You are looking for creative, Plastic-free Advent calendar ideas for women, men or children? Christmas time is gift time - and the more creative, personal and sustainable the gift, the better it will be received. A plastic free Advent calendars are such a creative, personal and sustainable thing and can even be made with relatively little effort. In this article, I would therefore like to show you the best plastic-free Advent calendar ideas for men, women and children - both tangible and intangible. Have fun giving presents!
Here is another short Table of contents - simply decide who you would like to surprise with the Advent calendar:
Material for the Advent calendar
As a basis for a successful Advent calendar in which you can place the matching Advent calendar ideas and keep them hidden for the later surprise, you will of course need to get a few things. You will need the following materials for the Advent calendar I made myself:
- Jute bag for the homemade advent calendar (you get here*, eternally reusable, but in this case unfortunately in plastic film - do you have a plastic-free alternative? I have already spoken to the manufacturer, the plastic film will be avoided in future - alternatively you can also use Paper bags get)
- Jute ribbons for attaching jute bags, numbers and decorations (you get here*)
- Cardboardto cut out the signs with the numbers (you can get them in any stationery store)
- Clothespins Wooden for fastening (optional, you get here*)
- Deco such as pine cones, leaves, branches or fir twigs (optional, you can get everything in the forest ;-))
Depending on how creative you are and who you want to surprise with the plastic-free Advent calendar, you can of course come up with your very own style. The important thing is that you have a basis for safe and invisible storage of your Advent calendar ideas so that the surprise effect is not lost.
Advent calendar ideas for everyone
Here you'll find cool Advent calendar ideas that are really suitable for everyone - whether woman, man or child. Use your creativity and turn your homemade Advent calendar into something really personal.
1. hair soap in one bar
A plastic-free Advent calendar should of course include a beautiful, natural bar of soap. This vegetable hair soap is made from rosemary and nettle and nourishes the hair without harmful additives such as microplastics or silicones. The beauty of the bar soap is, of course, that it comes without plastic packaging. A great sustainable advent calendar idea for women, men and children.
2. natural body soap
In addition to hair soap, a plant-based body soap is also perfect for a homemade, plastic-free Advent calendar. In our Plastic free store you will find a natural olive oil soap without plastic, which is suitable for both body care and hair care. A great idea for a homemade Advent calendar.
3. soap bag
In addition to the soaps, you can also use a suitable soap the day before or after, Plastic-free soap bag made from plant fibers in the Advent calendar so that the soap is portable and doesn't smudge in the bathroom. If you have a suitable tin, you can of course also put it in the gift bags for transportation as an advent calendar idea.
4. cookie molds
Cookie and cookie cutters are small and plastic-free. You can simply place them in a bag in your homemade Advent calendar. And who knows: maybe the recipient will thank you a few days later with delicious cookies. You can buy the stainless steel molds in many supermarkets or even online here at Etsy.
5. lottery tickets
A lottery ticket is a nice little gift that fits into any Advent calendar and can bring a lot of joy. You can usually get them at any kiosk around the corner.
6. nuts
Walnuts are the classic Christmas treat, but hazelnuts and peanuts are also great for filling a homemade Advent calendar. You can get them unpackaged in an unpackaged store or at the weekly market, for example. Do you have any other nutty Advent calendar ideas for the general public? Then please write a comment below this article.
7. cookies
Cookie molds are cool - but it's even cooler when you can find the cookies you baked yourself directly in your Advent calendar. Be creative and bake some cookies. Alongside nuts, they are always a working classic among Advent calendar ideas for men, women and children.
8. chocolates
Chocolates are high-quality and always a surprise in a homemade Advent calendar. You can get them in a chocolate store, for example, and have them filled into the lunch box you bring with you. In the spirit of the Zero Waste Lifestyle you avoid plastic waste and can later wrap the chocolates in paper and put them in a bag in your Advent calendar.
9. physalis
Physalis (also known as Golden Berry) is a wonderful, plastic-free Advent calendar idea for everyone. Of course, if you know in advance that the recipient doesn't like the fruit, you should use one of the many other ideas in this article.
10. tangerines
Every year, my grandma gives me tangerines for Christmas - a real Christmas classic. You can get them plastic-free at any weekly market or supermarket and can give them away in your self-made Advent calendar.
