Mother's Day is almost here, and it’s the perfect opportunity to show the mothers in your life just how much they mean to you! This year, let’s get a little creative and eco-conscious with our gift-giving. Instead of the conventional flowers or chocolates, why not surprise her with something truly special and sustainable? We’ve put together a fun list of 10 thoughtful and sustainable gift ideas that your mom will love - because nothing says “I love you” quite like a gift that’s both meaningful and kind to Mother Earth!
From stunning handmade jewelry to eco-friendly candles, each gift is chosen with care. We know that every mom has her own unique tastes, so we’ve included a variety of options to match different personalities. Whether she loves nature, is passionate about health, or always stays on top of the latest trends, you’re sure to find a thoughtful gift that she’ll adore!
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliated; we may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. We only feature brands that align with our values and contribute to a better world. Thank you for supporting these brands - and us!
Image Credit: Laura Elizabeth
Why choose a sustainable Mother's Day gift?
Sustainable gifts are a great choice for your mom, and they’re good for the planet too! For one, these gifts are often made with a lot of care and thought, which makes them feel special and unique. It shows you really took the time to consider what she likes and values.
Plus, many Mother's Day sustainable gifts are made from recycled or upcycled materials. This means they help cut down on waste and don’t use up new resources, which is great for the environment. By picking something sustainable, you’re supporting companies that really care about ethical and eco-friendly practices.
The impact of traditional Mother's Day gifts on the environment:
Traditional Mother's Day gifts, such as flowers, chocolates, and perfumes, may bring joy to moms worldwide, but they often come at a significant environmental cost. Let's take a closer look at the impact of these conventional gifts:
- Flowers: While beautiful and fragrant, many flowers are grown using harmful pesticides and chemicals, which can pollute water sources and harm wildlife. Additionally, the vast amount of water required to grow flowers, especially those out of season, contributes to water scarcity in many regions. Moreover, transporting flowers over long distances generates carbon emissions, adding to climate change. Read more about sustainable flowers here.
- Chocolates: The production of chocolate often involves deforestation, as cocoa beans are primarily grown in tropical regions. Deforestation not only destroys vital habitats but also contributes to climate change. Additionally, the chocolate industry has been associated with child labor and unfair wages in some regions, highlighting the ethical concerns surrounding its production. Read more about sustainable chocolate here.
- Perfumes: Many perfumes contain synthetic chemicals that can harm human health and the environment. These chemicals can persist in the air and water, contributing to air pollution and water contamination. The production of perfumes also requires large quantities of natural resources, including water and energy. Read more about non-toxic perfumes here.
What to consider when choosing a sustainable Mother's Day gift:
When selecting sustainable gifts for your mom, there are a few key considerations to keep in mind:
- Quality and durability: Look for well-made gifts built to last. Opt for durable materials that can withstand the test of time, reducing the need for frequent replacements. We included brands known for their quality!
- Ethical production: Choose ethically produced gifts, ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions for the artisans and workers involved. Look for certifications or labels that indicate ethical sourcing and production practices. All brands listed here are known for their ethical manufacturing.
- Eco-friendly materials: Seek out gifts made from sustainable materials, such as organic cotton or recycled metals. These materials have a lower environmental impact compared to their conventional counterparts.
- Minimal packaging: Consider gifts that come with minimal or eco-friendly packaging. Excessive packaging contributes to waste and adds unnecessary materials to the landfill. Opt for products that use recycled or recyclable packaging materials.
- Support local and small sustainable businesses: Look for gifts from local artisans and small businesses prioritizing sustainability and ethical production practices. Supporting local economies and businesses helps create a more resilient and sustainable community. It’s always nice to do some shopping in your own community, first!
Besides gifting one of these beautiful, sustainably-made goods, we also encourage shopping secondhand or gifting experiences. For example, many vases are ready to find a new home at a thrift store you can fill with local flowers.
Our favorite eco-friendly & sustainable gifts for Mother's Day:
1. Quilling Cards
Price: $12
Quilling Cards’ Mother’s Day collection features beautiful, handcrafted cards that really capture the spirit of the day. Each card is made with the art of paper quilling, showcasing lovely floral designs & unique details.
These cards are more than just a greeting; they're keepsakes that your mom will hold onto. Whether you’re close by or miles apart, sending one of these cards is a meaningful way to say “thank you” and “I love you.” It’s like giving her a piece of art that she’ll cherish forever.
