Finding socially conscious gifts, birthday presents, or ethical Christmas gifts for your loved ones is one of the biggest challenges of being a conscientious shopper. Selecting meaningful gifts with a positive impact on the world requires extensive research and takes significantly longer than shopping for traditional gifts. However, socially-conscious gift shopping has just gotten a whole lot easier.
Packed With Purpose curates responsibly manufactured items across various categories to simplify ethical buying, with a single online destination for ethically enhanced goods. Locate artisan-made and fairly-traded items for everyone on your shopping list. We’ve created this list with self-care, longevity, and zero waste in mind, ensuring that these conscientious gifts can be enjoyed for years to come. Explore our Packed with Purpose Collection to find all of the ethical gifts you’re looking for.
13 Ethical Gifts For Sustainable Giving
Giving ethical gifts isn’t just about giving someone a present — you’ll be giving your loved ones an introduction to fair trade and environmentally responsible artisans. Whether you’re sharing the narrative of how the presents were produced from recycled materials and kept garbage out of landfills, or how your gift provided opportunities for youth in underresourced communities, these well-crafted and beautifully designed fair trade gift ideas will undoubtedly get the conversation going.
1. American Roots*
Send them a one-of-a-kind present created in the United States that will live on in their memory for a long time. Brighten up their mornings with a warm cup of American-grown green tea and a few nibbles of buttery toffee biscuits. And with a bit of tender loving care, the living sequoia tree seedling will return the favor by providing shade and delight for a lifetime. This ethical gift is a long-term contribution that benefits indigenous communities, supports reforestation initiatives, and generates jobs within sustainable agriculture.
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2. Brighten Their Day At Home
This is one of our favorite socially responsible gifts that will help your special someone unwind with the ideal blend of fun and flavor. The all-ages National Parks coloring book and colored pencils will pique their creative senses. At the same time, the eco-friendly deck of cards is perfect for any of their favorite card games. For savory snacks at home, this gift comes with salted caramel & white cheddar popcorn, and chocolate-dipped pretzel twists. They’ll be able to enjoy relaxing at home with snacks while knowing that their gift promotes employment for those with developmental disabilities and environmental preservation. This is a perfect gift for staff working from home, staying connected with family abroad, or cheering up a friend from a distance.
3. Elevated Evening at Home
Make them feel special with a gift for an elegant night in with an enhanced evening of delectable food and cozy home accents. This beautiful wood appetizer dish with teak spreader serves the pizzetta biscuits, olive oil flatbreads, and artichoke caper bread dip. Along with the soothing smell of rose and vanilla from this hand-poured soy candle, a rich dark chocolate bar is the perfect sweet send-off. While helping forestry initiatives, young moms in underresourced regions, and more, this elegant package makes an ideal present for a housewarming, VIP client, or the home entertainer!
4. For the Virtual Conference
Many conferences have been canceled or replaced by virtual meetings as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact face-to-face gatherings worldwide. With this excellent selection, you’ll be sure to amaze your colleagues and attendees. They’ll stay energetic thanks to the vintage-inspired mug, coffee and tea combination, chocolate chunk granola bar, and other treats, while the artistically designed notebook will give way to creative inspiration. No matter what your conference is about, these ethical gifts will make them smile while also benefiting cancer health initiatives, schools in underserved areas, and more.
5. For the Worldly Cook
Inspire your favorite foodie to try something new! This gift is ideal for the chef who enjoys entertaining and experimenting with new flavors and culinary delights in their kitchen. An amuse-bouche of generously seasoned flatbread, garlic herb dipping sauce, and artichoke and caper bread dip will keep their hunger at bay while they prepare. This set is a thoughtful gift that benefits the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, family-owned businesses, and other important causes.
6. Fun in the Sun
Make sure they have everything they need for an all-inclusive day at the ocean, laying out by the pool, or grilling in the backyard. Encourage them to disconnect by playing a relaxing game of travel-friendly checkers (or tic-tac-toe) on a plush Turkish cotton towel. A reusable, decorative travel mug completes this ideal summer set, keeping refreshing beverages safely contained. It’s a fantastic present for bridesmaids, birthdays, or anybody who likes having fun in the sun. They’ll feel even more loved knowing that their day contributes to marine restoration, the elimination of single-use plastics, and other environmental causes.