11. almonds
Dry almonds also make a wonderful gift in one of the bags of the homemade Advent calendar. You can get them at the weekly market, for example, and of course at the Christmas market. Even if the Christmas market in your area hasn't started yet, there's no need to rush. Because nobody says that you have to have filled all the bags by the first day of Advent - the important thing is that you find something in your Advent calendar bag on the day in question.
12. loose tea
Unpackaged tea without plastic is a wonderful idea for a plastic-free Advent calendar. You can either order the tea online or simply fill it into a jar in an unpackaged store or special tea store. You can give it as a gift in classic sandwich paper or in a small jar, for example. A warm tea at Christmas time is always a great Advent calendar idea for women, men and children.
13. tea filter stainless steel
To go with the tea, you can also make a stainless steel plastic free tea filter in your self-made Advent calendar give away. In contrast to tea from the bag, which is usually also partly made from Plastic you can use the tea filter to boil loose tea. This avoids unnecessary waste and you can still enjoy your tea.
14. dried fruit
I think that dried fruit is incredibly tasty and if it's not sticky, it's also great to give as an unwrapped gift in an advent calendar. Dried mangoes, figs or dates, for example, are always a great surprise during the Advent season.
15. spices in a jar
I'm a real fan of spices - because they taste great and are available in plastic-free jars. In our plastic-free store, for example, we have this Spice set in a jar from Ankerkraut. The reusable Glass is a real eye-catcher in the kitchen.
16. candles
Scented candles are a wonderful way to top off the Advent calendar on December 24th. In addition to plastic-free scented candles in a jar, you can of course also simply buy the candles loose and give them as gifts in the Advent calendar.
17th Bee's Wrap
Since cling film generates a lot of plastic waste, you can find a Beeswax cloth a great alternative. They are easy to wash and reuse. You can either wrap small treats in them and give them away in the Advent calendar, or simply hide the beeswax wraps in one of the Advent calendar bags. You can either get them online here* or also in any unpacked store.
18. card game
A card game is also a great, plastic-free Advent calendar idea for men, women and children. Most people are sure to have a classic deck of cards at home. Simply place the deck of cards in a bag of the homemade Advent calendar and surprise the recipient with a games evening.
19. air freshener
Also fit very well into a personally made, plastic-free Advent calendar Air freshener with activated carbon. The sachets do not simply perfume the air, as ordinary room sprays do. Instead, they filter the air and absorb unpleasant odors. A great idea for a homemade Advent calendar.
20. personal letter
You don't always have to buy something to make someone happy. A personal letter is always a great idea for a creative, plastic-free Advent calendar. Write down what connects you to the person receiving the gift and what he or she means to you. Even if you've known each other for a long time - love letters or tokens of friendship always work!
21st voucher for massage
Another plastic-free Advent calendar idea is very easy to implement on a paper or cardboard card - a voucher for a massage. Ideally, you should simply give the massage yourself. If you're not the best masseur yourself, you can of course also put a voucher for a wellness day at the nearest spa in the Advent calendar. This is of course a little more expensive 😉.
22. meal voucher
A meal voucher is also a wonderful, personal and plastic-free Advent calendar idea. You can either issue a voucher for a meal at one of your favorite restaurants or cook the meal yourself at home on the respective day of the Advent calendar.
23. breakfast in bed
Getting breakfast straight to bed is something very pleasant - and therefore a cool idea for a homemade Advent calendar. Again, write a voucher on paper or cardboard and give it away in one of the bags in your advent calendar.
24. cinema voucher
Even if a cinema voucher has a somewhat dusty image due to Netflix and Co., it is still a classic Advent calendar idea. Either make the voucher yourself on cardboard and paper or get one at your favorite movie theater. If you make the cinema voucher yourself, it's guaranteed to be plastic-free - otherwise it's up to the cinema.
25th voucher for movie night
In addition to food and massage vouchers, you can also simply put a homemade voucher for a romantic movie night in the Advent calendar. Simply combine it with homemade popcorn and a glass of wine - it's guaranteed to be a great Advent calendar idea for men and women.
