Don’t know what to get your favorite vegan? It’s not always easy to find a gift that’s just right for someone you love, let alone if you’ve got a gift-giving occasion for vegan friends and family.
Unfortunately, animal products often are found in places you’d never expect. However, our top picks take the stress out of giving because they’re perfect for vegans—and we promise they’ll be used over and over and not stashed in a closet (or re-gifted!). From backpacks to foodie faves to gifts that pamper, we’ve got something for every vegan on your list.
Here are some of the best vegan gifts in every price range.
Veggies are about to get an upgrade! This deliciously-different hot sauce is vegan friendly and gluten-free and contains only chili peppers, organic agave nectar, white truffle oil, and organic coriander. You can also get a variety pack of different levels of heat. It’s a sophisticated take on the same old hot sauce, and it’s guaranteed to take taste buds to new levels of umami heaven.
Truff White Truffle Hot Sauce
Price at time of publication: $28
If your friend or loved one always packs snacks, this 5.5 x 7.5-inch colorful (and cute!) little box with stretchy bands for secure seals is a great idea. It’s dishwasher-safe and made from a blend of FSC-certified bamboo and food safe melamine resin, and it’s BPA, PVC, phthalate, mercury, and lead-free. It can even carry liquids and hot foods. The company includes end of life instructions for every product on the site, and this one is biodegradable.
Goldune Bento Box
Price at time of publication: $25
Because, yes, we all need more chocolate in our lives! Lake Champlain Chocolates blends cocoa, sugar, and vanilla for a mix that can be stirred into any non-dairy milk for a luscious treat. The mix is dairy free, organic, and Free Trade certified. The classic flavor is divine, but there’s also a mocha flavor, which blends cocoa and coffee, and a spicy-sweet Aztec variety with ancho chili and chipotle pepper (our fave!). The company, founded in 1983, is a Certified B Corporation.
Lake Champlain Chocolates Traditional Organic Hot Chocolate
Price at time of publication: $13.50
These biodegradable wraps can keep sandwiches, fruits, vegan cheese, and casseroles fresh, and they can be used over and over with a simple rinse and a drop of dish soap. Wax from candelilla, a plant native to the Southwest and Mexico, is substituted for beeswax, and the organic fabric comes in a fun, cheery wildflower print. The seven-piece package includes an assortment of sizes for every kitchen need. The company is a Certified B Corporation and partners with 1 % for the Planet and supports ocean conservancy and water stewardship projects through the Rozalia Project.
Bee’s Wrap Vegan Variety 7 Pack
Price at time of publication: $40
If your recipient loves gardening and food, here’s a unique idea. These delicate velvety mushrooms are pricey at the supermarket, but this log will grow organic oyster mushrooms indoors for up to three years. Re-soak the log and harvest a new crop every six months. The small company from Georgia salvages aspen and poplar logs from felled trees, then plants them with organic oyster mushroom spores.
Uncommon Goods Oyster Mushroom Log Kit
Price at time of publication: $30
Upgrade your recipient’s smelly countertop bowl of veggie scraps to this odor-free bin, which stores kitchen waste until it can be added to a backyard compost pile or collection site. This one has a bamboo handle and is made from bamboo fibers, which are ground into a moldable material; bamboo, a fast-growing resource, can be sustainably harvested. This bin, which fits tidily into countertop corners better than round ones, will last for years, and it’s dishwasher safe and biodegradable.
Bamboozle Food Compost Bin
Price at time of publication: $40
This backpack is constructed from sustainably-sourced materials including a type of durable fiber created from 31 plastic bottles. It’s padded with innovative BLOOM Foam, a type of cushioning made, interestingly, from excess algae bloom! Recycled post-industrial factory waste is used to make zippers and trims. This bag is big enough to carry books, a laptop, or even a weekend’s worth of clothing. For every purchase, Tentree plants 10 trees and has planted more than 60 million to date. The company also is a Certified B corporation.
