When it comes to holiday gifts, it’s easy to see how the season’s social conventions and the need to buy numerous gifts for our loved ones (and ourselves) lead to non-eco-friendly outcomes, like balls and balls of gift wrap rolling oh the floor, a ton of plastic and, most importantly, new stuff that will become trash someday.

One thing I dislike about sistainable gift guides and sustainable shopping guides in general is that they suck.  Very simply put, they just don’t showcase anything I would 3v3r buy for myself or for a gift. Sustainable gifting doesn’t have to be like that, there are millions of products to choose from and sometimes they way people use them is more important than the way they are made. That’s why you’ll see some items on this list that don’t necessarily meet the conventional notion of sustainability, but that are actually exciting and fun, which is what the holidays are all about.

Here is a suggested approach to holiday gifting to reduce the negative environmental impact of opening presents.

How to choose more sustainable gifts?

1. Choose products that help the end-user make more environmentally conscious decisions. Reusable products that reduce the need for single-use plastic, like a shopping bag or a metallic straw are good examples of this kind of gift.
2. Buy products that will very likely be used. This is probably the most important point. Much worse than buying non-eco-friendly products is buying products that will go in the trash in a month or two.
3. More sustainably made alternatives. This is what we more commonly associate with a sustainable gift, these are regular products made with more sustainable raw materials like bamboo or organic cotton. My all-time favorites here are Veja sneakers, Everlane and Reformation clothing.
4. Nothing. Yes, giving nothing is much better than spending your money on future trash, especially if you don’t know the person’s taste very well. A thoughtful card can have a much larger impact than a bad gift.

Here is my guide to more sustainable gifts for the holiday season:

1. Metallic straws. The solution to the disgusting papery straws world we now live in. I don’t care how sustainable those things are, I hate them. There is a huge caveat with this gift, though: remembering to bring them with you when you go get coffee. Have one in your purse, one in the car, one in your laptop bag, and a few at work to increase your chances. If the person you are giving this to is forgetful or doesn’t care enough about the environment to bring a small piece of metal everywhere, don’t even bother.
2. Smart coffee mug. I didn’t even know this existed until I started looking for new products to add to this list. If you are like me, it can take you a whole morning to go through your cup of coffee. There is nothing more upsetting than grabbing your coffee cup after zoning out for a few minutes, taking a sip and finding yourself with cold coffee in your mouth. To avoid this, the innovators that move this country forward have come up with a coffee mug that keeps your coffee at the exact temperature you like it, for hours at a time. This avoids frequent visits to the microwave or wasting coffee and having to make more because yours is too cold. Ok, I don’t think this is necessarily a good purchase because of its sustainability features, but I still love the concept.
3. Gold jewelry. My favorite all-time gift: gold. Gold is on my list because good jewelry has intrinsic value, is not disposable and it is a great safe haven against inflation (yes, you should worry about inflation even in these times of prosperity). Mejuri, one of the most Instagramable jewelry brands is having its only sale of the year right now. Enough said.
4. The coffee table book of the season. Steller reviews, perfectly appropriate for these times of political turmoil and identitarian spirits. For the friend who thinks to know politics and history but doesn’t really. The best way of saying “learn some history, goddammit!”
5. Everlane coat. Anything from Everlane, really, but outerwear is kind of a must these days. Everlane doesn’t do sales, but in an honorary mention, Reformation is having a sale as we speak (as I write?), which is rare, so go there ASAP.
6. The card game of the season. Card games are compact and tend to get used around the Holidays when large groups of drunken adults get together. This game is like the new “Cards Against Humanity” but less white.
7. Reusable shopping bag. Hopefully, most people already have one, but for those still hesitant about making the move, a cute one might swing them in the right direction. You can also choose a net bag or pick one from Amazon. Baggu is much cuter, though.
8. Quip. Less plastic waste from disposable toothbrushes and their packaging. I’ve seen the ads everywhere, not sure why I haven’t bought it. I would LOVE it as a gift (with refills included, of course).
9. Glass travel coffee mug. Fun and practical. Reduce waste by bringing your own coffee tumbler. I like the glass one because it looks more adult and there are no surprises in regards to how much coffee you have left. Also, in some establishments,  you get a lot more coffee if you bring your own mug.
10. Sustainable pointed flats. Rothy’s makes shoes from plastic bottles, but they are also cute and comfy. That’s all you need to know. The pointed flat looks effortlessly classy and it’s now available in wool.
11. A proper adult tea set. Maybe this is part of my obsession with gold , but I think nothing says adulting like a real tea set with a gold rim where you can entertain your tea time guests like a royal tea lady or tea lord. I also think that the more you like enjoying hot beverages at home, the less you’ll want to go out to buy them. I’m addition to that , buying tea usually feels like you’re getting ripped off. A cup of hot water and a bag of dry leaves hardly cost $5 to put together.

There you have it. I’m normally not a proponent of Black Friday shopping, but when my favorite sustainable brands are having sales, I’m all about taking advantage of it. Just remember: buy it only because you want it or need it, not because it is on sale.