Culture Holidays The 9 Best Gifts from Carbon Neutral Companies of 2023 Make this holiday season one that’s better for the climate. By Nicole Bonaccorso Nicole Bonaccorso Rowan University Nicole Bonaccorso is a journalist who covers climate change, the environment, and sustainable living. Her work has appeared on NBC.com and Weather.com. Learn about our editorial process Updated October 19, 2022 Share Twitter Pinterest Email Culture History Travel Sustainable Fashion Art & Media Holidays Community We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Courtesy of Getty You can make this holiday season one that’s better for the planet by giving sustainable gifts made by carbon neutral companies. Carbon neutrality means a company has reached net-zero emissions. Some companies do so by investing in carbon credits to offset their own emissions. Others get the neutral through a hybrid approach of some type of credit combined with direct efforts to lower their emissions, like installing renewable energy on their facilities or using low-emissions vehicles. No company has zero impact on the environment, and carbon offsets aren't perfect (more on that below), but we feel that supporting companies that are genuinely working to address climate change is one way you can push for a greener economy. We’ve researched presents including low-waste home items, sneakers made from renewable materials, and some great organic treats. Find the best gifts from carbon neutral companies below. Tentree Treeline Canvas Unisex Jacket 4.7 Courtesy of Tentree View On Tentree.com Ever heard of a jacket that’s 99% compostable? This organic cotton canvas unisex jacket comes in khaki and olive shades, and sports a water-resistant finish. When you’ve worn the jacket to its last leg, you can just remove and recycle the screw buttons and bury the jacket or toss it in your compost. The jackets are made by Tentree, a company certified as climate neutral by climateneutral.org. The company offsets its entire carbon footprint using verified carbon credits, and is implementing a Reduction Action Plan to reduce emissions from within its own operations and supply chain. The company also has the goal to plant 1 billion trees by 2030. At a Glance Certified by Climate Neutral Price at time of publication: $178 REI Co-op Take Your Time 7/8 Leggings Courtesy of REI View On REI REI is a certified climate neutral company that offsets its carbon footprint via carbon credits. The company is also working to reduce its own emissions. The company works as a co-op, and operates on 100% renewable energy and has certified, zero-waste distribution centers. That’s why we’ve included REI Co-op’s Take Your Time ⅞ Leggings as a great gift from a carbon neutral company. The leggings are available in seven colors, and the breathable stretch fabric wicks moisture during your toughest workouts. The thigh pockets are big enough to hold your phone, cash, and cards. These ankle-length leggings are great for yoga, hiking, hitting the gym, or just lounging. At a Glance Certified by Climate NeutralPrice at time of publication: $21 (down from $70) Allbirds Women's Wool Runners 4.4 Allbirds View On REI View On Allbirds.com View On Dick's Wool isn't vegan, but it can be climate neutral. You won’t be sacrificing style when you go with Allbirds Wool Runners. These cool, lightweight, machine washable sneakers are made of renewable materials that wick moisture and minimize odors. They’re available in 16 colors, so you're sure to find a color that matches your taste and wardrobe. The shoes’ midsole is made of SweetFoam, which is crafted from Brazilian sugar cane and made of a carbon negative polymer. The shoe laces are made from 100% post-consumer recycled polyester. But that’s just the manufacturing—Allbirds offsets its entire carbon footprint via carbon credits and is striving toward reduction of emissions from fossil fuels within its company. At a Glance Certified by Climate NeutralPrice at time of publication: $110 The 9 Best Eco-Friendly Sneakers of 2023 Rocky Mountain Dog Collapsible Dog Travel Bowl Courtesy of Rocky Mountain Dog View On Rockymountaindog.ca This gift is great for the dog owner on the go. From certified climate neutral company Rocky Mountain Dog, this collapsable, two-in-one dog bowl makes packing dog gear easy. The bowl unzips into two for when you need to offer your dog both food and water. The waterproof lining means you’ll have no trouble drying the dish to pack up when your dog is finished. The company offsets all of its carbon footprint with verified carbon credits. It strives to use local materials and are working to cut emissions by implementing work-from-home options for staff and taking control of its supply chain. At a Glance Certified by Climate NeutralPrice at time of publication: $15 The Best Dog Hiking Gear of 2023 Appalachian Gap Distillery Ridgeline Vermont Whiskey Courtesy of Appalachian Gap Distillery View On Appalachiangap.com View On Drizly View On Spirithub.com Appalachian Gap Distillery is the first climate neutral distillery in the United States. The company