12 Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day
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Even if you are a firm believer that Mother’s Day should be honored every day (which I agree with), it’s nice to have a special day dedicated to celebrating these people in our lives, to pamper them with a well-though gift, bonding time, a shared moment that she will forever cherish.
As with any other celebration day in the calendar, we tend to splurge on gifts to show our love and appreciation, which means the environment takes a toll. Products, wrappings, plastic bags, gift cards, they all add up and contribute to the impact we have on the planet as consumers. As we are here to learn every day how to be better citizens of the earth, I prepared this list with sustainable gift ideas for Mother’s Day. Let’s show our love in an eco-friendly manner, because Mother Earth should also be honored during this significant day.
Some important factors you can take into consideration to make sure your gift is more sustainable: material, lifespan, working conditions, certifications, and usage (something will be eco-friendlier the more you use it).
Ok, now, let’s go take a look at these sustainable gifts for mom!
SUSTAINABLE GIFT GUIDE FOR MOTHER’S DAY: 12 IDEAS TO PAMPER HER SUSTAINABLY
Photo credit: Pixie Mood
1) CAITLIN TOTE LARGE
Pixie Mood
$102
Whenever I think of my mom, two words come to mind: tote bags! It’s one of her longtime loves, and I know that giving her one as a gift is a guaranteed success. Tote bags are cute and versatile, you can throw in all the things you like to carry around with you during the day. The Caitlin Tote has a laptop compartment, hidden pen loops, and a slip pocked that come in very handy. More importantly, it’s made with recycled vegan leather made from recycled plastic bottles. Pixie Mood has stopped over 2,500,000 plastic bottles from entering landfills, which shows their compromise for minimizing their environmental impact. All their recycled materials are GRS certified, meaning they meet various requirements related to environmental and social standards. Additionally, their packaging is corn-based and biodegradable, as opposed to plastic, and some of their products are packaged in EPE foam that is 100% recyclable, in contrast to standard foam.
Photo Credit: Neu Nomads
2) SUNITA MAXI DRESS
Neu Nomads
$349
The Satin Tencel Sunita Maxi Dress is chic chic chic, a hybrid between comfort and feeling like a queen. I love that it’s colorful, perfect for both spring and summer, and very elegant, which makes it easy to dress it up or down, depending on whether you’re going out for lunch or a dinner party. It features a timeless v-neckline, long sleeves, a belt that defines your silhouette, and French seam finishing.
This dress is made from 100% Satin TENCEL™ Modal, which is non-toxic, OEKO certified, and colored with AZO free dyes. Neu Nomad’s fabrics are sourced from sustainable and renewable natural resources, their products are manufactured in family-run factories that pay fair wages and provide medical care, and they use recycled and biodegradable packaging to ship them to you.
Photo Credit: Terra Thread
3) SUSTAINABLE TOILETRY BAG
Terra Thread
$24.95
Nothing is as useful and necessary as a toiletry bag, which means this is a perfect conscious gift for Mother’s Day! This one is made of certified fairtrade organic cotton, in a Fair Trade Certified™ factory, and features YKK lead-free antique finish metal zippers. It offers ample storage for toiletries, cosmetics, or basically anything you need to store, as the possibilities are endless.
Terra Thread products are handmade, and are delivered in plastic-free packaging. Purchases also support Feeding America’s campaign to end hunger, by donating meals to kids and families in need. All in all, a great sustainable gift for mom during this special day.
Photo credit: Koala Eco
4) PILLOW AND LINEN SPRAY
Koala Eco
$15
This eucalyptus, peppermint & rosalina essential oil spray is natural, biodegradable, non-toxic, plant-based, and free of synthetics. Made with calming essential oils, it provides a great alternative to freshen pillows and linen in a safe and natural way, while simultaneously promoting a good night’s sleep.
Koala Eco supports 1% for the planet, meaning that which each purchase, they donate to this charity to assist in protecting lands, forests, rivers, oceans, and to promote sustainable ways of producing energy. Furthermore, they support WWF Australia’s Partners in Purpose program, to rehabilitate and restore wildlife and habitats, and to protect the country against climate disasters. Their products are also vegan, cruelty-free, and Australian Allergy certified.
Photo credit: Labante
5) ALSTONIA HOBO BAG
Labante London
$169.97
Mom deserves the best and to feel her best, and a fantastic way to achieve that is to surround her with beautiful things. This bag is cool and timeless, but spacious at the same time. The designer chain strap gives it a unique allure which can complement a minimalist outfit and make it stand out, whereas the adjustable strap allows you to carry it as a crossbody bag. This double functionality also means sustainability: the more ways to use it, the merrier.
It’s made with recycled plastic bottles, and 100% PVC-free, vegan and cruelty-free, as even the glues and dyes are plant-based. Every purchase enables them to plant 10 trees in Madagascar on your behalf, helping you reduce your annual carbon footprint by 25%. LaBante London also prioritizes the health and social welfare of workers by providing fair wages, work-life balance, carrying audits, and having SEDEX-certified factories to ensure an ethical environment.
Photo credit: Ettitude
6) Vegan Cashmere Woven Throw Blanket
Ettitude
$169 (Use my code SFFTYFRD to get $50 off on orders over $200)
Mom deserves some pampering, and this throw blanket is the epitome of self-care. Just imagine her on the couch, sipping tea, watching a good movie, and covered in this ethical blanket, on a cozy Friday night. It’s PETA-approved, meaning fully vegan, as it’s made with CleanBamboo® Lyocell Feather-soft fabric, a.k.a. bamboo plant-based cashmere, which is as soft as regular cashmere, but cruelty-free (also hypoallergenic and gentle on the skin!). It comes packaged in a glassine bag, a biodegradable glossy paper.
