Gifts that look good, feel good, and DO good.
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 yet another useless trinket that’s just going to sit on your shelf and collect dust, unforgotten for a few years until it hits the landfills.
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 click ADD TO CART for these classic holiday gifts, maybe do a double-take. Can you find a more ethical, more minimalist version instead?
Here are 5 gifts NOT to waste your money on this year—and better, less-evil alternatives.
The shortlist: what NOT to buy this holiday season (& what to consider instead)
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Books from Amazon >> local, independent bookstores, instead
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Sweaters made out of plastic >> handmade, woolen sweaters from Ireland
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Cutesy mugs that no one ever uses >> fair-trade, organic tea
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Personal care products that pollute the environment >> certified organic options instead
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Any random, unnecessary material good >> the gift of knowledge and inner peace
More articles on mindful consumption:
5 Alternatives to Amazon (and why I no longer buy books on Amazon)
6 Ethical Tea Companies for Fair Trade Tea Bags & Organic Tea
1. 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?
Consider this:
Amazon workers are physicall suffering. 42% of Amazon warehouse workers report physical pain, psychological pressure, and poor sleep, according to one survey cited by The Guardian.
Amazon’s carbon emissions are through the roof. 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.”
Amazon is serioulsy lacking in the ethics department. “Toxic” and “brutal business practices.” That’s just the surface level of Vanity Fair’s deep dive into the nefarious online shopfront.
Why not support local bookstores, instead?
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 Bookshop.org. Every time you buy a book, the profits of your purchase go into their profit-sharing pool that supports a network of 2,000+ independent bookstores.
Other cools things about Bookshop.org:
They put their money where their mouth is. To date, they’ve raised over $43 million for local bookstores.
They’re not evil. They’re B Corp™ certified, which basically means they’re recognized for social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.
They’re committed to staying independent. Per their mission statement: “It is written in our governance documents that we will never sell the company to Amazon or any major U.S. retailer.”
Now really, what’s the excuse for turning to Amazon instead?
Ready to give?
Find gift-giving inspiration from my 2025 reading list—shelved:
Key Takeaways: Why Bookshop.org is one of the best alternatives to Amazon for books
- They’re a B Corp.
- For every book you buy, your purchase directly supports local independent bookstores.
- They’re a Climate Neutral company.
2. Sweaters made of plastic
Sadly, it’s the truth. Not to sound like your grandma, but they just don’t make things like they used to—and that sure as hell goes for clothes.
Today, even many expensive clothes are significantly inferior in quality than were their counterparts a few decades ago.
Amanda Mull for The Atlantic wrote a fantastic article about the degrading quality of clothes, knitwear in particular, in which she explains why our sweaters these days are “garbage.”
Hanna Rosin continued the conversation with Mull in a succeeding podcast. For those interested, here’s the transcript.
"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."
How are we supposed to buy sweaters now?
Reject crappy, mass-market labels, and seek handmade, high-quality wares from small businesses instead. Think wool, cashmere—even cotton, if you want a lighter weave.
AKA stop buying sweaters made of plastic. Here’s how:
If you love to shop: I advise you head to your local flea markets or second-hand shops, where you’re more likely to dig up vintage finds made from…ya know, actual fibers (i.e., not plastic).
If you’re like me and you hate the hunt for clothes: I’ve got a shortcut: Aran Sweater Market. They’re a small business in Ireland that makes tweed and wool-woven products.
My husband and I own a few of their sweaters, and we’re even buying a few as gifts this year for others. We like them because:
- They’re warm.
- They’re affordable.
- They’re high quality and plastic-free.
- They’re a small business.
- They have great customer service.
- They ship quickly.
(I’m not an affiliate. I just want to help people stop wearing plastic.)
3. Another cutesy mug that'll never get used
You’ve given them. You’ve received them.
Mugs are a go-to gift, making regular appearances at Yankee Swaps, office holiday parties, and once-a-year gatherings with your most distant family members.
But be honest: Do they ever end up getting used? Or are they more likely relegated to the back corner of your cupboard, where they bide their time until you eventually move, declutter, or re-gift them to someone else?
This year, cut the waste (and the clichés) by skipping the basic mug gift.
