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Eco Goddess

December 13, 2019 zero waste holidays

7 Sustainable Holiday Gift Ideas

As commercial interests turn the holidays into a secular frenzy of unconscious consumerism, it becomes increasingly important for us to approach the holiday season with a more conscious lens. While billions of human beings across the world lack adequate clean water, decent sanitation, food, shelter and clothing let alone access to formal education and health services, a minority – albeit a substantial one – is consuming gifts in completely unsustainable quantities at the cost of our environment (which we and our fellow creatures depend for our survival) and the lives of others. Consumerism prioritizes quantity over quality and content. It drives short-termism and denies harmful long-term impacts. It commodifies everything. It objectifies animals, and uses, abuses and consumes them irresponsibly. One example is our mainstream consumption of animal products – meat, eggs and dairy products all sourced from from factory farms – which drives deforestation, climate change, habitat destruction, ocean dead zones and other forms of environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and more.

But conscious consumerism and thoughtful gifting– well, that’s a different story. I challenge you this year to empower yourself and BE the change you wish to see in the world by voting with your dollar for a more just and thriving planet.

Below are some of my favorite items to receive as well as gift to loved ones.

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PLANTS

For a loved one, for a friend… Plants are arguably the most versatile gift on the planet! You can’t go wrong with giving someone a cute little plant (unless they have a history of killing all of their plants) or even a plant starter you grew from scratch, like pictured above! Take into account the type of climate your loved one/friend lives in. If they live in a dry, warm climate a succulent would make more sense to gift. If they live in a rainy climate with lots of shade, an English ivy would make more sense. Check out this Ted Talk and article which highlight common household plants that purify the air.

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REUSABLE BAGS

One of my many trusty sidekicks for living waste free! Four out of five grocery bags in the US are now plastic. In a landfill, single-use bags take up to 1,000 years to degrade. According to The UNRIC Brussels, the U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually. An estimated 12 million barrels of oil is required to make that many plastic bags. WHAT. I’ll admit, it took me some time to really adopt this new habit of using reusable produce bags to buy my items in bulk. In the beginning I would forget them in the car or at home. Or I would end up the packaged food isles and be like “what is life!” But as you transition you must be patient with yourself. Learning a new lifestyle is like learning a new language. It will not happen overnight. Buying your loved one/friend a gift like this will provide them the tools to shop in bulk, waste free (yay!). All of the bags I use are from {Zero} Waste Kit. Find them here.

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JARS & CONTAINERS

Say sayonara to plastic once and for ALL! To-go container, mason jar, reusable water bottle, and coffee mug… Yup, gangs all here. A look behind the scenes of my Eco Goddess lifestyle as I embrace zero waste tools to help me avoid plastic and single-use disposables at all times. Items like this are great stocking stuffers. As I’ve learned from experience, you can never have too many storage containers for your bulk items ;).

 

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REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE

Klean Kanteen ensures that all of its products are made with eco- friendly materials. The company also contributes to many other organizations that are working to fight climate change. That means you can buy their high-quality, eco-friendly water bottles with confidence. Klean Kanteen is a bottle you can feel good about.

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DRIED HERBS & SPICES

This DIY project makes for the perfect, from-the-heart kind of gift. Enjoy spices while cooking up a storm in the kitchen! Make yourself a cup of tea (anytime of day) with fresh herbs for a reminder to relax and enjoy the moment. Find your very own ecofriendly loose leaf tea strainer here.

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ETHICAL & SUSTAINABLE JEWELRY

Do you know where your clothes and jewelry were made? And by whom? More often than not consumers are blind to the world behind closed doors of a clothing factory or jewelry making shop. Fear not, there’s a way to still look ravishing less exploiting the environment and people who made your products. Support your local artisans while visiting the Farmer’s Market. Ask them questions such as where they sourced their materials. Another option is to visit your local Ten Thousand Villages, a nonprofit fair trade organization that markets handcrafted products made by disadvantaged artisans from more than 120 artisan groups in more than 35 countries. Here’s a little fair trade jewelry inspiration for you.

