Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas for Sports Fans and Athletes
For the sports enthusiast or athlete in your life, finding the perfect gift can be a fun challenge. Traditional sporting goods and apparel are often made from environmentally-unfriendly materials like plastic and non-organic cotton.
However, there are plenty of sustainable options on the market these days for eco-conscious gifting. From recycled athletic wear to innovative workout accessories, you can spoil your favorite sports nut with gifts that are as planet-friendly as they are useful and cool.
Eco-Friendly Athletic Apparel and Footwear
Workout clothes and athletic shoes made from recycled plastic bottles, organic cotton, bamboo, hemp and other sustainable materials have become widely available from many major brands as well as smaller eco-focused companies.
Look for options certified by organizations like bluesign, Oeko-Tex, and the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) to ensure ethical manufacturing.
Some top options include:
• Outdoor Voices for trendy athleisure wear crafted from recycled polyester and other sustainable fabrics.
• Girlfriend Collective’s colorful and size-inclusive activewear made from recycled plastic bottles.
• Hylo’s running shoes and active sneakers made from everything from recycled wool to algae foam.
• Threads 4 Thought for affordable organic cotton and recycled polyester athletic staples.
• Prana for yoga, hiking, climbing, and other activewear using recycled materials like nylon and polyester.
Reusable Water Bottles and Hydration Packs
Help your favorite athlete ditch single-use plastic water bottles for good with a reusable alternative to stay hydrated. Opt for an insulated stainless steel bottle to keep drinks cold during long workouts and games.
Hydration packs with a reservoir pouch and drinking tube are great for outdoor adventurers like hikers and mountain bikers.
Some eco-friendly options include:
• Klean Kanteen’s line of durable, BPA-free stainless steel bottles and kanteens.
• Hydro Flask’s double vacuum-insulated reusable water bottles.
• CamelBak’s backpacks and hydration packs made with recycled materials.
• Waterdrop’s sleek microplastic- and toxin-free glass water bottles.
Eco-Friendly Workout Gear and Accessories
From cushioned cork yoga mats to resistance bands crafted from recycled materials, sustainable exercise accessories can level up their workout routine.
Look for these creative eco-friendly gift options:
• Yoga Design Lab’s non-toxic cork and rubber yoga mats made from sustainable materials.
• Speciality’s bars and weights constructed from recycled and post-consumer waste.
• Yoga Zeal’s non-slip yoga towels made with recycled plastic bottles.
• ProSourceFit resistance bands and fabric workout straps made from recycled plastic bottles.
Sports Balls and Recreational Equipment
You can even find eco options for sports balls, games and recreational equipment. Look for options made from materials like natural and recycled rubber, recycled plastic, cork and even fungi!
• Eco Golf Balls made from plant-based materials like hemp fiber.
• NeatSand recycled plastic frisbee discs for disc golf.
• EcoSports eco-friendly and vegan soccer balls crafted from bio-based materials.
• Wilson’s Eco Composite tennis balls made from recycled rubber cores.
Fan Gear and Team Merch
For the devoted sports fan who loves representing their favorite teams, sustainable sports apparel and accessories are easier to find these days.
Many major sports leagues and universities have started collaborating with sustainable brands for eco-conscious merchandise.
Look for:
• Alternative Apparel’s recycled polyester jerseys and shirts for many pro and college teams.
• Repreve’s hats, bags, and other accessories made from recycled plastic bottles.
• Nomads Clothing’s recycled polyester and organic cotton outerwear and casual wear.
• Parks Project’s sustainable hats and apparel featuring recyclable materials.
If you can’t find eco merch for their team yet, consider custom printing recycled or organic cotton shirts at an eco-conscious print shop.
Another option is looking for sustainably-made neutral fan gear without team logos, like:
• Home team recycled aluminum baseball bat mugs and tumblers
• Tsuchiya Kaban’s eco-friendly cork tote bags and backpacks
Sustainable Books and Media
For the couch coach or sports history buff, gift an engrossing read or film on their favorite athlete, team or wider sports topic.
Sustainably published using recycled materials, you can find some great options like:
• Printed on recycled paper or as ebooks, memoirs and biographies by and about famous athletes
• Documentary films on DVD using recycled plastic casing
• Sports magazines, periodicals and coffee table books on recycled paper
Tickets and Memberships
For the ultimate eco-friendly gift, an experience like tickets to a game or sporting event can minimize physical waste. For example:
• Tickets to see their favorite pro or college team play at home
• Memberships for access to local sporting facilities, driving ranges, or gyms
• Passes to active classes or outings like tennis clinics, trail races or rock climbing
By getting creative, you can spoil any sports nut with useful eco-friendly athletic gear, team merch, and unique experiences they’ll love – all while keeping the planet in mind.
Help encourage a passion for sustainability alongside their love for sports!