Sustainable Holiday Gift Guide

Looking for gift ideas that speak to your family and friends’ sense of adventure, wanderlust and love for the planet? We’re always on the lookout for companies that use sustainable practices and are committed to making a positive impact on the environment. Here are our top picks for eco-friendly gifts this year. 

1. Mineral-Based, Natural Sunscreen
There's a lot of talk about healthier sunscreen alternatives lately. That's precisely why mineral sunscreen products are so in demand. For the 2020 holiday season, the skincare item on everyone's wish list is eco-friendly, natural sunscreen that's safe for our coral reefs. We like All Good's collection of broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen with its added anti-oxidants. 

2. Eco-Friendly, High-Comfort Slippers
There's nothing like a comfy pair of slippers to help someone slip right into the holiday spirit with style and comfort. That's why Beachcomber Original Zak Noyle's HAYN Slippers makes the must-have list this year. When you source slippers from HAYN, you're buying from an environmentally conscious footwear brand based in Honolulu, Hawaii. It doesn't get better than stylish, sporty slippers with handmade quality.

3. Surfing Merch and More for a Good Cause
For 2020 holiday giving, there's no better way to shop for a surfer at heart than by browsing offerings from the Surfrider Foundation. This year, you can grab a one-year membership bundle that throws in a limited-edition, free-trade tee made from 100-percent organic cotton. Surfrider has other great merch, ranging from clothing and eyewear to drinkware, headwear, headphones and license-plate frames. You'll also find a list of "Ocean-Friendly Restaurants" around the country like Kani Ka Pila Grille at the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, perfect for gifting a dinner for two.

4. Plush Toys Made From Recycled Materials
The Waikiki Aquarium is currently offering adoption certificates when you scoop up a soft, adorable Eco Pal plush toy made from recycled plastic bottles. All of the proceeds from shop sales help to support this great institution and its many programs on ocean conservation and marine life. 

People of all ages love the adorable recycled critters. There's nothing cute about plush toys made from toxic, artificial materials. That's precisely why everyone is eager to wrap their hands around the plush, adorable "Eco Pals" from the Waikiki Aquarium Shop. 

5. Sustainable Masks
A good mask is worth its weight in gold these days. That's why anyone would be happy to receive a stylish, sustainable mask. No company is offering sustainable, recycled masks that are quite as excitingly stylish as the ones being sold by Dear Taj. These are ethically made masks created with fair wages and planet-friendly production techniques. You'll have a hard time believing that these soft masks with destination-inspired prints are made from recycled plastic water bottles.

6. Reusable Travel Cutlery
This is an excellent gift for that person who has a serious case of wanderlust that has them eating on the go. Portable, reusable cutlery kits from Meli Wraps represent the gold standard in this genre. Each pack features a fork, spoon, knife, chopsticks, straw and straw cleaner in a handmade pouch fashioned from organic cotton. These sets make it so much easier to grab a quick bite without resorting to using plastic cutlery. They can be tucked away in a purse, desk or car for easy access.

7. Craft Beer with a Conscious
Maui Brewing Co. continues to lead the way in sustainable business practices. Recently becoming the first grid-independent brewery in the United States, Maui Brewing Co. is bringing innovation to its brewing methods with a focus on solar—winning first place in the regional brewery category as ‘America’s Favorite Solar Craft Brewery’ in the cool ‘Brews from the Sun’ awards. Heralded for its use of sustainable energy methods, the company incorporates solar power, recaptured CO2, a unique solar thermal system and Tesla battery storage—which truly looks to the future by integrating with solar technology to store excess energy generated during the day for future use. Use their online store locator or shop online for gifts here. 

8. Deliver Some Sunshine
A gift from The Sunrise Shack is sure to please the Instagram-lover in your life. Not only does the shack fuel your body with beautiful smoothie bowls, healthy bullet coffees, and vegan treats - but they do it with sustainability in mind. Check out their shop at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, or visit them online to learn more.

9. Let the Earth be your Canoe
The first voyagers to the Islands of Aloha sailed here aboard the catamaran canoes for which we're named. Today, the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) honors the legacy of ocean exploration as they work toward fostering a sustainable world. You might not be a navigator, but you can help support the mission of PVS and the Hokulea - and look stylish doing it. Shop PVS gifts here. 

10. Don't Forget the Eco-Friendly Wrapping
The finishing touch for any sustainable gift is sustainable, eco-friendly wrapping paper. Did you know that about 227,000 miles worth of wrapping paper will be thrown away during the upcoming holiday season? Sadly, most of that paper that gets torn into can't be recycled because of the way it's manufactured and dyed. A company called Wrappily has solved the problem by creating sustainable wrapping paper made from recycled materials. This paper comes in fun, peppy designs that are anything but recycled! You'll also find a full roster of sustainable ribbons and accessories to make your sustainable gifts look perfect at presentation time. 

Now that you’ve gotten everyone covered on your holiday list this year, why not give the gift of self-care to yourself? Just like you, we're committed to a better Planet Earth. In 2014, we launched the OZONE conservation initiative to help protect the coral reefs from harm due to the negative impact of climate change and other factors.  

So, take a break, relax, and do a little good (for you and the planet!) this winter. 

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