26. bath balls
You can make your own bath bombs or buy them online - plastic-free and relaxing. Fizzy bath bombs in paper packaging are a great gift idea and, thanks to their shape, are ideal for a homemade Advent calendar.
27. wooden toothbrush
A wooden toothbrush is nothing for the Advent calendar? I don't think so. Compared to the classic plastic toothbrush, the Wooden toothbrush is now more than just a trend again - it is the flagship of the plastic-free movement and is suitable as an Advent calendar idea for men and women as well as for children. Here you can get the Wooden toothbrush for adults* and here the Wooden toothbrush for children*. Note: It may protrude a little from the jute bag of the Advent calendar - in this case, simply turn the handle upwards, then you won't know for sure what's inside 😉.
28. pictures
Why not simply put a great picture of you or your pet in the Advent calendar? Whether it's for your wallet or framed to hang on the wall - a personalized picture is always a great Advent calendar idea.
29th voucher for AppStore
You can get vouchers for the Apple and Android app stores, which can be a great gift idea for an advent calendar. You can simply write the voucher code on a paper card and put it in the Advent calendar you have made yourself. You can also take a look at our article Zero Waste Apps after, there is certainly something cool!
Advent calendar ideas for men
Please don't demonize me if you think an Advent calendar idea for men is not so suitable. Whether it's for men, women or children - who you put the gift in the Advent calendar for is of course up to you.
30th Exceptional beer
Let's be honest - a beer is always a good idea. Especially if it's not an ordinary beer that you can enjoy every weekend. A cool Advent calendar idea is therefore a delicious beer from Argentina or Canada, for example. In this beer set* is certainly something tasty - and two, three bottles can be super put in the bags of the Advent calendar. Even if the bottles stand out a bit, the Advent calendar looks a little cooler.
31st cookbook
I once got a really cool cookbook for men and I think it's great. Whether steak or salad, in this cookbook* you can find really tasty recipes to cook. You don't have to buy it new, you can also get it cheaply and safely without plastic wrap on eBay classifieds, for example. A really cool Advent calendar idea for men.
32. whiskey cube
Another cool Advent calendar idea for men are whiskey rocks, which are a wonderful, reusable replacement for the classic ice cube and don't water down the whiskey. Pure enjoyment and a real gift for men in the Advent calendar. A really good Set with whiskey rocks you get here- with the stainless steel tongs, the set can also be easily divided into several bags of the self-made Advent calendar.
33. shaving set
Straight razor are already available in plastic-free stainless steel. You can get them, for example, in unpackaged stores or on the Internet. Also the exchangeable Stainless steel blades and a shaving brush with natural bristles can be hidden in the self-made Advent calendar. All in all, a really good Advent calendar idea for men.
34. beard comb set
A plastic free beard comb made of wood is also a cool idea for the Advent calendar that many men who have been blessed with a thick beard would be delighted to receive. In this beard comb set* you get a beautiful beard comb made of natural sandalwood or pear wood.
35. ball pen
How about a high-quality ballpoint pen? They usually fit perfectly in the Advent calendar bag. No matter what job you do - a stylish ballpoint pen is always a good Advent calendar idea for men and also an eye-catcher on the desk at home.
36. leather bracelet
A leather bracelet may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it suits many men. You can already find inexpensive leather bracelets in many stores. If it is a little more expensive, it is suitable for the bag that is opened on Christmas Eve in the Advent calendar, for example.
Tip: We men are actually pretty uncomplicated when it comes to gifts! But if you still need more inspiration, you can find Here is more inspiration for a men's advent calendar.
Advent calendar ideas for women
Just as you can make your own Advent calendar for men, it also works for women, of course. If there is an Advent calendar idea below that you think is not only interesting for women, please write me a comment. I try to categorize everything by feeling and don't want to step on anyone's toes 😉.
37. wine & sparkling wine
In many supermarkets, you can find small bottles of sparkling wine or wine that fit perfectly into your advent calendar bag and stick out a little at the top. Finding a sparkling wine without any plastic is not so easy, but maybe you'll find what you're looking for.
38. lipstick
It's almost impossible to find a lipstick without any plastic at all. Even though I admittedly don't know much about lipsticks, after a bit of research I found this lipstick at Ecco-Verde found. Once you have found out the personal taste of the recipient, you can be sure that the lipstick is a great idea for your homemade Advent calendar.
