It’s that time of year again. When every brand you’ve ever interacted with (if only via a few, long-ago clicks) begins force-feeding you a list of “must-haves” for the holiday season.

Things you need. Things your mom needs. Your partner needs. Your best friend needs. But you know what they’re not telling you? You don’t need it.

Really. You don’t need more plastic. You don’t need more expensive, poor-quality clothes you’ll forget about come springtime. And you don’t need exorbitantly priced jewelry, especially the kind made with “sustainable” lab-grown diamonds (spoiler: they’re totally NOT sustainable).

I get it. I’m no scrooge. People like to exchange and share and generally spread merriment. I’m all for that. But before you ADD TO CART on these 4 classic holiday gifts, maybe do a double-take. Can you find a more ethical, more sustainable version instead?

Related Posts:

• The Problem with Shopping on Amazon Prime
• How to Stop Wanting Things
• Easiest Classic Novels to Read | 18 Easy-to-Read Classics for Beginners

Here are 4 gifts NOT to waste your money on this year—and better, less-evil alternatives.

1. Sweaters made of plastic

Yes, it’s the sad, hard truth. There’s been a lot of talk on the Internet lately about the degrading quality of… Well, of everything. In particular, our clothes—even expensive ones—are of significantly inferior quality than they were a few decades ago.

The Atlantic wrote a whole piece on it (actually, they wrote two) in which they explain why our sweaters these days are “garbage”:

In sweaters…you’re getting a lot of what is essentially plastic. That will show up on fabric labels as polyester or polyamide or acrylic. That’s what you’ll usually find in sweater weaves.

What are we to do? Stop buying plastics made of sweater. Instead, look for sweaters that are actually made from 100% wool. I own several from this brand, Aran Sweater Market, a small business from Ireland that makes tweed and wool woven products. 

2. Books from Amazon

If you haven’t already heard, one of the soapboxes I step up onto from time to time is: Can we please pay more attention to the (many) problems of shopping with Amazon Prime?

• In one survey cited by The Guardian, 42% of Amazon warehouse workers report physical pain, psychological pressure, and poor sleep.
• 2022 Prime Day ALONE accounted for more than 1.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. Fast Company says that’s “equivalent to the annual emissions of 68,000 Americans.”
• That’s not even to begin diving into what Vanity Fair calls the “toxic” and “brutal business practices” of the brand.

Spoiler: Books cost pretty much the same no matter where you buy them. This holiday season (and beyond), I strongly encourage you to consider shopping from your local bookstore instead of Bezo’s big bad machine.

If you can’t find what you need in a physical store-front, I love Better World Books. They sell both new and used books—and they offer FREE international shipping, no minimum purchase required. Plus, they’re B Corp™ certified, which basically means they’re recognized for social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. They also raise funds for literacy grants and libraries and have donated 38+ million books so far.

Now really, what’s the excuse for turning to Amazon instead?

3. Another cutesy mug that’ll never get used

You’ve given them. You’ve received them. Mugs are a go-to holiday gift, from Yankee Swaps to office holiday parties to that distant family member you don’t really know very well and have no idea what to get them.

This year, don’t reach for the basic mug. Doubtful? Think about how many mugs you probably already have in your cupboard. (Don’t you reach for pretty much the same 2-3 every day, anyway?)

Instead, if you’re set on giving a coffee-themed gift, how about some fair-trade, organic coffee? For a little something extra to razzle-dazzle your gift-ee, look to this Finnish coffee brand that’s boosted with a daily dose of functional mushrooms.

If tea is more your thing, boy, have I got tea recommendations for you.

4. Personal care products with silicone in them

Surprise! Every time you wash your face, wash your hair, moisturize, etc., you’re contributing to the build-up of plastic pollution in oceans and waterways. The culprit? Silicone.

Here’s the quick and easy:

• Silicone is NOT bad for your health. It’s basically an occlusive (which creates a barrier on the skin or hair). [Source: Healthline]
• But it doesn’t do anything special for your skin, either. Dr. Deanne Mraz Robinson, a board certified dermatologist told Healthline: “Unless you’re dealing with an open wound on your face, silicones don’t provide any tangible benefits to the skin.”
• The problem: Silicones are NOT biobased or biodegradable. The buildup of silicone waste is causing concern among environmentalists (which should be all of us). Apparently, the EU was even considering a ban. [Source: Chemical and Engineering News]

What can you do? Look for silicone-free personal care products. Personally, I’m a fan of Kora Organics. Other good options are Mad Hippie and Acure.

Give gifts that feel (and do) good

An anti-gift guide doesn’t have to make you anti-holiday spirit. While we could all probably consume a little bit less, it’s natural to want to express your love for friends and family with a few choice tokens.

As always, I’m about preaching quality over quantity. Because the best gifts are the ones that look good, feel good, and DO good.

Recommended Reading:

• Accepting Your Fate (Finding Acceptance Alone)
• Did This French Writer Just Reveal the Secret to Happiness?
• How Heather’s Lonely Year at Uni Became the Springboard to Her Greatest Adventures
• Ultimate Guide to Self-Care: 100 Self-Care Ideas
• Best Tea for Non Tea Drinkers | How to Start Drinking Tea