Quilling Cards is also a Fair Trade Certified company since 2015.
2. Non-Toxic Candle
Price: $34
You can never go wrong with a sustainable candle as a Mother's Day gift!
Grow Fragrance is a North Carolina-based brand that creates certified 100% plant-based and toxin-free candles and air and fabric fresheners. It has a great selection of beautiful scents for every ambiance, including a few limited editions that you can only get at certain times of the year.
And if you are not sure which scent to choose, Grow Fragrance has a helpful quiz that you can take to determine which one is best for your mom!
3. Family Passport Holder
Price: $122
What a great idea this is for the Mama who loves to travel with her family! This leather passport holder comes in five different colors and 3 sizes (2 - 4 - or 6 passports). Poppy Barley is a Canadian brand and B-Corporation founded by two sisters in Edmonton, AB. Their company is committed to rethinking every step to create sustainably made, fairly-priced products designed to be used & worn on repeat.
use code SUSTAINABLYCHIC-15 for 15% off your entire purchase at Poppy Barley
4. Non-Toxic Perfume Gift Set
Price: $25
Sana Jardin is a socially conscious, luxury fragrance house crafting sustainable eaux de parfum and candles, all with delightful scents. As a true luxury brand, its fragrances are created by world-renowned Master Perfumer Carlos Benaim using only the finest ingredients.
The Summer Fragrance Gift Set features 3 of their top-selling enchanting and exotic scents: Berber Blonde, Revolution de la Fleur, & Venus of Verbena.
5. Mama-Friendly Handmade Jewelry
Price: $165
I absolutely love Laura Elizabeth’s collection of necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings.
And for all the mamas out there with babies and toddlers, Laura even has a collection of non-toxic, durable, and “tuggable” jewelry that is not only safe for little ones to put in their mouth, but also sturdy enough for you to wear and not worry about it breaking. Everything is made by hand in Los Angeles out of recycled metals, and some of her pieces are even made using real plants!
6. Organic PJ Set
Price: $128
Moms deserve to relax in comfort and luxury! A pajama set, nightgown, or robe is a great gift idea for just about any mom.
Printfresh is a woman-owned luxury sleepwear brand offering whimsical prints on 100% GOTS certified organic cotton and screen printed by hand by their ethical partners in Jaipur, India.
Designed with inclusivity in mind, their sizes range from XS petite to 6X, and they also offer women’s, men’s and all-gender silhouettes.
7. Reusable Water Bottles & Coffee Tumblrs
Price: $20-60
This brand has some of the sweetest prints for your mom’s new to-go beverage container.
Klean Kanteen is a Certified B Corp brand, Climate Neutral Certified, and Family and employee-owned! They use 90% post-consumer recycled stainless steel with a chip-resistant Klean Coat™ powder coat finish that is dishwasher safe!
8. Your Everything Shower Gift Set
Price: $68 ($100 value)
OSEA Malibu is a family-owned brand that brings the goodness of the ocean into clean, vegan skincare.
Their "Your Everything Shower" set is like a mini spa experience right at home. It features three products: the Undaria Algae™ Body Wash to cleanse your skin, the Salts of the Earth Body Scrub to give it a gentle exfoliation, and the Undaria Algae™ Body Oil to keep it hydrated. With ingredients like seaweed extracts and botanical oils, this set leaves your skin feeling soft, smooth, and glowing. Plus, it's suitable for all skin types, making it an ideal treat for any mama!
9. Sustainable Flowers
Price: $59-139
Farmgirl Flowers has a beautiful range of Mother’s Day bouquets that are perfect for honoring the special women in your life. Their unique burlap-wrapped arrangements are filled with fresh, seasonal flowers like peonies, sunflowers, and garden roses, all arranged in cheerful spring colors.
Each bouquet is hand-tied and ready to go, and you can even add extras like chocolates or a handwritten card to make it more personal. Plus, with delivery across the country, it’s super easy to send some love and appreciation this Mother’s Day!
10. Single-Origin Macarons
Price: $65
Dandelion Chocolate's Single-Origin Macarons are a real treat for your taste buds! This delightful collection includes nine delicate macarons, each filled with smooth ganaches made from three different cocoa sources from Africa. They come in beautiful chocolate shells made from Camino Verde, Ecuador chocolate, and each macaron has its own unique flavor, making side-by-side tasting a fun experience.
Make sure to pre-order by May 4th if you want them delivered in time for Mother’s Day, with shipping starting on May 6th!
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