27 Eco-Friendly Kid's Stocking Filler Ideas On A Budget
Looking for eco-friendly stocking stuffers for your children? You’re in luck - here are 27 ideas for Christmas stocking fillers in the UK and USA.
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A stocking stuffed full of small surprises was my favourite part of Christmas morning.
As a child, I didn’t need big fancy gifts to feel magical.
Waking up and seeing a big (eco-friendly) sock meant Christmas was here and that was the best feeling.
So how do you give your kid that rush of excitement, without wasting money on plastic tat that they don’t really want or need?
I’m going to tell you how I do it for my own kids and then list 27 sustainable stocking filler ideas for 2024.
What should you put in a child’s stocking?
If you need sustainable ideas for a younger or older child’s stocking this year, this seven-gift rule is an expansion on the usual four-gift rule you see floating around each year.
If you’re on a budget, you can choose the first four (well, any four) jto save money.
Something they want
Something they need
Something to wear
Something to read
Something to do
Something for me
Something for the family
Something they want:
An eco-friendly Christmas can still be fun. Focus on your child’s main interest or favourite thing to play, for example, if it’s vehicles then you could get them a toy truck for their stocking. If they love role play then how about something for their play kitchen? If you don’t want to get a toy, then Etsy has lots of ideas for specific handmade gifts.
Something they need:
The most sustainable gifts at Christmas are the items that people actually need. Consumables, like toiletries, are great for older children who know what they like. A younger child might need new art supplies, winter gear (like gloves or slippers), or utensils.
Something to wear:
I don’t think I’ve ever got a Christmas stocking without a pair of socks inside! What items of clothing do your children need? You could also include ethical jewellery, like a cute bracelet or necklace (if age-appropriate). Check out this post for organic clothing brand recommendations.
Something to read:
Books are one of the best tools to aid a child’s development and imagination. Get yourself down the charity shop, or browse used books on eBay because there are so many loveable books already in existence. If your child isn’t a huge fan of books then magazines work great too.
Something to do:
Christmas day can be long, so it helps if children have something they can do if they need time to relax. I prefer activities they can do on their own or with a sibling, so they don’t start begging you to do it with them while they’re cooking. Some examples are small colouring books, puzzles, or mini Lego sets.
Something to eat:
Would it be Christmas without your favourite snack? An organic chocolate Santa or vegan bunny is sure to delight your little ones.
Something for the family:
This is optional, but if you’re the sort of family that likes doing activities together then a family gift can be a great way to make memories on the day. Travel-sized board games, jigsaws, or card games are easy to find second-hand.
Should you wrap stocking fillers?
While it isn’t essential, you might want to wrap the presents in your children’s stockings to make them last longer and to make the experience more exciting.
Unfortunately, 227,000 miles of wrapping paper is wasted each year. Whilst many people are trying hard to reduce their plastic waste, they often forget that paper is a precious resource, too.
To avoid causing more deforestation this Christmas, there are some simple steps you can take:
Use up all the wrapping paper you already have
Look for gift wrap made from recycled paper (there are some lovely options available, you’ll find some examples in my guide to sustainable wrapping paper)
Use fabric to make some reusable gift wrap that you can use every year
How do you fill a stocking on a budget?
Eco-friendly stocking fillers (or stuffers if you’re in the USA) can be more expensive than mass-produced products because they are plastic-free and made in fair working conditions. With the cost of living crisis in the UK, you might be one of many families that isn’t able to spend the extra money.
If you are on a budget, the best way to fill a stocking is by choosing second-hand gifts or plastic-free consumable items that are cheap. Some low-cost ideas for stocking fillers are art and craft supplies, DIY play dough or slime, homemade biscuits, used books, stamps or reusable stickers.
Eco-Friendly Kid’s stocking fillers Ideas on a budget
The following sustainable Christmas stocking stuffers are mostly under £10 (or $15 USD).
The stocking fillers include:
Sustainable toys and games
Eco friendly bathroom products
Plastic-free arts and crafts
Sustainable socks and gloves
Candles
Ethical sweets and chocolates
1. Grow your own plant kit
These kits make unique stocking filler gifts as they grow real plants.
The bug-eating plant kit is perfect for kids who will find a Venus fly trap exciting, but there are plenty of other kits too, such as mini melons, chilli, cacti, and magic fairy beans.
BEEcycle are based in North West England and are passionate about creating memorable and meaningful gifts with an eco-friendly spin
2. Natural play dough
As well as keeping children of various ages occupied, it is really good for child development, sensory play, and strengthening muscles in their hands.
To be more eco-friendly, you can make it yourself or buy it plastic-free from a small business. I like the ones from Mum’s Memory Box as she is super helpful if you have specific requirements (though I’d avoid any with glitter!). She also has fun play dough kits for bigger presents.