Instead, if you’re intent on giving a beverage-themed gift, how about some fair-trade organic tea? Think:
- Teas with robust flavors
- Teas with high caffeine content (for the coffee addicts in your life)
- Herbal teas for newbies
- Teas with low caffeine content (for a gentle start to the day)
I give more research-backed recommendations on how to choose the right tea to give to a non-tea-drinker, plus tips on how to swap your coffee habit for tea:
4. Personal care products with silicone in them
Surprise! Every time you wash your face or moisturize your body, you’re contributing to the build-up of plastic pollution in oceans and waterways.
The culprit? Silicone.
Here’s the short-and-sweet need-to-know:
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 like Kora Organics. My favorite products are the bakuchiol moisturizer, hydrating mushroom mask, and exfoliating serum.
5. Any random, unnecessary material good
Every year, my mom asks me what I want for Christmas, and my answer is always the same: “I don’t know, nothing.”
Disclaimer: I am not special. I, too, buy unnecessary material goods and enjoy having them. I restocked my favorite Kora Organics bakuchiol moisturizer during their Black Friday sale, and I recently bought a new skirt.
So I don’t need any more things.
Instead, if someone is going to be nice enough to give me a gift, I’d much rather something intangible, like an experience or something I can learn from. Something like:
The gift of a quiet mind. I got myself the Calm meditation app a few months ago, and I’ve used it almost every day since: morning meditations; wind-down breathing before bed; some help in the middle of the day when I’m stressed and panicking about everything I have to do.
The gift of a new language. Last month, I signed up for LingQ. Shortly after, I told my husband: “I think they’ve finally created a language-learning app that doesn’t suck.” I’m learning Polish right now, but LingQ supports 50+ languages.
The gift of art. Instead of a foreign-made, plastic trinket, why not give the gift of art? That could be in the form of painting less, a ticket to a museum, or (for a tangible gift) a piece from a local artist.
More ideas for non-tangible gifts?
How about giving your loved one concert tickets or a certificate for a pottery class?
See more ideas for “experience gifts” in my post: 5 New Things I Want To Do Alone This Year.
Conclusion: Give gifts that feel (and do) good
An anti-gift guide doesn’t make you anti-holiday spirit.
While we could all probably consume a 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 quality over quantity. Because the best gifts are the ones that look good, feel good, and DO good.
Next Steps:
Share this guide with a friend or family member who’s been bugging you about what they should buy people for the holidays. Hopefully, this will give them some more ethical shopping inspiration.
Reflect on the most recent gifts you’ve given. Are they in line with your values? If not, what can you change this year?
Make your own “ethical wish list.” If someone does ask what you want for the holidays, you can guide them towards purchases that don’t create clutter, pollution, or plastic.
Use the image below to save this post to Pinterest so this list is there when you need it.
The Anti-Gift Guide: Common FAQs
How do I find ethical gifts without spending too much money?
Ethical gifts don’t have to be expensive. When in doubt, shop small and shop local.
That could be: fresh coffee breans from your local coffee shop; a thoughtfully chosen book from your local book shop; tickets to a local show or musem.
Isn't avoiding plastic sweaters and big name brands a bit extreme or elitist?
If it seems that way to you, you’re entitled to your opinion.
But doesn’t an actually wool sweater sound nicer, softer, and warmer than a polyester one? Ditto for buying from a small business instead of Amazon’s smorgasbord of questionable, Made-in-China crap.
What do I do if someone expects a storebought gift from me every year?
You’re not obligated to fulfill people’s own made-up expectations. But doesn’t mean you can’t get them a thoughtful, heartfelt gift.
Instead, how about homemade cookies? A from-the-heart note written in a handmade greeting card?
Merry
Merry is the blogger behind A Merry Loner, a full-time freelance writer, and a lifelong bookworm. Since kindergarten, it was her dream to become a novelist. (She likes to think she's headed in the right direction.) Born and raised in Rhode Island, where she earned a triple-major BA in writing, communication, and French from the University of Rhode Island, she moved to Toulouse, France after the pandemic to complete a master's in creative writing at Univeristé Toulouse Jean — Jaurès. She now lives in Paris with husband.
Discover how the merry loner lifestyle makes life more enjoyable:
LONER MINDSET: fresh perspectives on learning to genuinely enjoy your own company
BOOKS: reading lists for people who love being alone with a good story
ANALOG LIVING: inspiration to step back from the screen and live a life offline
SOLO TRAVEL: guides on where to go and how to enjoy it alone
MINDFUL CONSUMPTION: vetted recommendations for a simpler, less wasteful life
LONER Q&As: interviews from global voices on how to live a meaningful, enjoyable life
