As the holiday season approaches, gift lists are starting to be made and handed out by moms, girlfriends, wives, best friends, and daughters alike. Now you might be thinking, buying gifts in this economy?
We hear you—so here is a list of 10 gift ideas for $50 dollars or less that you can purchase right from your home. They are sure to appease the women in your life while also being better for the planet and for the people who made them.
Top 10 Affordable Sustainable Holiday Gifts
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1) Sustainability Pick: Teenie Beanie | prAna
For the woman who loves to stay cozy and conscious, prAna’s Teenie Beanie is the perfect cold-weather companion. Made from a blend of recycled polyester and soft, responsibly sourced materials, it delivers warmth with a lighter footprint.
Ethically crafted and available in versatile colors, this easy-to-love beanie is a simple way to stay stylish and sustainable all winter long.
Shop | $28
2) Circular Jewelry: Rose Gold Star Stud Earrings | Astor & Orion
Astor & Orion jewelry makes a great gift because it is beautiful, high quality, and comes with a great story. All Astor & Orion jewelry is made from recycled metals and designed to be 100% recyclable so it never goes to waste!
The star stud earrings are also available in gold and silver. For more jewelry under $50 check out their gift options!
Shop | $50
3) Organic Gift Set: Premium Crew Socks | Pact
These bold patterned crew socks are perfect to wear with a pair of jeans or for a fun pop of color with your business attire. They are made with a cushioned heel and arch support for maximum comfort throughout the day.
Not only are these socks perfect for keeping your feet warm, they are also made of 100% organic cotton and save about 15 gallons of water during the production process.
Shop | $24
4) The Essential Gift: Scoop Neck Top | ASKET
Simple, timeless, and effortlessly elegant—ASKET’s Scoop Neck Top is the kind of staple she’ll reach for again and again. Made from 100% organic cotton and crafted with complete supply chain transparency, it’s designed to last season after season.
Ethically made in Portugal, this minimalist essential proves that true style is built on quality and conscious craftsmanship.
Shop | $50
5) Fair Trade Gift: Desert Sands Candleholder | Ten Thousand Villages
Warm up any room with this beautiful candle holder. This piece is handcrafted in the West Bank from recycled glass. As with any gift from Ten Thousand Villages, your purchase supports fair wages and opportunities for artisans around the world.
Shop | $39.99
6) Gift with a Story: Patricia Scarf | Known Supply
This versatile style can double as your typical scarf or as a shawl! It is the perfect addition to your accessory collection. The scarf is handcrafted in India and is both GOTS and Fair Trade certified!
Fun fact: Known Supply encourages customers to “meet their artisan” by signing the name of the maker on the tag, allowing you to look them up on their website.
Shop | $44
7) Ethically Made Gift: Renew Catch-All Case | Everlane
A chic essential for everyday organization, Everlane’s Renew Catch-All Case is made from 100% recycled polyester, giving new purpose to plastic waste. Compact yet functional, it’s perfect for carrying cards, keys, or small must-haves on the go.
Ethically made in a bluesign®-approved facility, this minimalist case proves sustainability and simplicity are always in style.
Shop | $38
8) Eco Friendly Gift: Kapai 1.5L Hip Pack | Cotopaxi
A pop of color and purpose in one fun, functional gift. Cotopaxi’s Kapai 1.5L Hip Pack is made from repurposed fabric scraps, giving new life to leftover materials that would otherwise go to waste.
Each bag is one-of-a-kind, handmade in the Philippines under fair working conditions. Perfect for daily errands, travel, or outdoor adventures—this cheerful, sustainable accessory is as unique as she is.
Note: for something bigger with even more space, check out the 3L version.
Shop | $35
9) Gifts that Give Back: Socks that Protect Animals Gift Box | Conscious Step
This sock box doesn’t just keep your toes warm! It also helps save ocean animals by giving back to non-profit Oceana. Conscious Step partners with non-profit organizations that help support humanitarian and environmental causes around the world. Their socks are Fair Trade, made with GOTS organic cotton, and vegan friendly. Check out their selection of sock gift boxes.
Shop | $44.95
10) Gift for Sustainable Friends: Organic Canvas Tote Bag | Known Supply
This tote is perfect for carrying all of your everyday essentials! From laptops to books to face masks, this bag can fit it all! It is also made of 100% GOTS certified organic cotton, and is Fair Trade certified.
Shop | $26
What Makes These Gifts Sustainable and Ethical?
“Ethical” gets tossed around a lot these days but when we say it we really mean it.
Eco-Stylist uses our sustainable brand criteria to research and certify all clothing and shoe brands on our platform. This comprehensive framework focuses on both the human and environmental sides of sustainability.
Since our criteria is fashion-specific, we occasionally recommend value aligned accessary brands (non-fashion). In practice what this means is all of the brands in this article are Eco-Stylist Certified.
Socially Responsible Christmas Gifts for Women Over $50
Looking to splurge on the women in your life? Here’s a few Christmas gift ideas that are over $50:
- We all know women love their shoes, consider some comfy moccasins from Adelante Made-to-Order.
- Looking for something fancier? Try the Gold Calla Hoops Earrings from Astor & Orion.
- Want something a little more outdoorsy? Head over to Patagonia for a cozy jacket or fleece!
Sustainable Holiday Gifts for Men
For gifts for him and unisex gift ideas, check out our other gift guides.
More Ethical Gift Ideas
Looking for more ethical and sustainable holiday gift ideas for everyone? Check out our curated shop and for anything else leave a comment.
Loved this guide? Share it with friends and help spread the word about socially responsible gifts that do good—for people and the planet.
Sustainability reminder: It’s not as fun to talk about, but gift giving can be wasteful when the recipient doesn’t love what they received. For this reason we didn’t pick things like dresses and shirts that are hard to gift for someone else. Instead, we carefully selected useful gifts that your recipient is more likely to love! If for some reason they don’t love it, these gifts could easily be re-gifted, or in the case of the earrings, even recycled.
Editor’s Note (Updated 10/09/2025):
We’ve refreshed this guide for 2025 to bring you the best new ethical and sustainable gifts for her—all under $50. Each piece has been carefully selected to reflect the latest in conscious craftsmanship, from recycled materials and organic fabrics to brands leading the way in fair labor and transparency.
Catherine McCourt is a content writer at Eco-Stylist. She studies English, Creative Writing, and Philosophy at the University of Iowa. When she’s not writing about sustainability in fashion, Catherine enjoys painting, journaling, and much needed downtime.
