Whether you are buying for someone who is just starting down the path to becoming zero waste, or they've been doing it for years we've come up with a list of practical and affordable zero waste gift ideas from some of our favorite Canadian businesses. Maybe you'll find a few items to add to your own Christmas list as well!
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Avoid grocery store plastic bags when shopping the bulk aisle with Eco Joy Bags. These bags are made of super light weight and durable ripstop nylon and come in three sizes. They are perfect for all things bulk, from finely ground cinnamon to yummy chocolate covered pretzels.
Fill up the bags in store, transfer your goodies to a reusable container for storage at home and then pop the bags back into your purse or reusable shopping bags for your next trip!
Nakusp, British Columbia
Swap out plastic wrap and aluminum foil for an eco-friendly organic cotton bowl cover from The Edgy Moose Designs. Available in a whole array of great designs, these fitted bowl covers are perfect for a number of different uses, from long term food storage to covering a bowl of rising dough.
Vancouver Island, BC
Make the switch from plastic wrap to all natural, reusable and eco-friendly beeswax wraps. We love Vancouver Island based company Goldilocks Wraps for their fun prints - with all of their different fabric options you're sure to find a unique wrap for everyone on your list.
Vancouver, BC
This new initiative out of Vancouver is focused on righting the harmful fashion industry. Founder Selina Ho is passionate about exposing the hard truths of fast fashion and educating consumers on how they can make better choices when it comes to buying clothing. Focusing on ethical labour, sustainable materials, conscious consumption, and proper disposal, the mission of Recloseted is perfectly in line with a zero waste lifestyle.
Recloseted's blog and social networks are full of useful tips, and Selina is currently working on an ebook that will be launching in 2019 titled: "The Recloseted Handbook: minimize, organize and create space for sustainable fashion".
Visit https://www.recloseted.com/handbook to find out how you can get a FREE exclusive preview and a discount code for the full ebook when it launches in 2019!
Calgary, Alberta
Make the switch from dryer sheets to reusable wool dryer balls and you'll find that your clothes will dry faster and be considerably softer and less static. We love that Splat and Co focuses on reducing their carbon footprint by sourcing their wool from a Canadian run family mill the next town over.
These hand felted dryer balls come in traditional colours and a wide variety of fun 'eco punk' designs! Each set of dryer balls can be used at minimum 1,000 times!
Surrey, British Columbia
While most of our products will help you on your way to becoming zero waste, here are a few that we want to highlight that are perfect for giving this Christmas!
Jars, jars, jars! - Whether its used for food storage or serving, home decor, or simply as a cup, there are endless ways that mason jars can be used to reduce waste around the home. We stock a large variety or sizes and styles of mason jars and we're sure you'll find the perfect one for any use you can think of!
Stainless steel reusable straws - help reduce plastic production and pollution by using stainless steel reusable straws, available bent or straight and in all your favorite metallics shades!
Tumblers - Ditch plastic water bottles and switch to a sustainable, zero waste glass alternative. You'll never look back! With over 100 different designs (and new ones being added all the time!), you'll find the perfect mason jar tumbler for everyone on your list.
LOWER MAINLAND LOCALS ONLY....
We can't talk about zero waste without highlighting one of the newest initiatives in our neck of the woods!
Chilliwack, BC
The Refillery is a mobile zero waste shop located in Chilliwack BC with the intention to help individuals reduce their use of single use items. They offer locally made, all natural, planet based, eco friendly, household cleaners and detergents as well as body care in bulk. Individuals can bring in their own jars or containers to be filled. They also offer package free zero waste items such as beeswax wraps, reusable bulk bags, bamboo cutlery, and stainless steel straws to name a few, to help reduce the use of single use items.
photo credit: The Fraser Valley and Tourism Chilliwack
For your CHANCE TO WIN an amazing prize package featuring zero waste items from many of the shops featured above find this image on our Instagram @masonjarmerchant (giveaway open for entries from November 19, 2019 to November 24, 2019).
Treen Goodwin
December 18, 2018
I am totally in love with the beeswax wraps , I so like the fact they are reusable, perfect for all my leftovers!!!