If you live in the USA, I’ve included some non-toxic options for you, too.
3. stamps
Wooden stamps are an eco-friendly alternative to plastic stamps; they can be used for play-dough or painting.
These are also ideal if you have more than one child to make stockings for.
4. Fairtrade Wooden toys
Lanka Kade is a Fairtrade brand that makes chunky wooden toys for young children. They are handmade by workers in Nepal who are being paid fair wages for their skills.
You can get puzzles, vehicles, and animals, many of which will fit inside a stocking
5. Plan Toys
Plan Toys makes great stocking stuffers because they are one of the most eco-conscious and non-toxic toy brands out there.
They make puzzles, travel-size games, toadstool kaleidoscopes, and small instruments for various ages.
Usually, puzzles are made from MFD wood which contains formaldehyde but Plan Toys are one of the only brands to use glue that is free from this carcinogenic substance.
If you’re in the USA, you can check stock levels in several places.
Buy at Honeybug (USA)
Buy at EarthHero (USA)
Check Kidizen - preloved (USA)
6. Winter activity book
Don’t you love a practical gift? This pocket-sized book is in the style of a journal and is full of mindful activities for kids to try during the Christmas holidays and beyond.
*10% DISCOUNT CODE: SUSTAINABLYLAZY
7. Seed kits
If you have a nature-loving kid or are hoping to get your child interested in gardening, a seedbomb or seed kit is the perfect gift.
They are nice and easy for beginners too (well, I managed to do it with a feral two-year-old and I’m pretty useless in the garden).
Buy from Seedball (UK)
Buy Cosmic seed kit (USA) - 10% off with sustainablylazy
Buy seed bombs from Etsy (USA)
8. Bath bombs
Bath bombs can make bathtime fun or relaxing for both kids and adults, and their size makes them the perfect stocking filler.
This listing was originally for a plastic-free option, but the shop closed down. The following UK businesses are eco-conscious but I can’t tell if their packaging is totally plastic-free or not. Due to the nature of bath bombs, they obviously need to stay dry. If you buy any please let me know so I can update this list!
If you’re in the USA, Honeysticks is a natural arts and crafts company that sells fragrance-free bath bombs.
Buy Nailmatic from Kid Collective (UK) - some contain almond oil
Buy plastic-free, handmade bath bombs from Bimble Around (UK)
Buy Saavy Naturals (USA)
*Discount: SUSTAINABLYLAZY
9. Shampoo bar (that works)
Lots of shampoo bars on the market just aren’t that good. The ones I’ve listed below make great stocking fillers because they will leave your kid’s hair feeling clean and soft (they’re tried and tested, don’t worry!)
You can combine them with a conditioner bar, but if you’re still using liquid, make sure its silicone-free.
Buy from Hairy Jayne (UK) - 15% off with SOPHIE15
10. Affordable bamboo toothbrushes
Tell me I’m not the only one who thinks a stocking is a great time for a new toothbrush.
I’m a big fan of the &Keep toothbrushes because they’re multipacks are so cheap compared to other places, but also they have coloured bottoms so you know which one is yours.
&Keep is an online eco-friendly store that helps you get all your toiletries and green cleaning products in one shop.
Discount code: 15% off &Keep products with code: andkeep15
11. Vegan crayons
Art supplies make great stocking fillers. Unfortunately, conventional crayons are bad for the environment because they are made from fossil fuel derivatives and tallow (animal fat). Crayola is pretty secretive about its ingredients, only revealing that they are not vegan. Luckily there are plant-based alternatives now, but it can be hard to find them.
Two of my favourite UK brands that use natural ingredients are Okonorm and Kitpas. Check out my discount page for offers on these parenting websites.
12. Recycled pencil case
A pencil case makes a useful gift for school-age kids or stationary and art lovers. Pencil cases are typically made from synthetic materials derived from fossil fuels, or untraceable cotton that could potentially have come from modern slave labour.
Choosing stationery made from recycled materials, like plastic bottles, will make your Christmas more sustainable.
Buy from Frugi (UK)
Buy from Terra Thread (USA)
13. Plantable colouring pages
When trying to be eco-friendly, people often focus on plastic. However, deforestation is a contributor to climate change so we really need to stop cutting down trees.
Plantable paper is made from waste materials with added seeds. When put in soil, the paper will germinate and create seedlings. This means no trees are sacrificed to make it, it doesn't create any waste and it creates new life. Here are some colouring options that you can plant.
14. Family games
Haba is a German toy manufacturer that has created a variety of toys and board games. They made wooden toys for babies, family games, and board games that can be played as young as 2.