 

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ZERO WASTE KIT

Say hello to {Zero} Waste Kit, your streamlined take-with-you-and-go-everywhere kit to help make daily choices such as ditching plastic spoons, straws, food containers, grocery bags, and other single-use plastic products, easy and convenient. The thoughtfully designed starter kit includes custom made and hand-crafted daily essentials beautifully housed and measured-to-fit in a multi-purpose glass container, which are all ethically and sustainably sourced. If you are new to this blog and wondering why the photo above looks a lot like me, it is because it is me and the ZWK is a passion-project I launched on Kickstarter back in 2018 🙂

 

May these gift suggestions inspire you to purchase (or make) something beautiful and meaningful for yourself or your loved one this holiday season. Happy Holidays!!

Talk soon.

Love,

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Categories: zero waste holidays Tags: sustainable gift ideas, sustainable holiday, zero waste holiday

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Hi, I’m Marina!

I am so happy that you found my blog, Eco Goddess. On here I share zero waste living tips, gluten-free vegan (GFV) recipes, and soulful wellness inspiration.

It is my hope that in sharing my journey to living a more vibrant, ecologically conscious lifestyle with you, you will feel inspired and supported to embark on your own journey.

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One month ago @TED reached out to me inquiring abo One month ago @TED reached out to me inquiring about a holiday gift collaboration with my tiny startup @zerowastekit. They wanted @zerowastekit to be the official gift given out to each TED employee to help them kickstart their low waste lifestyle journeys.
I read the email, screamed and danced around with joy, then ran back to my computer to read the email again and make sure I wasn’t dreaming. Well, their kits arrived safely this week so I think it’s finally safe to say with confidence that 1. this isn’t all a dream 🤣 and 2. the world is changing and waking up to our global waste crisis 🙌🏼
I founded ZWK in November of 2018 with the mission to empower people with the mindset, tools, and convenience they need to reduce their everyday waste and ecological footprint. I envisioned the kit as an ethically & sustainably made take-with-you-and-go-everywhere kit to help make daily choices such as ditching plastic spoons, straws, food containers, grocery bags, and other single-use plastic products, easy and convenient. 
While there is no silver bullet solution to our global waste crisis, one thing is for sure: nothing will change unless we begin taking small steps towards change. Our throw-away society has conditioned us to make convenience-driven choices that rarely take into account the whole picture 🌎 I believe you do not have to sacrifice convenience in your lifestyle to support a more just and thriving planet. It just takes reconditioning, patience (baby steps) and some badass tools 🚯
A HUGE thank you to my loved ones for helping me every step along the way, my suppliers for being awesome, and for all of you… this beautiful community that continues to grow, inspire the masses to make the shift and fight for the future of our common home.
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pc: @southern_california_crafting 💛
#zerowastelifestyle #zerowasteliving #plasticpollutes #zerowaste #simplicity #mindbodygram #ootd #iamwellandgood #ecofriendlyliving #ecofriendly #eco #gogreen #sustainabilitymatters #sustainable #simple #fashion #wellnessjourney #beatplasticpollution #nomoreplastic
About a few months ago I had a desire in my heart About a few months ago I had a desire in my heart to book an end-of-the-year trip. Nothing big, just a little weekend getaway to celebrate 2019 and create an intentional space for transformation in 2020. This past weekend I made that desire a reality, and holy heck. I think I started a new tradition that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. 
I danced.
I explored.
I gazed at many a cloud in awe and gratitude.
I journaled.
I laughed.
I cried.
I released. 
What a gift it is to allow ourselves the space and time to do exactly what we desire. Whether it’s learning how to speak a few sentences in a different language, calling a relative you haven’t spoken to in a while, walking into a fast food joint and giving them hell for using single-use plastic straws (giving them hell politely, of course…and then giving their manager a list of alternatives), or creating an epic painting, I invite you to ask yourself what you deeply want to do before this decade comes to an end. Then, I invite you to go and do it. You won’t regret it ❤️ Happy Tuesday, friends.