Tentree Mobius 35L Backpack
Price at time of publication: $128
If your recipient needs a little pampering, this gift set includes 6 bottles of nail care products that will prepare nails for a deluxe DIY mani without using substances such as Bisphenol A or phthalates. All products are “17-free,” meaning they do not contain 17 different chemicals or animal-derived ingredients. They’re also vegan and animal-cruelty free, certified by Leaping Bunny and made in the United States. Add a bottle of polish in a fun fashion color and a bottle of soy-based nail polish remover to round out your gift.
Ella+Mila Nail Care Collection
Price at time of publication: $39 Sale (Reg. $64)
Regardless of whether or not your vegan loved one has ditched plastic, these durable cotton mesh produce bags are a great addition to weekly supermarket trips. They’re made from organic cotton certified by Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and are durable and breathable so that produce lasts longer in storage. They’re also machine washable, which makes them convenient to use again and again. They’re available in four sizes.
Organic Cotton Mart Mesh Produce Bags
Price at time of publication: $17
All of Alder New York’s products are free from animal testing and animal-based ingredients, and are certified by Vegan Action. This gift sets includes two unscented but luxurious cleansers, and an exfoliating facial brush. Treehugger editors love the body bar, which is formulated with jojoba seed power, shea butter, and coconut acid.Price at time of publication: $56
Alder New York Cleansing Kit
Pacifica is another vegan and cruelty-free personal care brand, and a great place to browse for stocking stuffers. For example, the vegan care balm tucks nicely into any little gift bag. The Peach Shimmer flavor gets good marks from the Environmental Working Group, meaning the ingredients are safe and free of harsh or concerning chemicals. It can be applied to lips or cheeks for a bit of color, shimmer, and TLC, thanks to cacao seed butter and vitamin E. It’s available in four flavors.
Pacifica Vegan Care Balm
Price at time of publication: $6
Many vegans prefer to avoid beeswax, so if you want to gift a candle, look for a soy wax or other plant-based option. We love this one from designer Lindye Galloway, which is made from soybeans grown in the United States and is free from phthalates, dyes, and preservatives. Perfect for anyone who loves to cuddle up with a warm cup, it’s beautifully scented with bergamot, peony, and white tea. It comes in fully recyclable paper packaging, and our tester noted that it smells wonderful even unlit.
Lindye Galloway Earl Grey Soy Wax Candle
Price at time of publication: $45
These beautiful recycled notebooks won a Treehugger Best of Green award. “The illustrations on the covers are so fun, really something for everyone, and the inside covers have cool facts and quirky flourishes,” says Treehugger’s Editorial Director Melissa Breyer. The notebooks are made with 100% post-consumer recycled paper, and are printed with soy ink. They’re made in the United States by a family-owned and operated company.
Decomposition by Michael Roger Recycled Composition Notebook
Price at time of publication: $11
These super soft leggings feature a comfy crossover waistband and are made from a blend of recycled PET and spandex. The two side pockets are just the right size for your smartphone, and you can select carbon neutral shipping when you place an order. Our tester loved the super soft vegan suede finish, but noted these leggings can be a prone to collecting lint.
Wolven Threads Crossover Pocket Legging
We love that Wolven is a member of 1% for the Planet, and also a Climate Neutral certified company, offsetting its greenhouse gas emissions by investing in projects like landfill methane capture and forest conservation.
Price at time of publication: $52 Sale (Reg. $72)
Give the gift of a personal greenspace with this super-low-maintenance live plant. Even if your recipient isn’t an experienced plant parent, the ZZ plant is ridiculously easy to grow and is a great starter plant. It has an upright architectural form and glossy leaves that work in any decor from traditional to modern. It also tolerates low light levels, and it only needs watered every week to ten days. The company is woman-founded and owned.
The Sill ZZ Plant
Price at time of publication: $88 sale (Reg. $99)
These vegan-friendly sandals slide on and off easily for comfortable wear indoors and out. They’re made from sustainable cork and lined with OEKO-TEX STANDARD microfiber to prevent bacterial growth and odor. They come in black, brown and tan, and the soles are made from recycled rubber tires. The vegan leather is created from a mix of microfibers, such as cotton, nylon and polyester, including recycled content whenever possible.