7. Holiday Cheer
With this festive package of fair trade Christmas gifts and delectable sweets, you can send them Christmas joy in a box. Sweet and savory popcorn, Oreo cookie-studded chocolate bark, peppermint crunch bar for the holidays, and more are included as holiday treats. These socially conscious Christmas gifts help women-owned companies, food insecurity efforts, and employment for people with developmental disabilities. It’s ideal for conveying heartfelt holiday wishes to a friend, colleague, or customer.
8. Indulgent Impact
Send them a lavish and bountiful gift to express your gratitude and support. Salted rosemary shortbread cookies, small-batch honey, sea salt-toffee chocolate, and delicate USA-grown yaupon holly tea make up this stunning present. Long after the sweets have been consumed, a one-of-a-kind hand-blown glass wine cork and a fragrant hand-poured candle are sure to stimulate conversation. From top clients to loved ones, anyone can appreciate this gift knowing they’ve assisted children affected by gun violence, previously imprisoned candidates reentering the workforce, and more.
9. Positive Vibes
With this cheerful collection, give the gift of positivity for a house full of happiness. Your loved one will have the perfect excuse to rest and revitalize with organic raw honey sticks, best-selling organic herbal tea, tasty lemon butter biscuits, and a beautiful multipurpose tumbler. With this dogwood starting kit, you may sow the seeds of friendship and they’ll be reminded of your thoughtfulness as it grows. Perfect for expressing gratitude or sending positive thoughts while supporting women’s empowerment, promoting sustainability, and women-owned companies.
10. A Token of Appreciation
What’s one thing that never goes out of style? Kindness. While there are certain times of the year or special occasions when you may feel more grateful for the people you care about, it’s just as essential to spread the love throughout the year. You may have a cause to thank someone who has aided you, but there’s no need to wait for a special occasion. We always encourage expressing gratitude for someone simply for being in your life. This considerate present is perfect for saying “thank you” in a simple and elegant way, from teachers to friends to conference participants. Lightly salted dark chocolate, rooibos peach tea, and an artful notebook will brighten their day. Show your appreciation by contributing to the construction of schools in underdeveloped nations, environmental protection, and more.
11. Hello World!
The birth of a new baby is a joyous occasion! You can never have too many of the basics, from practical presents to lasting souvenirs. Cozy blankets, bibs, bottles, and diapers make excellent gifts that new parents will utilize regularly. Celebrate the arrival of new life with a present that the entire family will appreciate. For baby, there’s a lovely organic cotton “I Love Mom” onesie and whimsical, hand-painted clever art cards that help with brain development. A relaxing lemon butter biscuit and a warm herbal tea blend for the new parents to enjoy throughout the day. Ideal for congratulating a new mommy or daddy, a baby shower, or Mother’s Day. Profits are donated to cancer survivors and community wellness initiatives and support sustainable toy production by providing fair wages to employees.
12. Home Office Collection
Working from home doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon, and the Zoom fatigue is real. You’re not alone; many individuals are in the same situation and don’t have a specific work area at home. Even if you have to chisel out a tiny space in your bedroom or underused space in the corner of the living room, now is the time to make it a comfy home office with some useful and conscious gifts. Welcome new team members, or show appreciation for any remote worker by providing them with work-from-home office supplies. Quick-dry screen wipes keep views fresh, while the repurposed vinyl-record notebook will be a natural conversation starter during meetings. A stylish and sturdy tumbler keeps morning coffee hot and happy-hour wine cool, while buttery, chocolate mini biscuits keep the post-lunch slump at bay. Most significantly, this present promotes food-insecure communities, environmentally responsible production, and the reduction of single-use plastics.
13. Fun & Functional
With this one-size-fits-all gluten-free, nut-free, and vegan assortment, say hello, thanks, or greet event guests. Your loving message will be sent with every taste of organic potato chips, delectable chocolate chip cookies, and wonderfully sweet dried fruit. The recycled vinyl-record notepad will keep the memories of your thoughtful gesture alive long after the last bite has been taken. If it’s the idea that counts, they’ll appreciate the fact that these ethical gifts provide resources to food-insecure communities, reduce trash from landfills through recycling, and promote sustainable agricultural methods.
Give with Ethical Gifts that Leave an Impact
Packed with Purpose gifts are distinctive and impactful because of the selectively curated goods we carefully acquire from our Impact Partners. Our Impact Partners represent Diverse-Owned, Women-Owned, B-Corp, and diversely-owned businesses that sell individually crafted environmentally friendly items and are produced in small batches. Contact us today to find ethical gifts that leave an impression on your loved ones and the world.
