14 Fun and Affordable Eco Friendly Stocking Fillers

On the hunt for some eco friendly stocking fillers for the whole family? I’ve put together this guide to give you some fun and creative ideas.

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Christmas is meant to be a time for celebration and happiness; gift giving is often part of that. However, it shouldn’t come at the expense of the environment. So many plastic toys and plastic-wrapped gifts are handed out every year, most of which will be thrown away or replaced within the year. To cut back on waste, I recommend giving people gifts that are plastic-free, ethically made and sustainable this year.

With the rise in cost of living, you shouldn’t have to spend more for high-quality, sustainable gifts. That’s why most of the stocking fillers mentioned in this guide will be between £2.50 – £10. Remember to only buy what you can afford, otherwise, it’s not really sustainable at all.

14 Eco Friendly Stocking Fillers for The Family

Stockings aren’t just for the little ones, so here you will find some suggestions for older children and teenagers all the way through to grown adults. Enjoy!

Toy & Craft Gifts

1. Childrens Book – “Smartling Saves a Sea Turtle”

Books are a great choice for stocking fillers as they are affordable, and children often love to receive them. This book, “Smartling Saves a Sea Turtle,” has loveable characters who will open up your children’s eyes to climate change and offer ways to reduce our carbon footprint. I think this is a great way to teach your child about the worries of climate change while allowing them to see the solutions presented to us. And of course, this is a book that can be read over and over again. What’s more is that the illustrations are printed on recycled paper, printed in the UK and shipped in plastic-free packaging. Find it here *.

2. Friendship Bracelet Kit

If you’re looking for a plastic-free gift that is both affordable and entertaining for younger children, I recommend this friendship bracelet kit *. This kit contains a wooden weaving tool, wooden beads and cotton strings, which is enough to make two friendship bracelets. This gift is suitable for ages 3 onwards, but I think some slightly older children would enjoy making them, as well. The best part is this gift will last for many years to come!

3. Play Press Toys

Play Press Toys have a range of “build and play” toys that are great for children 4 and above. They simply slot out the pieces and build the characters, creating different scenarios as they go along. All pieces are made from sustainably sourced PEFC paper and shipped in recyclable cardboard packaging. The ones that I would recommend are Star Searchers * and check-up time *.

4. Candle Rolling Kit

If you know anyone who enjoys making things, they will probably enjoy this candle rolling kit *. It comes with 6 beeswax sheets, a cotton wick and a set of instructions. You can choose to make 6 floating candles or 12 tapered candles. While this kit is great for all ages, it’s especially good for young children, since there’s no melting involved.

5. Gingerbread Man Craft Kit

Anyone who is crafty will enjoy this relaxing gingerbread man craft kit *. Fun for all ages, this kit includes wool, a needle, toy filling, beads, DMC threads of different colours, ribbons and instructions. The finished gingerbread man will be around 6 x 9cm, making it perfect for hanging up on the tree, where it can be enjoyed around the festive season. And it can be brought back out every Christmas, of course.

6. Lip Balm Making Kit

This lip balm making kit * is sure to entertain anyone over the age of 8. This handy kit includes a beeswax block along with 4 tins and labels so you can make your very own, professional-looking lip balms. The final products can also make perfect gifts. You will find a list of instructions in the kit, but rest assured, that these lip balms are very simple to make. If you are gifting it to a younger child, make sure there’s adult supervision as it will involve melting.

7. Recycled Pencils – Set of 3

The problem with pencils and pens is they can often get lost or broken, so they might need to be replaced more often than you’d like. Chances are, you know someone who needs some pencils. So, this year you might consider gifting them these recycled pencils * made by a women’s group who aim to support underprivileged women in Nepal. These pencils are cleverly made from old newspaper and tied up with a ribbon, making it a truly unique and cherished gift.

Beauty & wellness gifts

8. Filberts Lip Balm

Most people love lip balm, but unfortunately most lip balms in the shops are packaged in plastic and may contain harmful ingredients. This lip balm by Filberts is lime and coconut scented * which is sure to be a hit with a lot of people. The formula is smooth and buttery and made with only natural ingredients, meaning no petroleum or other nasties. It also comes packaged in a reusable and recyclable aluminium tin.

9. Dry Shampoo

I know dry shampoo doesn’t sound like a very exciting gift, but what about a plastic-free version? This 100% natural formula which contains lavender flower powder and rosemary essential oil, is suitable for all hair types and hair colours. Unlike many dry shampoos on the market, the dry shampoo by Green Planet Beauty * has recyclable and compostable cardboard packaging. This makes it far more sustainable and better for the planet.

10. Jewellery Dish

For an alternative gift that will be used daily and kept for many years, I recommend this stone turtle jewellery dish *. These dishes are hand carved by fairly paid artisans in Indonesia, so every dish will look slightly different, making it a unique and special gift. It also comes in a few different colours!

11. Body Cream

During the winter, our skin can become drier and more irritated. Give the gift of smooth, hydrated skin by treating them to an organic all-round cream *. This cream contains natural and nourishing ingredients like shea butter and almond oil. Due to the gentle formula, it’s sensitive for all skin types, making it a great gift for most people in your life. Did I mention that it’s cruelty free and suitable for vegans?

Food Gifts

12. Tony’s Chocolate Bar

As far as eco friendly stocking fillers go, Tony’s Chocolate is a great choice. Their slavery-free chocolate bars come in a range of tasty flavours, so you can find something that suits everyone. Every bar is packaged in a paper wrapper with a foil inner to cut back on plastic waste. I recommend their chocolate and almond honey nougat bar * and their classic milk chocolate bar *.

13. Vegan Chocolate Bar

No one has to miss out on chocolate at Christmas, thanks to amazing brands like Enjoy who are dairy free, gluten free and vegan. There’s no refined sugar in their bars; they are sweetened with coconut sugar. The packaging is minimal with an outer paper and an inner foil. While the foil isn’t recyclable, the paper is. I recommend their mint flavour * and the orange *.

14. Chocolate with Toy

For the little ones who would love chocolate and toys, you can’t go wrong with this little surprise chocolate gift from PLAYin *. The chocolate is vegan, dairy free, nut free, gluten free and palm oil free. And the toy is made from cardboard and ready to be assembled into a snowman! One of the best things about this gift is that it’s entirely plastic-free, so you don’t have to worry about waste.

And that’s a wrap! I hope you found something useful from this list of eco friendly stocking fillers. Let me know in the comments if you’re doing anything to be more sustainable this Christmas.