Nae Vegan Shoes Bay Cork Slipper Vegan Sandals
There are many other styles, if your recipient doesn’t wear sandals. The company, Nae (No Animal Exploitation), was founded in 2008, and all products are manufactured in certified ethical factories in Portugal.
Price at time of publication: Sale $44 (Reg. $88)
Whether your recipient is new to veganism or not, this cookbook will offer plenty of fresh ideas for spicing up everyday meals. With riffs on Southern classics, your recipient can add some excitement to any meal of the week with unique recipes such as black-eyed pea hummus, sorghum cornmeal waffles and coconut collard salad. There’s a helpful section on pantry staples, too. Note that a few recipes call for processed items such as vegan butter or mayo that some cooks may prefer to avoid, but all the recipes are creative and flavorful.
Sweet Potato Soul: 100 Easy Vegan Recipes for the Southern Flavors of Smoke, Sugar, Spice, and Soul : A Cookbook
Price at time of publication: $13
Help your favorite vegan keep that beard fresh and clean with this shampoo, conditioner, and beard oil gift pack that also comes with a beard comb. All the company’s plant-based products are vegan friendly, contain no artificial fragrances and colors, and they’re certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny. The bottles also use 100% recycled plastic.
Bull Dog Original Beard Care Kit
Price at time of publication: $29
If you’re looking for stocking stuffers, this petite electric rechargeable lighter is a great option. It’s ideal for lighting candles or campfires and can be used again and again– as opposed to disposable lighters, which just end up in landfills. The manufacturer says you’ll get 600 uses. One note: Be aware there’s no child safety latch, so it should be kept away from small kids.
RONXS Lighter
If your recipient loves carbonated beverages, this countertop appliance is a fun gift option. Powered by a CO2 cylinder, the unit makes any beverage sparkle, including water, juice, cider, wine and even flat beer. Your recipient will no longer have to purchase single-use cans or bottles and will have sparkling water on hand whenever they want. It’s also a great gift for those trying to cut back on sugar-filled sodas.
Drinkmate OmniFizz Sparkling Water and Soda Maker
Price at time of publication: $139
If your recipient loves to garden, these slip-on shoes are the answer. They have a sturdy lug sole for sure footing on muddy ground, and they hose off in a hurry. They’re featured in many fun patterns from chickens and polka dots to flowers and hummingbirds. They’re also durable and more reasonably-priced than many designer brands, so they make a thoughtful yet budget-friendly gift.
Sloggers Rain and Garden Shoe
Who doesn’t love fresh herbs, especially in winter? This hydroponic, self-contained countertop garden has everything your recipient needs to grow fresh herbs and greens without soil. The integrated LED light, which adjusts for height as the plants grow, also has a timer, and unit has lights that tell you exactly when to add water or fertilizer. It’s an ideal gift for gardeners or foodies.
AeroGarden Harvest Elite with Gourmet Herb Seed Pod Kit
Price at time of publication: $160
Coffee is naturally vegan, so dedicated coffee lovers will enjoy sipping this, which boasts twice the caffeine of other brands. Because they source only USDA organic and Fair Trade certified beans, you’ll also be supporting coffee farmers and sustainability whether treat your recipient to a 16-ounce bag of the smooth, caramel undertones of their medium or the velvety chocolate undertones of the dark roast.
Death Wish Coffee Co. Whole Bean Coffee
Price at time of publication: $16
If you could give your recipient the gift of a good night’s sleep, you would. This bamboo pillow may just be the first step to the perfect night. Constructed of sustainable bamboo and a blend of polyester and bamboo-derived viscose rayon, this pillow is customizable to your recipient’s preference for soft or firm: The company includes a half pound of extra stuffing to plump it up (it can also be removed). It also comes with a five-year warranty and is available in queen and king sizes.
Coop Home Goods The Original Adjustable Memory Foam Pillow
Price at time of publication : $72
If your recipient could use a little pampering (and who can’t?), this vegan-friendly organic bath bomb contains lavender essential oil and organic oatmeal, which is particularly good for dry skin. It’s also available in a mint rosemary scent. Either comes wrapped in compostable and recyclable paper and would make a great stocking stuffer or part of a gift basket.