uses 100% solar power and even gives the extra solar credits to its employees. The distillery’s Ridgeline Vermont Whiskey is gracefully aged in three different types of barrels: new oak barrels, ex-bourbon barrels, and port wine barrels, for a distinct, balanced, and complex whiskey. This whiskey is made from barley, corn, and rye mash and aged for at least two years in the Middlebury, Vermont, distillery. It will make a great gift for the whiskey lover in your life. At a Glance Certified by Climate NeutralPrice at time of publication: $46 Alter Eco Raspberry Blackout Organic Dark Chocolate Courtesy of Hive Brands View On Thrive Market View On Amazon View On Hivebrands.com This organic, non-GMO, vegan, Fair Trade chocolate is dark, decadent, and has a luxurious raspberry flavoring. The 85% cacao is for the true dark chocolate lover. The packaging is recyclable and the company is working to make its supply chain zero-landfill and to reduce its emissions. Alter Ego also offsets its emissions by protecting and planting trees. At a Glance Certified by Climate NeutralPrice at time of publication: $4 Klean Kanteen Insulated TKWide 32 oz with Chug Cap Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On Kleankanteen.com View On Pharmaca.com A new reusable water bottle is a gift that’s always appreciated. Klean Kanteen offers a variety of insulated water bottles, and we think the 32-ounce bottles are the ideal size for hikers and active individuals. The wide-mouth, leak-proof chug cap is easy to drink from during sports and activities, and as well as being easy to clean. The company also offers a variety of compatible caps if the chug cap isn’t for you. The bottles are BPA-free and will keep contents cold for up to 66 hours. Klean Kanteen is certified as climate neutral by climateneutral.org. It's also a member of 1% for the Planet, meaning that the company donates 1% of annual sales or salary to environmental causes. At a Glance Certified by Climate NeutralPrice at time of publication: $45 The 7 Best Reusable Water Bottles, According to Our Tests Lomi Composter 5 Amazon View On Amazon View On Wayfair View On Lomi.com Review: The Lomi Composter Is Best in Class If you're looking to splurge on a gift, this Treehugger's editors love this countertop composter. It dries and grinds food waste into a fluffy mulch-like product, and even has a setting that can make fertilizer that's safe to put directly on plants. It's perfect for someone who wants to compost, but doesn't have the time or space for an outdoor compost bin or tumbler. At a Glance Certified by Climate NeutralPrice at time of publication: $451 Numi Jasmine Green Tea 4.8 Numi View On Amazon View On Numitea.com As chilly days approach, the gift of a warm beverage like Numi’s Jasmine Dream looseleaf tea might be the perfect thing. The tea is not just delicious but the blend is beautiful, with organic jasmine flowers sprinkled amongst the green tea leaves. The entire tea is certified USDA Organic. Loose leaf tea is the greener option when it comes to teas, since the user won’t be throwing away single-use tea bags, but rather hopefully using a reusable tea infuser. Numi is a Fair Trade company that measures, offsets, and reduces its annual emissions footprint by supporting biodiversity, forest conservation, and community development in the Amazon Rainforest. The packaging is also eco-friendly. At a Glance Certified by Climate NeutralPrice at time of publication: $20 What to Look for in Carbon Neutral Gifts Usefulness When shopping for carbon neutral gifts, the first thing to consider is if the product is actually useful to you or your recipient. Buying something just because it’s dubbed a green product made by a carbon neutral company, and then never using it, is in itself wasteful. Many a green gift may end up in the landfill because individuals own too many reusable straws or water bottles. Remember, minimalism is your friend when it comes to living a low-waste life. Certifications A major concern about carbon credits is that they can be used like a free pass to pollute, so long as a company can afford to buy offsets. It's one reason to be wary of "net-zero" emissions targets from companies that continue to pollute a lot. That's why we like organizations like the non-profit Climate Neutral, which works with companies to both offset and reduce their carbon pollution. Other major third-party organizations that offer carbon neutral certifications include the UK-based BSI-Group and Natural Capital Partners. Why Trust Treehugger? Treehugger prides itself in researching and reviewing products and companies to help readers find the greenest options. This article was written by Nicole Bonaccorso, a journalist who has covered climate, environment, and sustainable living for several years. To compile this roundup, Nicole considered dozens of companies certified by Climateneutral.org, ultimately deciding to include items that are useful to buyers rather than including products just because they are sustainable or made by carbon neutral companies. The 29 Best Eco-Friendly Gifts of 2022