Amanda Seyfried On Her Favorite Eco-Conscious Gifts for Moms and Kids, From $20 Bullet Journals to Plastic-Free Playhouses
Fresh off starring in Peacock's TV adaptation of Liz Moore's novel, Long Bright River, Amanda Seyfriend sits down with The Hollywood Reporter again — this time to share her go-to gifts for Earth Day (April 22) and Mother's Day (May 11).
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Among the 39-year-old Emmy winner's eco-friendly picks is Make It Cute, a design-minded brand of recyclable kids playhouses and decor kits co-founded with childhood best friends Anne Hoehn and Maureen North.
'At Make It Cute, we're on a mission to create plastic-free, sustainable play that feels magical and meaningful,' the Mean Girls star and mom of two tells THR. 'I started the company with my two best friends because we wanted kids to experience the joy of imagination without all the plastic waste. For every playhouse purchased, we plant a tree in partnership with earthday.org — it's our way of helping the planet while inspiring play.'
Seyfried, who lives on an animal-filled farm in the Catskills and still maintains her farmhouse-inspired New York City apartment, infused her countryside-inspired design sensibilities into the brand. Children's book illustrator and trianed architect Sophia Vincent Guy is the artist and surface designer behind the charming cottages and farmhouses.
The company's pthalate-free cardboard houses take less than a minute to set up and are equally effortless to break down, flatten and stow away. (This shopping editor and her kids have been fans since the brand launched in 2024.) The brand is also teaming up with chic Philadelphia hotel The Bellevue for a family-friendly Make It Cute Playhouse Experience package that includes cookies from Levain Bakery, in-room welcome amenities, complimentary valet parking and a pre-assembled farmouse playset in the suite.
Ahead, Seyfried reveals the leather-free bullet journal she carries 'everywhere,' the Brooklyn-based brand that makes her favorite (and affordable) scent stand-ins for Le Labo, the under-$20 jewelry that encourages kids to love the environment and more finds. Bonus: All of the brands boast planet- and people-friendly certifications, including B Corp., 1% for the Planet, Climate Neutral and cruelty-free status.
$165 $220 25% off
Buy at Make It Cute
Make It Cute designs screen-free, plastic-free toys using recyclable materials, all while supporting reforestation efforts through its partnership with earthday.org's Canopy Project. And during the month of April, save 25 percent sitewide with code EARTHDAY25.
$17 at Fahlo
'This is my new favorite birthday gift to give to other kids. It's fun, educational and helps protect endangered species. Each bracelet tracks a real animal, and it makes kids feel like they're part of something bigger.'
Fahlo partners with wildlife organizations such as Saving Animals from Extinction, Georgia Aquarium, Snow Leopard Conservancy, FIU Marine Conservation Ecology Lab and more to fund conservation efforts, with each bracelet connecting the wearer to a real tracked animal.
$48 at Mate
'I wear Mate on set constantly — it's cozy, clean and cool. I love knowing it's made with non-toxic dyes and sustainable fabrics.'
Founded by designer Kayti Carr in Los Angeles, Mate uses GOTS-certified organic fabrics, low-impact dyes and climate-conscious processes and uses no plastic in its labels and packaging. The Climate Neutral-certified label says it doesn't use polyester, nylon or polyamide in its garments; stars such as Alessandra Ambrosio and Bella Thorne.
$595 and up $700 and up 15% off
Buy Sateen Bed Bundle
'Their bedding is so soft and breathable, and it's all Oeko-Tex Standard 100-certified, which gives me peace of mind at night — literally.'
Parachute is known for its sateen, linen, percale and waffle knit bed and bath essentials made of organic cotton, Tencel Lyocell, recycled polyester and other environmentally-conscious, GOTS- or GRS-certified fabrics. The brand Climate Neutral certified.
$19.99 $21.95 9% off
Buy at Amazon
'I carry one everywhere. They're beautifully made and completely vegan — plus, every notebook supports wildlife conservation.'
Dingbats notebooks are made from FSC-certified paper and vegan materials, with proceeds supporting animal conservation efforts.
$78.40 $98 20% off
Buy at Blueland
'I'm working on completely cutting single-use plastic from my cleaning routine thanks to Blueland. Their refill system is genius.'The certified B Corp and Climate Neutral company eliminates plastic waste with refillable bottles and water-activated cleaning tablets formulated with non-toxic ingredients. On offer are all-purpose, bathroom and glass/mirror cleaners, foaming hand soaps, dish and laundry tablets and starter kits ith reusable spray bottles, soap dispensers and metal storage containers.Related: The Best Amazon Alternatives for Shopping Online
$50 at Pura
'I love gifting these for Mother's Day — they make your house smell like a spa and you can control them from your phone.'
Pura uses ethically sourced, non-toxic fragrance blends with refillable cartridges for less waste.
Shop at Element Brooklyn
'Their hand soaps smell just like Le Labo — and their candles are refillable, which is a game changer.'
Element Brooklyn offers refillable home essentials made in small batches with clean, eco-friendly ingredients.
$14.95 $17.95 17% off
Buy at Amazon
'My kids basically live in these soft, safe and GOTS-certified organic cotton pajamas. I trust Burt's Bees completely.'
$54 at Sand CLoud
'Sand Cloud's towels are super absorbent, so pretty and made from recycled materials. Plus, a portion of each sale goes to marine conservation, which is close to my heart. And the company was founded by three best friends, just like Make It Cute!'
The company supports ocean preservation while using sustainable textiles like recycled polyester and organic cotton.
$185 and up at Nordstrom
'Perfect for playtime — cushiony, washable and made from natural materials. We've had ours for years.'
Toki Mats are made from organic cotton, natural latex and other non-toxic materials for safer play and a healthier planet.
$200 $259 23% off
Buy at Newton Baby
'As a mom, I care deeply about what my kids sleep on. These mattresses are breathable, washable, and free of harsh chemicals.'Newton mattresses are Greenguard Gold Certified, made with recyclable, non-toxic materials and no foam or adhesives.
Shop at Bare Mum
'I gift Bare Mum to all the new moms in my life — it's thoughtful, supportive and everything is made with clean, gentle ingredients. It's an Australian brand I really love, and you can find the full care kit at both Emilia George store locations, which makes it easy to grab something beautiful and useful for a friend.'Bare Mum is founded by moms and uses organic cotton, cruelty-free ingredients and sustainable packaging to support postpartum recovery.
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