Abbondanza Soap Co. Oatmeal Lavender Bath Bomb
Price at time of publication: $9
Treat your recipient to these vegan sneaks that have plenty of style and are knit from bamboo and recycled plastics. The insole is made from cushy memory foam and cork, with an outsole made from sugarcane. The laces are made with recycled plastics. From heel to toe, your recipient can feel good about wearing these comfy shoes. The company has carbon-neutral shipping, low-waste packaging and plants two trees for every pair of sneakers they sell. They’re also a Certified-B corporation.
Cariuma IBI Knit Sneaker
Price at time of publication: $98
Not all slippers are vegan because a company may use non-vegan dyes or glues. However, this brand is PETA-approved to be cruelty free. The soles are EVA with synthetic suede and faux fur. And they’re as cute as can be in six different colors and two styles. These cozy slippers are a thoughtful gift for the vegan in your life.
Pawj California Vegan Fur Lined Slippers
Price at time of publication: $100
These tea pearls allow your recipient to enjoy hot cup of tea without the waste associated with individually- wrapped tea bags. Vegan and certified USDA Organic, these black tea pearls have a delicate floral aroma of jasmine. There’s also a holiday tea sampler if your recipient likes to try new flavors. The company collaborates with Ethical Tea Partnership to support a more sustainable tea industry for farmers, workers and the environment.
David’s Tea Organic Jasmine Black Pearls
Price at time of publication: $20
If your recipient loves to cook, this gorgeous enameled cast iron deep oven with lid is the perfect gift to splurge on. It conducts heat superbly and can be used in the oven up to 500 degrees. Its excellent heat distribution and retention makes this brand heirloom-worthy, and it comes in an array of gorgeous colors. Better yet, the easy-to-clean enamel also resists stains, dulling, chipping, and cracking.
Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron Deep Oven
Price at time of publication: $199
This vegan leather crossbody bag is not only practical, it’s super-chic. Available in nine fashionable hues (we love pear or tarte for a splash of electric color!), it’s sized right at 8 inches long by 7 inches high. There’s enough room for all the essentials including phone, keys, a small wallet, and lip balm. All the linings are made from recycled plastic bottles. The company even is testing fruit skin fibers for future manufacturing materials.
Matt & Nat Erika Vegan Crossbody Bag
Price at time of publication: $105
What to Look for in a Vegan Gift
Materials
Most people know that vegans avoid food products like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy. But lots of vegans also avoid goods that are made with other animal-derived materials, including leather, wool, feathers/down, or silk. Many vegans also avoid honey and beeswax. We recommend avoiding these materials when picking out a gift for someone who is vegan.
Environmental Impact/Brand Practices
There are a lot of personal reasons why someone chooses to adopt a vegan lifestyle, and the environment may be one of them. If this is true for the vegan you are shopping for, then choose manufacturers who focus on environmental stewardship such as the use of clean energy.
Also, read about what charitable endeavors or organizations a manufacturer supports (usually found in the “About Us” section), which may include partnering with conservation groups, community programs or local charities.
Certifications and Programs
It’s helpful to know which labels mean that products are free of animal-derived materials, and which labels mean no testing on animals. Here’s a quick guide:
Certified Vegan: This certification means that no animal products are used in a product or have been involved in animal testing. The certification is a registered trademark of the non-profit organization Vegan Action.
PETA-Approved Vegan: This certification applies to clothing, accessories, and home goods that contain no animal-derived materials such as leather, fur, silk, feathers, or bone.
Leaping Bunny: Certification that a company and its suppliers and manufacturers do not use animal testing in any stage of product development. However, Leaping Bunny certified products may or may not be vegan.
Why Trust TreeHugger?
Treehugger is dedicated to helping readers make smart choices when it comes to plant-based living. Arricca SanSone specializes in writing about home, shelter, and gardening. Many of these are products she has tested or uses in her own home, while others were researched to meet environmental and socially responsible certification standards by organizations such as GOTS and Leaping Bunny.
