Hip Pack is, of course, all that. Plus, it’s a handy accessory to have while traveling. Your friend will love it for flights, day trips, runs, or whatever other adventures they’ve cooked up.

We probably don’t need to tell you why charging gear with the power of the sun is more eco-groovy than plugging into a traditional power grid (hint: carbon emissions). But environmentalism aside, this gadget is super handy for anyone who travels to remote areas where plugging something into an outlet isn’t an option—just make sure there's plenty of sunshine. Perfect for backpackers, road-trippers, or your friend who always ends up on the road less traveled.

Ah, the reusable water bottle—basically the OG of single-use plastic alternatives. This one from Hydro Flask is double-wall insulated, meaning it’ll keep your cold drinks cold and your hot drinks hot for a ridiculously long time. And its stainless steel interior doesn’t add any unwanted flavor to whatever beverage you’ve got inside. It’s rugged too, meaning you can gift it to your clumsiest friend without worrying it’ll break in a month when they’ve accidentally kicked it down a flight of stairs.

An alternative to plastic wrap, these wraps are a cinch to use. Simply use the warmth of your hands to mold it around whatever food item you’d like to wrap up—fruit, sandwiches, basically anything other than raw meat. If you want to win the holidays, bake your loved ones’ favorite dessert and wrap it up in a slice of Bee’s Wrap. They’ll be guaranteed to love you forever.

For the eco-warrior in your life who always forgets their reusable grocery bags, this packable tote made of recycled materials can be tossed in a backpack, sling bag, or whatever, and be forgotten about until needed. And it works for far more than groceries—use it as a lunch bag, work tote, or a personal item on a flight. Better yet, United By Blue says for every product sold, they remove a pound of trash from oceans and waterways, which we can all probably agree is pretty awesome.

Essentially a reusable water bottle for booze, these flasks are available in a few fun designs to match most any taste. Plus, the screw cap is attached so it won't get lost after a few too many fill-ups. Need we say more?

Organic. Biodegradable. Effective. This soap is the triple threat of eco-groovy soaps. You can use it as body soap, shaving cream, laundry soap, shampoo, and mouthwash—yeah, this thing works as shampoo and mouthwash. Not something you see every day. Gentle on the environment, this soap is especially great for your outdoorsy friends...just ensure they’re not bathing in a stream. Sure, it sounds romantic, but it’s not-so-great for fish or anything else in the stream, including the water.