Ettitude is all about the planet, which is why they grow bamboo with 100% rainwater, and process it in a closed-loop system that recycles water up to 200x, saving 80% water compared to Italian cashmere, in addition to saving 82% CO2 emissions compared to their animal-based counterpart. Showing love to your mother, as well as mother Earth, is a win-win!
Photo credit: Able Clothing
7) MARIA BOXY TEE
Able
$58 ($41 With Code MOM30)
Nothing screams sustainability more than basics. As I mentioned before, being able to use and reuse a garment increases its eco-rating, as opposed to single-use or trendy items, which are concepts promoted by the fast fashion industry. This t-shirt is made from 100% organic cotton and comes in several colors. Versatility means freedom: mom can wear it with a skirt, a jean, shorts, to go out, to run errands, the opportunities are endless!
Able provides high-quality jobs, living wages, and working conditions–let’s not forget that workers are an essential part of sustainability, as it’s not just about the environment and the animals. Overall, a simple yet pretty eco-friendly gift for mom.
Photo credit: Printfresh
8) SATIN PAJAMA SET
Printfresh
$188
Self-care and coziness can also come in the hands of fancy nightwear, which a mom deserves! Gone are the days of not feeling like a goddess when going to bed or staying home being her fabulous self. Luxury meets sustainability in this satin pajama set that is made with eco-friendly viscose sourced from forests following the principles of Sustainable Forestry Management. It’s a conscious gift for a mom, and she will enjoy its softness and wonderful prints.
It’s designed in Philadelphia and hand screen-printed by artisans in India. Print Fresh does third-party audits to adhere to responsible manufacturing standards, and their factory is regularly SEDEX-reviewed. They have also joined Pledge 1%, and consequently donate 1% of their product, profit, staff time or equity to any charity of their choosing.
Photo credit: EarthHero
9) WIDE MOUTH WATER BOTTLE
EarthHero
$44.95
Another sustainable gift for a mom (and Mother Earth) is this wide mouth water bottle, that is made from pro-grade stainless steel, which ensures pure taste and no flavor transfer. It keeps beverages cold up to 24 hours and hot up to 12, is BPA-free and phthalate-free. This Hydro Flash product also carries a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturers defects, and the bottle can be recycled with scrap metal collections at the end of its lifespan.
Reducing single-use plastic bottles and keeping a mom hydrated? 100% yes! Another sustainable gift for mom that will help reduce plastic pollution for many years to come.
Photo credit: Books & Books
10) THE KEW GARDENER’S GUIDE TO GROWING HERBS: THE ART AND SCIENCE TO GROW YOUR OWN HERBS
Books & Books
$18
I saw this book once at the bookshop and thought it would make a great eco gift. The Kew Gardener’s Guide to Growing Herbs is a great tool to learn more about the incredible power of plants. It guides you on how to grow herbs in beds, pots, borders, and window boxes, plant, propagate, and harvest them. The book features 80 of the most important and popular herbs, which are identified and illustrated, and the author explains how they can be used–from preparing herb oils to healthy dishes. If your mom (or any mom) is a garden-lover or natural-remedies lover, helping her create a thriving herb garden is the perfect conscious gift for her.
I’m also linking this book to my favorite local bookshop, but you can choose to support your own local bookstore.
Photo credit: L’Artisane
11) VEGAN MACARON BOX
L’Artisane Bakery
$52
I would never dare leave this list without an edible gift, as moms deserve to be loved and pampered with food! I’ve already analyzed the reasons why a plant-based diet is more sustainable, which is the reason why this makes a great eco-friendly gift for mothers (and a yummy one).
This vegan and gluten-free French Macaron Box is classic, cute, and very oh-la-la, and features 15 expertly crafted macarons in a wide range of flavors: from salted caramel, to cassis-dark chocolate. Whether your mom is a macaron aficionada, or a French-bakery lover, plant-based treats are amazing eco gifts for a special Mother’s Day.
Photo credit: Alexandra Slo
12) BONUS TRACK: AN EXPERIENCE
$0 - $∞
To make sure I can inspire you with marvelous sustainable gift ideas for Mother’s Day, I can’t leave experiences out of the list. To me, they are one of the most creative and conscious gifts you can give, because they can be personalized according to the gift-receiver’s personality and likes, and they are also a great opportunity to be used as bonding time. Here are some experiences as gift ideas for the eco-lover:
Pottery Class (handmade or wheel pottery are fun, but she will also take home a handmade product made by her!)
Yoga Class (acro, hatha, vinyasa, all of them are awesome)
Concert (intimate concert or big show, singing and dancing together with mom is priceless)
Stand-up comedy show (nothing beats a good laugh)
Kayaking adventure (nature, fresh air, and exercising for the adventurous kind)
Sports game (ice hockey is super exciting)
Museum (make sure to stop by the museum’s gift shop for additional artistic inspiration)
Plant-based dinner (take her out for a bite!)
Mini golf (this one’s for the competitive moms!)
Hiking trip (I firmly believe that being in nature makes us want to be our most sustainable self)
Brunch (brunch with mom, some mimosas, a nice outfit: checked)
What sustainable gift for Mother’s Day do you think could be a great fit for that supermom?
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Hi, I’m Melina,
I’m the creator of Sustainable Rookie, and my goal is to share what I learn throughout my sustainability journey, so that I can help other people live a more conscious life.
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