Marina
Ps- here you see a bowl of zero waste buckwheat oatmeal with fresh fruit: an epic breakfast for any lover of warm lumpy soul food.
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#zerowaste #fashion #ootd #shopsecondhand #secondhand #thrift #thriftstorefinds #zerowastebadass #mindbodygram #iamwellandgood #gogreen #wellnessblogger #sustainableliving #ecofriendly #eco #simplicity #simpleliving #slowliving #travel #wanderlust
It’s finally feeling like winter here in Souther It’s finally feeling like winter here in Southern California and I’m celebrating in my secondhand faux fur jacket 🧥 Who else loves the cold seasons? ❄️ Happy Thursday, friends.
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#fashion #ootd #shopsecondhand #secondhand #thrift #thriftstorefinds #zerowastebadass #mindbodygram #iamwellandgood #wellnessblogger #ecofriendly #eco #gogreen #sustainable #simplicity #simpleliving #slowliving
Kickin’ unsustainable, unethical and hella waste Kickin’ unsustainable, unethical and hella wasteful denim production to the curb like 🙅🏽‍♀️👖
Earlier this month I introduced you to a company near and dear to my heart, @tejidosroyo. TR is a 100 year old Spanish clothing company dedicated to sustainable and ethical fashion. Well they’ve created an EPIC new denim dyeing process called Dryindigo which uses 100% less water (yes, that means no water!), 89% less chemicals, 65% less energy and ZERO water discharge. This is not just revolutionary for the fashion industry, but it is also revolutionary for planet 🌎 especially considering as a single pair of jeans uses the amount of water equivalent to what one person drinks over 7 YEARS.
To celebrate this huge win, last year Tejidos Royo donated 1 million liters of water to UNICEF 🙌 This year, they will be donating to another project who is working to take water where it’s most needed proposed by YOU! Head to my stories to learn more and VOTE on your favorite social project for @tejidosroyo to support! 
#1millionliters #DryIndigo #FabricswithValues #Sponsored #JoinTheSustainableDenimRevolution @onemillionliters
📷: @domlabrecquephoto
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#fashion #ootd #zerowaste #shopsecondhand #secondhand #thrift #thriftstorefinds #zerowastebadass #mindbodygram #zerowaste #gogreen #wellnessblogger #gogreen #sustainability #sustainableliving
Raise your hand if you’re ready to fill your bel Raise your hand if you’re ready to fill your belly with LOTS of plants tomorrow 🌱🌱 Now, to find a shirt that says SAVE TURKEYS, EAT TOFURKY 😆🤷🏽‍♀️
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📷: @domlabrecquephoto
Reasons to smile like a big dork: trees, rocks car Reasons to smile like a big dork: trees, rocks carpeted with moss of the deepest green hues, mycelium and their gorgeous mass of thin threads that link the roots of different plants and act as a flippin’ underground internet, and the whole world really. Whenever news about the current state of our planet puts me in a gloomy mood I push myself to go outside and look around for a bit. This one-on-one moment with Mama Gaia, even if it lasts for a few seconds, is enough to remind me of how precious life is and why it is worth fighting for.
#nature #naturephotography #outdooradventures #outdoors #natureporn
Greetings from New England! No, I’m not dressed Greetings from New England! No, I’m not dressed like this 😅 It’s 30 degrees here and I just landed back home to be with my family for the holidays. As I’m unpacking my things, I felt inspired to get on here and share a little bit about one of my current favorite low waste/minimal haircare tools that I brought with me. 
First, a little back story. It was sophomore year of college when I first discovered not all shampoos and conditioners are safe for the body and environment. I came home from class one day and rather than doing homework I started researching the ingredients on the back of my personal care products. What inspired this search was my journey to eating a cleaner diet 🌱 I made a goal to cut out food products that had ingredients I couldn't pronounce or didn't recognize. Then I thought, why not do the same for my personal care products that I use daily?