Buy Haba from Yesbebe (UK) - 10% off with SUSTAINABLYLAZY
Buy from Haba (USA)
15. Plastic-free craft kits
Cotton Twist is a small UK business that sells craft kits that are completely plastic-free. Starting as little as £2.95, they are ideal eco-friendly stocking stuffers.
Buy from Andkeep (UK) - 5% off with code: ANDKEEP
16. Wooden animals
Not only are they great eco-friendly stocking fillers, but wooden animals are ideal for children of various ages who enjoy imaginative play and construction (who doesn’t love building a zoo?).
There are some beautiful handmade brands, like Holtztiger, but if you’re on a budget then these wooden animals are adorable for less than half of the price.
Buy at Toby Tiger (UK) - 10% off code: TOBYTIGER10
16. Fairtrade finger puppets
These plastic-free stocking stuffers are expertly crafted by artisans in the Himalayas who receive Fairtrade wages. Aren’t they adorable?
Koseli handmade (UK)
17. Fairtrade skipping rope
Skipping ropes are a lot of fun, but did you know they’re beneficial for your child’s brain too? Since kids have to pick up both their feet simultaneously while jumping over the rope, it builds bilateral motor coordination (which is the ability to use both sides of the body together in a coordinated way).
This skipping rope was made ethically under Fairtrade conditions.
18. Wool gloves
Growing up I always wondered why my gloves were useless at keeping my fingers warm. Turns out synthetic polyester sucks.
Wool gloves make much better stocking fillers because its eco-friendly and temperature-regulating - a win-win.
Buy at Polarn O Pyret (UK + USA)
19. Recycled cotton socks
Cotton plants have more pesticides sprayed on them than most other crops, they also need 2700 litres to grow a t-shirt. If you’re looking to use socks as stocking fillers, then recycled or organic cotton is the best way to be more eco-friendly.
20. Eco-friendly candle
Did you know that mainstream candles are made from paraffin, a fossil fuel derivative? They may also contain animal ingredients and toxic fragrances that contain phthalates.
Eco-friendly candles are made from plant-based vegetable wax instead and contain naturally derived fragrances.
Buy from Veo.World (UK)
Buy from EarthHero (US) - 10% off with code: sustainablylazy
21. pick and mix
Online eco shop, Regn, stocks sweets and pick and mix in eco-friendly packaging.
Choose from vegan fizzy sweets or non-vegan jelly sweets with no artificial colours or flavours. They are both gluten-free and dairy-free making them suitable for allergies.
22. Hot choc spoon
These hot chocolate spoons make a perfect stocking filler for cocoa lovers. They are simply a block of chocolate on a stick, which melts beautifully into hot milk to make a rich and creamy hot chocolate.
There are various flavours to choose from or you can buy a multipack if you have more than one stocking to stuff.
Please note that they contain milk.
Buy at AndKeep (UK) - 5% off with ANDKEEP5
23. Fairtrade chocolate coins
If you enjoy Christmas traditions but don’t want to support the cruel cocoa industry that uses child labour to make chocolate, check out Divine. Their Fairtrade cocoa farms are partly owned by the cocoa farmers which not only gives them a say in their business but boosts the livelihoods of the community.
24. Organic Chocolate bar
Who can resist a delicious bar of sustainable chocolate in their stocking?
Mainstream chocolate brands have been ignoring the topic of child labour in their supply chain for decades. Thankfully there are plenty of organic options that are grown without toxic pesticides and have much better working conditions for cocoa farmers.
25. Vegan chocolate
Moo Free makes tasty vegan chocolate that is well-known for its dairy-free advent calendars.
Not only do Moo-Free offer festive-shaped treats, such as these bears, but it makes vegan white chocolate too.
Note - This product usually comes back in stock during the winter and often changes designs
26. Grace Chocolates changing lives
Grace’s chocolates not only make a cute stocking filler gift, but they really do help change lives.
These chocolates fund the Making Positive Changes Programme which supports women with convictions that want to make positive changes in their lives. It puts them on a path of personal development, learning and economic well-being.
27. Organic Milk chocolate Santas
Cocoa Loco milk chocolate is more than just Fairtrade, it is certified organic by the Soil Association. Organic chocolate is different because it uses no toxic pesticides, artificial additives, preservatives or GMO ingredients and has the highest standards of animal welfare.
I hope you managed to get some inspiration for your eco-friendly Christmas stocking. Let me know your favourite idea in the comments below and don’t forget to check out the Christmas section on my blog.
You can help spread the word by sharing it on social media where you’ll find me on Facebook and Instagram - don’t forget to say hi!
Have a great Christmas.
Sophie xx