39. cotton pads
While disposable cotton pads are made of plastic and packaged in plastic, you can really score points in the Advent calendar with cotton pads made of fabric. Cotton pads without plastic are made of cotton, for example, and are washable and reusable.
40. nail polish
Nail polish, for example, is available in a plastic-free glass bottle. Before buying, however, you should be sure that the color will suit the recipient's taste. If this is the case, nail polish in a small glass bottle is always a good Advent calendar idea for women.
41. perfume
Depending on how deep you want to dig into your pocket for them, a perfume can of course also be a great Advent calendar idea. However, I would really only put a perfume in the last "door" of the Advent calendar on Christmas Eve.
42. hair clips
If you have full, voluminous hair, you could also use a hair clip. Ideally made of wood and not plastic, the hair clip fits perfectly into the plastic-free Advent calendar and is sure to be a nice surprise.
43. jewelry
As jewelry is generally a little more expensive, it is more likely to be suitable for the 24th "door" of your self-made, plastic-free Advent calendar. Not everything always has to cost a fortune, maybe you can find a good, inexpensive alternative.
44. small cookbook
A mini cookbook in an advent calendar is always a good idea, whether for men or women. With this cookbook* you can't go wrong with street food recipes. With a bit of luck, you can even benefit from the Advent calendar surprise yourself a few days later 😉.
45. herb seeds
In the article healthy plants to grow yourself at home I have already shown you some useful plants that can save you from having to buy herbs in plastic containers, for example. You can buy plant seeds in any gardening store and have them filled into containers that you bring with you. Wrapped in some paper, they are a cool Advent calendar idea for women and of course everyone else in the household.
Advent calendar ideas for children
As well as men and women, children naturally also look forward to the annual Advent calendar. I have therefore listed a few Advent calendar ideas for children below to give you a little inspiration for filling the bags.
46. plait rubber
A braid is very small and also available completely made of cotton. So you have a plastic-free Advent calendar idea for children that fits well in the bag and will especially please the girls.
47. pixi books
I was already very happy about the Pixi books when I was little. The books are a great idea for a self-made Advent calendar for children. this Christmas edition of the Pixi books*, for example, is wonderfully suitable. You may also be able to buy them used on eBay classifieds without the annoying plastic film.
48. sustainability books
A Book about sustainability is a particularly nice gift idea for children - especially in an advent calendar. I can recommend little books like Piwi and the plastic soup (free of charge, you may have to put your name on the waiting list) or of course my own books Plastic-free for beginners and Sustainable living for beginners to the heart.
49. reading day
What could be better than spending time with your children? You can really score points with a voucher for an extensive reading day. Take the time for this lovely Advent calendar idea for children and write a nice voucher message on a cardboard or paper card.
50. pencils for planting
That's right! The pens have a biodegradable capsule with plant seeds at the end. So you can plant a chia or sage plant, for example. In the article Plantable pencils I conducted an interview with the founder of the sustainable, plastic-free pencils and have been an enthusiastic fan of the project ever since. The Planting pencils you can for example get here*.
51. puzzle
Do you have a cool puzzle for children? Then you can also divide it up into several bags in your Advent calendar. The only important thing is that the puzzle pieces in each bag fit together well. It's best to divide the finished puzzle into four sections, which you can then distribute across four bags. This will also increase the suspense until your child has finally completed the puzzle.
52. marbles
Beautiful glass marbles are always well received by children and can be easily stored in the bags of the homemade Advent calendar. In our Plastic-free store for children we have some more cool ideas for Advent calendars for children.
53. wooden blocks
As plasticizers in plastic toys are dangerous for children, children should only play with natural toys. Plastic free wooden building blocks with watercolors are a great alternative to plastic toys and can also be spread over several bags of the homemade Advent calendar.
Tips for making your own Advent calendar
We are nearing the end of the article with the plastic-free Advent calendar ideas for men, women and children. In addition to the many ideas, I would also like to give you a few valuable tips on how to make an advent calendar. Take the following advice to heart so that nothing goes wrong and everyone is really happy in the end.