I was not prepared for what I found lurking in my products 😳... Ingredients linked to cancer and other health conditions such as asthma, ingredients tested on animals, ingredients toxic to wildlife and our oceans. That same day I took a trip to the closest health food store and picked up the most affordable eco/health-friendly shampoo I could find (bc broke college student lol). I didn't love how it made my hair feel, but I was happier with this selection nonetheless.
Now nearly 5 years later, I can proudly say I have found a shampoo and conditioner that don't mess up the planet and make my hair feel amazing 😹🙌🏼 This photo depicts me IRL taking a shower in a river near my SoCal home (yep, it’s still warm enough to do this) like a water nymph with my shampoo and conditioner bars from @zerowastestore. No packaging to send to the landfill/recycling, no bs ingredients messin' up my body or the earth, & I come out of each shower (especially showers in nature) feeling like a mystical being ready to save the flippin' planet 🌎✨
Have you tried out shampoo/conditioner bars yet? What has been your experience?
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photografairy: @avaah_east 
#sustainability #sustainableliving #zerowaste #zerowastelife #outdoorphotography #minimalism #zerowastemovement #vegan #plasticfree #wellness #outdooradventures
My rainy day secondhand ootd ⛈ I felt inspired t My rainy day secondhand ootd ⛈
I felt inspired to share something a little personal with you all today, and it’s about body image. Growing up in a multicultural home (Pakistani + European) my thoughts on body imagine, particularly of my own, were an utter mess.
What was accepted by one of my parent’s culture was not by the other. This bred a very confused and insecure Marina. My internal dialogue when getting ready for the day used to go something like this:
What should I wear? Oooh that looks nice. No wait, that shows too much skin. Okay how about this? Ehh, that doesn’t even feel like me or my style 🤷🏽‍♀️ This would go on for several minutes until I finally settled on something and left the house.
It wasn’t until I moved out of my childhood home that I began feeling the gift of confidence and excitement when dressing myself. Some days I’d want to dress like Mary Poppins. Other days I’d want to dress like Laura Croft from Tomb Raider. Having the freedom to choose what I wanted to wear filled me with a creativity and passion for style that I didn’t even know I had.
But there was another gift waiting for me upon moving out of my childhood home, which was the important lesson that confidence in one’s body image and self goes so much deeper than one’s outfit or fancy new hat. It’s the ooey gooey good stuff you feed yourself with daily like positive affirmations, exercise, high vibrational foods and the people you surround yourself with. I may have grown up in a confusing home where cultures clashed often (especially around fashion), but what it challenged me to do was search for beauty and happiness beyond the external form, and for that I am eternally grateful.
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#fashion #ootd #shopsecondhand #secondhand #thrift #thriftstorefinds #zerowastebadass #mindbodygram #iamwellandgood #gogreen #wellnessblogger #gogreen #sustainability #sustainableliving #sustainability #ecofriendly #eco #gogreen #sustainable #simplicity #simpleliving #slowliving #gogreen
The time is upon us, friends! The time…*dramatic The time is upon us, friends! The time…*dramatic pause* for a responsible denim revolution 🌍👖! A single pair of jeans uses the amount of water equivalent to what one person could drink over 7 YEARS. Now throw in the synthetic fertilizers used when growing the crops, the unethical conditions cotton farmers endure to maintain the crops, and the unmonitored energy usage during denim production and you’ve got yourself an unsettling look at our broken conventional denim system. 
But wait, there’s good news 😏 I am beyond excited to share with you an organization leading the change within the denim industry to a more sustainable and ethical world. Meet @tejidosroyo. They’ve created a new denim dyeing process called Dryindigo which uses 100% less water (yes, that means no water!), 89% less chemicals, 65% less energy and ZERO water discharge. To celebrate, last year Tejidos Royo donated 1 million liters of water to UNICEF 🙌 This year, they will be donating to another project who is working to take water where it’s most needed proposed by YOU! Head to my stories to learn more and VOTE on your favorite social project for @tejidosroyo to support! 
#1millionliters #DryIndigo #FabricswithValues #JoinTheSustainableDenimRevolution @onemillionliters
📷: @domlabrecquephoto
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