Everyone knows that the soybean, or ‘the miracle bean,’ is used for many commercially available products – over a thousand, to be more precise. It is found in everything from food to fuel and has a surprising presence during the holiday season. Soy can be found in hot chocolate, chocolate bars and even in gifts. During this gift giving season, find a soy-based option for everyone on your list! 

Kids 

For the smallest family members, soy is found in multiple gift options. 

Soy fabric is known to be soft and highly elastic, which makes it an excellent choice for baby clothes. Babysoy produces baby clothes from leftover soybean pulp after tofu or soymilk production, creating fabric that is soft, comfy and perfect for the newest additions to your gift list. 

For the older kids on your list, look into activities.  A great stocking stuffer is soy-based crayons. Many varieties of soy crayons exist, using soy oil as a replacement for petroleum in the wax. Puzzles are another idea for kids (or adults), and there are a variety of puzzles made with soy-based ink.  

Women 

For all the women on your list, whether it’s friends or family, soy is a major ingredient in many quality gifts. 

The beauty industry uses soy quite a bit for many products. Burt’s Bees uses soy in almost all their products, including eye shadow, lip balms and moisturizers.  

Soy is just beginning to appear in the nail polish industry. Lilaque is the first soy-based gel polish system, using 74% vegetable oil in their polish, including soy. They have 15 different shades to get a different shade for everyone on your list. 

Skincare is another big area that uses a lot of soy. In this industry, soy has been scientifically proven to help retain skin moisture, improve elasticity and control oil production. Aveeno’s Positively Radiant line uses soy flour in each of its products, and Fresh has a soy-based facial cleanser. 

Everyone 

Cashmere makes a great holiday gift, and KD New York makes its faux cashmere from soy protein fiber. They have options for everyone on your list, from socks to gloves, and leggings to dresses. 

New shoes are always a good idea, and sustainability is always on trend. Skechers released a line of sneakers in 2020 that use soybean oil to replace petroleum in the rubber soles of their shoes. For more information on Skechers and MSR&PC’s “Stepping Up” promotion a few years ago, click here. 

Soy candles are a great smelling gift option for everyone and are becoming more popular as people look for non-toxic options. Varieties are available from small businesses across Etsy, or even in big chain stores.  

Soy-based soap is another great gift idea. While there are various options out there, Duke Cannon is one brand that uses glycerin (vegetable oil) in its soaps, making it a great-smelling soy gift. Visit the MN Soybean booth at the 2026 MN Ag Expo for a chance to get your hands on some of this brand! 

Wrapping 

Don’t forget the packaging! When buying wrapping paper, look for products printed with soy-based ink. Many of these will be the kraft paper-style wrapping, meaning they are also recyclable. Soy ink printed cards also exist as a more sustainable holiday greeting. 

Happy holidays!