9 Sustainable Stocking Fillers for The Family

Looking for some sustainable stocking fillers this year? I’ve got you covered.

AD – Gifted items. This guide contains some gifted items, and these will be clearly marked with an *. You can read my full disclaimer here.

As I’m writing this, it’s currently the end of the November. That means Christmas is right around the corner and Christmas shopping is well underway for many people. If you’re still on the hunt for some sustainable stocking fillers and other Christmas essentials, then I’ve got some great suggestions for you!

Sustainable Stocking Fillers & Essentials

This guide contains some stocking fillers and the Christmas essentials like cards, crackers and hats. Some of these items have been gifted to me, but all opinions are my own.

Sustainable Christmas Cards

Some people wouldn’t say a Christmas card falls in the category of a gift or a stocking filler, but it’s still an essential part of Christmas for many people. Giving and receiving Christmas cards still feels special, and you shouldn’t have to miss out on that. If you’re looking for a more sustainable alternative this year, let me introduce you to Panda Joy *.

Panda Joy makes their cards by using a combination of 75% bamboo and 25% cotton linters. Why? Both of these are renewable annual crops, which has a far less negative impact on the environment than cards made from trees.

You may already know that bamboo is the fasting growing plant on the planet. It also doesn’t need many pesticides, water or resources that other plants need to grow. Cotton linters are a pre-consumer waste in the textile industry, so by using them in the production of cards, these linters don’t have to go to waste.

Panda Joy’s cards are biodegradable, recyclable, and made using EKOenergy from a hydroelectric power station, which is a renewable energy source. All of their cards have an FSC™ certification, which means they are grown in sustainably managed forests.

Another great thing about these cards is they are plastic free! Many cards in the shops and supermarkets come packaged in a plastic wrapper, but not these ones. It’s another step in the right direction to ensure there’s no unnecessary waste.

You can shop their collection of eco-friendly Christmas cards here *.

Reusable Christmas Crackers

Would it really be Christmas without the crackers? I’m not sure it would be. The problem with traditional crackers is they are often made from mixed materials that make it harder to recycle. Not to mention that many of the gifts inside are plastic toys and non-recyclable items.

I’m aware that more shops have started stocking card-based Christmas crackers that are recyclable, but I do have to question whether they are 100% recyclable from the packaging to the contents.

For me, my current goal is to use more reusable products. The great thing about these reusable crackers * is they save you money in the long run and you can feel good about the fact that you’re cutting back on waste.

These 100% plastic free Christmas crackers will look great on the dinner table, but they also make a great gift for the eco-conscious. If you know someone who is taking more steps to living sustainably, why not gift them a box of these? They retail at £20.95, which is very affordable in my opinion, seeing as they should last for many years to come.

So, how do they work?

They arrive flat-packed along with 6 eco-snaps and 12 recycled ribbons. There’s a full list of instructions on how to assemble them, but if you’re more of a visual person, there’s a video on the website and YouTube. I love crafting, but I’m not very good at it. However, these crackers are very easy to put together! I got the hang of it quite quickly, so I’m sure anyone can do it.

Once you’re halfway with assembling the cracker (takes a couple of minutes, if that!), you put your gift inside, then finish putting it together. Then you pull it – just like an ordinary cracker! If you have pets or prefer less noisy crackers, then you will love these ones, since they don’t make much noise when you pull. I personally love that since loud noises make me jump!

The only thing you will need to replace is the eco-snaps, which can be purchased in packs of 12 for £2.50. The eco-snaps are completely recyclable, too.

Reusable Christmas Hats

You know those cheap, thin paper hats that you usually get in your Christmas crackers? Well, they’re a bit outdated. I picked up these reusable Christmas hats on Etsy and I wasn’t disappointed. They look the part, they feel the part, and they actually fit on your head properly!

They are made with felt and elastic to ensure it fits comfortably on your head, and they are made to last for a very long time. I love that they use 100% plastic free and recyclable packaging, as well, to keep waste to an absolute minimum.

If you need something to go in your reusable crackers, then I can’t recommend these enough.

Gingerbread Man Soap

When looking at small gifts for family and friends, I couldn’t resist this adorable gingerbread man soap bar that I got from Peace With The Wild. It’s 50g so it’s quite dainty, but that’s what makes it so cute, I guess.

