We’ve put together a gift guide of conscious brands who are committed to making real climate impact this season.
Chutni Punch is a small, woman and minority-owned seasoning and spice mix company that uses local and single-source ingredients.
The holidays are a time of giving; to friends, family, and the causes that matter to us. For a lot of shoppers, climate impact is high on that list. And as more consumers are looking to make their shopping choices more meaningful, eco friendly gifts and sustainable shopping have become a priority.
The problem is: what makes a product “eco friendly” or “sustainable”? With terms like “green”, “natural”, and “climate friendly” flooding markets, it can be hard to tell which purchases are actually making a difference. Greenwashing, the practice of using misleading, vague terms to make products seem more sustainable, has made it hard to shop without conducting a research project in the shopping aisle.
Zero Foodprint’s Holiday Gift Guide
Whether you’re a business looking to take its sustainability efforts a step further, or a shopper who wants their dollar to do good, we’ve made it easy to navigate the uncertainty of shopping with impact this holiday season.
Zero Foodprint’s Holiday Gift Guide is a collection of products from conscious brands who have pledged a portion of their sales to our Restore grant program, which funds regenerative farming practices. These methods allow farmers to grow quality food while drawing carbon out of the atmosphere and revitalizing the soil health of the land.
To date, our grant programs have funded over 1,000 regenerative farming projects that have collectively pulled over 260,000 tons of greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere, the equivalent of removing emissions from 26,540,792 gallons of gasoline.
Interested in joining the guide? Sign up here by November 6th to participate!
To shop the guide, keep an eye on this page, as well as our Instagram, to explore it when it goes live from November 17th to December 31st.
In the meantime, read on to learn more about how to avoid greenwashing this holiday season.
How to Spot a Truly Green Gift
To give you some guidance beyond the gift guide, we recommend three methods for spotting a product that is made with the climate in mind:
Read Beyond the Label
Words like “green”, “natural”, and “eco friendly” can sound reassuring, but on their own, they don’t tell you much. Look for specific details about what makes a product environmentally responsible.
Does the company talk about where and how its ingredients or materials are sourced? Are its sustainability claims backed by measurable progress? Companies making truly sustainable products should be able to explain their claims.
One example of sourcing transparency is ZFP Holiday Gift Guide participant, Full Circle Ghee. Their website outlines the origins of their dairy and the strict pasture-only diet required for the cows that produce their ghee.
Photo from Oaktown Spice Company
Look Closely at Certifications
Independent, third party certifications can help shoppers find products that meet established sustainability standards. But be sure to look at the organizations behind those labels - not all of them carry the same weight. Look for whether they are an independent organization and how they make their assessments. For instance, you wouldn’t want to buy a paper product with a sustainability certification that is from an organization funded by the logging industry.
Generally, certifications give a product more credibility than a company’s own claims. That said, not having a certification doesn’t automatically mean that a product isn’t made sustainably. Smaller companies may not have the resources to apply for a formal certification, so be sure to zoom out and look at the full picture.
A to Z Wineworks is a certified B-Corporation winemaker (and has received a ZFP grant to use regenerative practices in their vineyards!)
Look at the Full Picture
Lastly, a product's packaging or ingredients are just a part of its environmental footprint. Take a closer look at the business behind it and whether sustainability is part of its operations and commitments.
Does the company invest in reducing its environmental impact? Does it use responsible production methods and sourcing? Does it contribute to programs and initiatives that are tackling larger environmental issues and solutions?
The best way to find gifts that give back is to look for businesses that go beyond marketing their products as "green" and do the work of climate impact. For food and beverage brands in particular, that can look like investing in regenerative food systems that their ingredients are a part of - systems that support farmers, restore soil health, and build climate resilience.
Ultimately, shopping with impact isn't about finding a perfectly sustainable product. It's about supporting businesses that are doing the real work of being part of climate solutions.
Bob’s Red Mill is an employee-owned grains, flour, and oats company committed to climate-resilient farming and community partnership.
Get into the Guide
Every product in the Zero Foodprint Gift Guide is doing that important work. They’ve made a direct commitment to a highly effective climate solution with tangible results.
Want to be a part of those results? Join the guide today or shop it November 17 through December 31st! It’s the best way to find green gifts this year, and to find the customers who want them.
Zero Foodprint (ZFP) is a nonprofit organization restoring the climate, one acre at a time. We believe that by regenerating soil, local food economies can play a critical role in reversing the global climate crisis. We work with food and beverage businesses, philanthropy, and government to bring the next dollar to implement the next regenerative practice on the next acre. This regenerative economy benefits every person who grows food, every person who sells food, and every person on this planet who eats food.