54. start advent calendar in time
Remember that you have to fill 24 bags of the Advent calendar and that takes some time if you want to do it really well. So start preparing your homemade Advent calendar in good time. But you shouldn't put too much pressure on yourself. You don't have to have everything in the bags from day one - just make sure there's something in the bag on the day in question!
55. use plastic-free packaging material
Some things, such as moist or sticky sweets, cannot simply be placed in the jute bag. Instead, put them in paper, small tin cans or classic sandwich paper. Unfortunately, the latter is usually wrapped in plastic when you buy it. Everyone can decide for themselves whether to make a compromise or simply use ordinary paper to wrap the Advent calendar ideas instead. You can also use small jars to wrap sweets or other small items. If you want to wrap something plastic-free, you should switch from classic scotch tape to light-colored paper tape.
56. do without ready-made advent calendars
Anyone can give away ready-made Advent calendars. This usually results in a lot of waste and the ready-made Advent calendar from the supermarket isn't really personal either. All the more reason to make your own Advent calendar and fill 24 opaque bags with the coolest Advent calendar ideas for men, women and children. Try to reflect your personal style in the Advent calendar and it's guaranteed to be a success.
57. try to share advent calendar
Sharing things is an important quality that children cannot learn early enough. Not every child needs their own Advent calendar. If you have two children, for example, you can simply create an Advent calendar for both kids together. This way, there are no arguments about who had the cooler present in the plastic-free Advent calendar. In the article Borrowing things instead of buying there are some more tips for sharing things.
Advent calendar DIY is easy!
As you can see, it's not that complicated to design and fill an Advent calendar for women, men or children yourself. The most important thing is that you have really personalized it and invested time in it - then every gift is a success. I hope that the plastic-free Advent calendar ideas will help you to fill the bags with suitable little things. Depending on how much you like the plastic free lifestyle you can of course also give some chocolate in aluminum foil or put something with a small plastic wrapper in the Advent calendar. It's up to you, but it's always nice to give something sustainable as a gift. By the way, I can't share the picture of my finished advent calendar here yet, otherwise I would take the surprise away from my girlfriend - so that will follow at the beginning of December 😉.
Do you have any questions, tips or suggestions for the homemade Advent calendar or any cool Advent calendar ideas that we can include? Then please write a comment below this article.
Stay clean and have a nice and, if possible plastic free christmas time,
PS: Do you not only want to give away your plastic-free Advent calendar without waste, but also reduce your waste in everyday life in the future? Then I recommend the article Zero Waste Lifestyleto get the tips and ideas you need free of charge. If you feel like it, you can also read my Zero Waste Online Course or even give it away in an advent calendar. 🙂
There are some nice ideas, but in my opinion, the total cost is far too high (which makes the whole sustainability process no fun anymore).
Here are a few other slightly cheaper ideas: Ingredients, supplies & recipes for making DIY products like natural cosmetics, cleaning products, etc. (for women and men) OR homemade seed bombs & early bloom bulbs OR homemade granola & vegetable broth (dried) in a jar OR simply Christmas decorations - glass balls, salt dough pendants, paper wreaths - and stars, garlands, etc.
Hi Michaela! Exactly you're right - are just a few ideas. You can be really creative 🙂
Many greetings
Christoph
Hello Christoph,
am excited about your site , great ideas , take much of it into my everyday life.
LG Steffie
Hi Stefanie! Thanks for your feedback!
Super that you implement so much of it :))
Keep up the good work and many greetings
Christoph
Hello!
Really very nice site and great inspirations. Have this year considered whether I should rather buy a calendar or make it myself. After I have looked around but bissel, is me literally jumped at all the garbage. On top of that, you need less than half. So I thought: I'll do something myself, with something that you have 2020 more than enough: Toilet paper rolls. Have built a kind of pyramid, painted, bissel decorated and hide in it now little things for my family. Since I did not know exactly what, I came across you. Have really helped me a lot and I hope my family happy the work that I have made me 😀 Positive side effect: The calendar I can still use next year, then I need your list certainly again. Keep up the good work!
LG
Sonja
Sonja again here, wanted to give an update on the homemade calendar, which is now almost 30 cm high. And filled with sweets. Would like to be able to send a picture here 🙂
Great, I'm glad! Unfortunately you can't upload attachments here. That would just get out of hand 🙂
Many greetings
Christoph