It’s handmade in Lincolnshire and made with natural ingredients. The sweet orange, cinnamon, clove and mixed spice make an amazing combination because this little guy smells exactly like Christmas.

I haven’t used these soap bars myself because I bought them as gifts, but I’m sure the recipients will love them. They come packaged in biodegradable tissue paper, which is also great. I’m a big fan of minimal packaging!

UpRoar! The Card Game

McMiLLER is a small company that makes card games and toys for all ages with a mission to be more sustainable. One of their products, UpRoar! *, is a fun card game that is 100% plastic free. They use a combination of cardboard, paper, felt, organic cotton and natural rubber in many of their products, with a goal to stay away from materials that are harmful to the environment. While not all of their games are 100% sustainable, McMiLLER are taking steps to change that.

UpRoar! is made from biodegradable and compostable materials and contains no plastic films. They also use a water-based varnish to protect the cards and help with durability.

So, how does the game work? I’ve played it a couple of times now and I would say it’s like charades with a twist. Sort of. This game is suitable for 2 – 4 players and there is always a dealer who shuffles the cards and places two cards face-up on the table.

All of their cards have different phrases or words on them, and any two cards that you place down will always have a match. So, for example, the match might be ‘bubbles’, so you would need to sound out that word. Just think, what do bubbles sound like? Make the noise before the other player(s), and you win! When you win, you keep both cards. The winner is the person with the most cards at the end of the game.

I honestly love this game and I think it’s a great sustainable stocking fillers for kids, teenagers and adults of all ages. It’s a game that a lot of people can enjoy!

Natural Lip Balm

Lovely is a UK skincare brand that uses natural and nourishing ingredients in all of their products. What I love about this brand is that everything is handmade, and their products look and feel really special, too. This blueberry cheesecake lip balm not only sounds delicious, but it’s made with 98% natural ingredients. The lip balm itself comes in a recyclable aluminium tin and the outer packaging is 100% recyclable cardboard. If you know anyone who is a fan of cheesecake or blueberries or simply loves sweet fragranced lip balm, then this will go down a treat!

I purchased this one from Astris & Green, which is unfortunately closing down. However, you can still buy it directly from Lovely.

Bamboo Gift Pack

From Earth To Earth (f.e.t.e) have created a range of everyday products like toothbrushes and hairbrushes from sustainable materials like bamboo and natural rubber. All of their toothbrushes can be composted once you’re finished with them (providing you’ve pulled out the nylon bristles), which minimises waste.

All of their packaging is also recycled, recyclable, biodegradable and compostable, which is amazing. F.e.t.e’s products make great stocking fillers because they are affordable, and most people can get some use out of them. This set * (minus the hairbrush) is available on their website for £18.

It contains:

A medium toothbrush
A toothbrush stand
A travel case
Bamboo cotton earbuds

You can get the hairbrush separately here *.

I love their products because they perform just as well (if not better), than the plastic/non-eco-friendly versions in the shops. And they are a great starting point if you’re just starting out in your eco-friendly journey.

Matchbox Puzzles

I got these matchbox puzzles for my reusable Christmas crackers, but I think they also make great sustainable stocking fillers! Each cardboard box contains a puzzle which is made either from wood or metal, so you can feel good about ditching the plastic toys and games.

These mini brain teasers sound like a lot of fun and I’m sure my recipients will love them. They are perfect for all ages, as well, so you can always get a few and hand them out at the Christmas table for a couple hours of silence. Good idea, right? I got mine from Sparkles Eco Shop, a small sustainable business.

Tea & Accessories

If you know any tea drinkers, then they will love this! Unlike many tea bags that contain microplastics, Teapro * only sell loose-leaf tea, which is better for the environment and tastes better, too. They use compostable pouches and try to keep their overall packaging as eco friendly as possible.

Teapro stock a range of teas like black tea, green tea, matcha and rooibos. There are many different teas to choose from, so you definitely won’t get bored. They stock teaware like this infuser glass * which makes brewing your tea a breeze! They also have cork coasters, storage jars, teapots, and many other items that make great gifts for the tea lovers in your life.

Teapro have a subscription box that includes 4 loose leaf teas, a free infuser glass in the first box, a tea booklet and a couple of other accessories to help you make the most of the tea drinking experience. This would make a unique gift!