Sustainable Shopping for the Holiday Season

By VERONICA YOO

Since the start of November, the winter holidays have been on many people’s minds. We’re busy putting up the lights, decorating, and looking through wishlists before the holidays. Why not give something more sustainable this year? We did a little searching to find some California-based companies that create goods with an eye on reducing wasteful packaging and using local, organic or ethically sourced ingredients. By buying local, you help support California entrepreneurs and avoid the larger carbon footprint of purchasing overseas goods. Even choosing a more leisurely form of delivery that avoids air transport can reduce the carbon footprint of your purchase.

Light the Way

Here’s our first bright idea: locally made candles. Not only do they come in handy during rolling blackouts, but with various scents, you can personalize them according to the recipient—fruity, floral, or something exotic.

But many candles contain artificial and chemical ingredients. Petroleum is commonly used (or petroleum-based paraffin wax), which is non-renewable and produces air pollutants when burned. Alternatives like beeswax, soy wax, or any other natural wax burn much cleaner.

Swell Candle Co is a shop based in San Diego. From start to finish, founder Linda Scott emphasizes sustainability by using reusable vessels and ethically sourced ingredients. The candles carry a sophisticated touch, coming in a range of comforting scents like Driftwood + Juniper and Cashmere + Vanilla.

Many other candlemakers can be found around the state: Makana candles are also made of soy wax, hand-poured in the company’s Orange County studio. Despite its Francophone name, Lait is based in Los Angeles; candles are grouped into eight different fragrance categories and are hand-poured in reusable glass containers. Also packaged in glass are Little Shop of Oils’ illuminating gifts, including a seasonal Winter Solstice candle.

Instead of glass, Los Angeles-based Uno Atelier uses concrete for its candle vessels—and there are also molded candles in decorative shapes.

Good Scents

Perfume is another go-to gift. But rather than buying mainstream brands, consumers with eco-conscious attitudes have turned to sustainable fragrances. Environmentally conscious perfumes are reliant on carefully chosen ingredients. It’s important that flowers, spices, and whatever else goes into formulas are ethically sourced and as natural as possible (think seasonal). Beyond nature, synthetic ingredients have gained attention for complying with green chemistry principles. This means creating alternatives to molecules derived from petrochemistry for top notes in perfumes, be it sandalwood or patchouli. As for packaging, materials should be primarily, if not completely, recyclable—biodegradable is even better!

Thin Wild Mercury, a company born in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, curates a small yet special collection of fragrances. Owners Cathleen Cardinali and Anthony Polcino offer scents inspired by New York and Los Angeles. The latter includes these L.A. touchstones: Laurel Canyon, 1966; Whisky, 1969; Chateau, 1970; and Zuma, 1975. (Note: it’ll take two to three weeks to receive; items are preordered to avoid waste through overproduction.)

Soft Touches

Eco-design, biodiversity, sustainable procurement and social responsibility all go into creating sustainable products and green gifts. These are concerns shared by many small California companies that make their products locally while also minimizing plastics, using biodegradable packing materials and choosing ingredients that are not tested on animals.

Based in Petaluma, Benedetta has been producing face and body care lotions and oils since 1996. Company founder Julia Faller, a licensed esthetician, created the skincare line, formulated with 100% botanical, certified organic and biodynamic ingredients. (One popular seller is boldly labeled “The Best Deodorant.”) Up on the Lost Coast, Nieves Rathbun’s boutique company By Nieves offers several go-to products, including a face serum (C-perfect Skin) and Cloud of Protection, a room spray that’s billed as a “defense against illness, bad vibes & stinkiness.” Want more scent options? San Clemente’s Happy Spritz offers a sampler of five essential oil sprays.

Because you can’t have too many choices when it comes to makeup and body lotions, here’s another site to browse. Fat and the Moon offers a “Plant Prezzies” gift guide featuring body products sourced by California farmers in Nevada City and the Mendocino coast. 

And finally, here’s something that will appeal to a “waste not” sensibility. Thistle Valley Farms, based near Monterey County’s beautiful Elkhorn Slough, sells shampoo bars (no plastic bottles!). There’s also a $6 bundle of oddly shaped soap ends tied together with a “plantable business card.”

Reused and Reworn

Christmas is the season for gifting sweaters, jackets and other winter wardrobe essentials. A growing trend on social media is thrifting items on someone’s wish list. Sometimes they are classic pieces, like leather jackets and vintage dresses. Other times, it’s a Y2K top that’s in style. 

Thrifting has become one of the most popular ways to shop sustainably. One approach is to hit brick-and-mortar resale shops where the proceeds go to support local nonprofit groups. And websites like ThredUp and TheRealReal offer a curated selection of brands, from which shoppers can find specific must-have items.

Or look into these specialty retailers who have special ties to the Golden State.

Los Angeles is a showbiz town, where vintage shops might feature outfits worn at award shows, premieres or Hollywood parties, and some also make it fun to browse and buy online. The Way We Wore offers shopping by decade, while Decades sorts its goods by designer name (including all of the biggies, with prices to match). Other sites with designer garb include Catwalk and Golden Age Vintage.

However, it’s not necessary to spend big to enjoy retro fashion. Check out the offerings at Hotbox Vintage, a South Pasadena shop/website stuffed with affordable clothing and accessories.

On the flip side of the designer coin, look no further than the classic outdoor wear made by Patagonia. Founded by Yvon Chouinard in 1973 and based in Ventura, Patagonia clothing and equipment is designed to last for years and years. It’s so durable that the company will buy back items and resell them on WornWear.patagonia.com.

These are only a few of the many ways to shop sustainably. Sometimes the best gift can be a shared experience rather than a physical object that a loved one may not need. The holidays are the best time to reflect on ways we can continue to spread love and compassion, making the end of one year and the beginning of a new one bright.