5 Sustainable Gifts for a Classroom Teacher
Please Note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Copper Rabbit Crafts may receive compensation for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you.
The end of the school year is upon us and that means taking a moment to appreciate all your child’s classroom teacher has done for your kiddo this year. To show your appreciation we have developed a list of 5 sustainable gift ideas for a classroom teacher.
1. Gift Card to Local Small Businesses
You know the saying “cash is king”, well that very much applies here. Your child’s teacher has put in thousands of hours to help their classroom blossom this year. The amount of behind the scenes work that teachers have to put in to then spend the day teaching is extensive.
So a gift card to a local small business gives them a moment to treat themselves. Whether it's a local restaurant, book shop, bakery, etc. your kid’s teacher can take a moment for themselves. By supporting small businesses you are helping support your local economy vs. say a large company that will need to ship items hundreds of miles to you.
Local small businesses are also more likely to offer paper gift certificates over the plastic cards, which unfortunately can not be recycled. Supporting local, supporting small, and giving teachers something they can truly use makes these gift cards the perfect gift!
2. Wildflower Card
If you are looking for a card to show your appreciation at the end of the year we recommend checking out these cute heart shaped wildflower cards at Lively Root. Simply write your message on the card, just like any other card. After your kiddo’s teacher reads the card they will be able to plant the card and watch it grow wildflowers all summer long.
These wildflower cards are a win win because one they reduce waste entering the landfills and two they create something beautiful. Every time your child’s teacher sees the wildflowers blooming they will think of your kid.
If you end up going with the wildflower cards at Lively Root be sure to use our referral code to get $15 off your first order of $50 or more.
3. Sustainable Tote Bag
A sustainable tote bag is a practical and eco-friendly gift option for a classroom teacher. Look for tote bags made from sustainable materials like GOTs certified organic cotton or recycled plastic/fabric.
Make sure you buy a tote bag that is durable and functional. Teachers can have a ton of paperwork that they need to haul around. Poorly made and flimsy bags will rip quickly in this profession.
We love these upcycled tote bags from Sea Bags which is based in Portland Maine. This company takes old sails from boats and upcycles them into tote bags. From upcycling to eco-friendly inks, Sea Bags has kept over 1.9 millions pounds of material from entering the landfill since 1999 (1). And because these tote bags are made from sails, they are extremely heavy duty, perfect for classroom teachers.
Another option to consider as well are tote bags made from recycled denim. Denim is a heavy duty material and old jeans are constantly being thrown away. Whether you take on a project like this yourself or buy one online, for example from this Etsy Shop, you will be reducing the amount of materials headed to the landfill all while providing a classroom teacher with a practical gift.
4. Sustainable Self Care Products
Sustainable items focused on self care can include soaps and bath products, hand lotions, and candles. All of these items are useful and teachers can use them throughout the year. Not all self care products are safe and healthy for the planet though, so be sure to purchase sustainable self care products.
We love the sustainable natural soaps and bath products at Copper Rabbit Crafts. Depending on your budget you could go for the Deluxe Spa Gift Box which has two Rose Geranium Goat’s Milk Soaps shaped as hearts, one Rose Petal Bath Salt, and one Rose Lavender Bath Milk.
Or you could go with something smaller, like the Send A Little Love Thank You Gift Box which includes a heart shaped Rose Geranium Goat’s Milk Soap and a soap saver bag.
5. Potted Flowers and Plants
Flowers can make for a lovely and sustainable gift idea. A classroom teacher will be able to take home potted flowers and plants and either keep them in pots or plant them in their garden. Some may even bring them back into the classroom next year.
Cut flowers unfortunately die quickly but potted plants and flowers have the potential to live long lives and this is what makes this gift so sustainable. Not only are you buying something with a long life and use, but flowers and plants help make the planet healthier.
Local nurseries and garden centers are sure to have potted plants and flowers. You can also order potted plants online through services like Lively Root. Lively Root’s sustainable mission includes packaging orders in recycled materials, putting plants in eco-friendly pots made from recycled materials, and donating a portion of their proceeds to the Arbor Day Foundation.
Get $15 off your first order of $50+ with our unique referral code at Lively Root!
Instead of buying thank you gifts that are sure to end up in the landfill someday soon, like plastic apples and mugs, try going for more sustainable classroom teacher gifts this year. Shop for items that have practical value, last (usefully) for a long time, and actually make teacher’s lives easier and better.
Let us know in the comments below which out of these five sustainable gifts for a classroom teacher you are going to try!
