Ethical, Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Christmas Gift Ideas

Ethical, Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Christmas Gift Ideas
(This article has been put together by me, some brands mentioned have approached me for inclusion but I have not taken product or payment in exchange for placement)

This Christmas I think many of us will be searching for sustainable and eco-friendly gifts. People are mindful of reducing plastic and overall waste so I have put together some gift ideas. Last year we had the dreaded Secret Santa and Bah Humbug to me but I suspect that by New Year most of these gifts ends up at charity shops or in landfill. Last year I opted for a Charity Donation, my colleague was less than impressed but at least I felt good about it. To add a little element of humour I went with Oxfam's Pile of Poo Charity Gift Card

Gift experiences cut down on unwanted items and are a great way to sort out presents for the person who has it all. There are many options available but let me suggest cooking classes with Cookery School London. They are London's most sustainable cooking school and run over 30 different classes and courses from kitchens in Oxford Circus. I particularly liked that they offer a range of vegan friendly classes, including Vegan Winter, All Day Vegan, Vegan Feast of Indonesia and Ferments and Pickles. If veganism doesn't suit then there are a large range of alternatives available and I note this includes Gluten Free classes.

Green Tulip is on my radar at the moment with a wide choice of sustainable products. They have everything covered from home and garden accessories, beauty, kids, stationery and jewellery. Items that caught my attention are the Recycled Bird Cake Kit, Recycled Skateboard Silver Earrings and Oil Cloth Freya Purse. An alternative website recommendation is Wearth London and some suggestions for you would be the Collapsible Straw & Cutlery Combo Set, Christmas Cracker Face Mask Gift and Plastic-Free Shaving Kit

If you are really splurging on a loved one then Ziorva offers a beautiful collection of handcrafted jewellery. They use recycled gold which is sourced responsibly to ensure conflict free minerals, as well as producing in an ethical and environmentally manner. Helen Russell Creations is an adorable gifting site which I recommend visiting. For anyone who loves organisation and stationery I suggest the Flower Blob Weekly Planner. These pads are created using high quality recycled paper and environmentally friendly ink. Another lovely website to check out is Nectar & Bumble, you'll find a range of items available to suit every budget and 10% of profits are donated to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. 

You know me I can't skip on beauty gifts and many green brands are reducing packaging waste and using recyclable materials such as glass. If you hop across to a previous post you'll find suggestions for skincare brands with zero & low waste packaging. On trend at the moment are shampoo bars and there are many to choose from but I've selected Kind2. This is of particular interest because they offer a sensitive and fragrance free version within their range. Shampoo bars are a great way to help reduce plastic waste and ideal as stocking fillers. Odylique is always a firm favourite in my household and they have a range of gift sets. The Cleansing Bar Trio is ideal for those reducing waste and Glamorous Makeup Gift Set is lovely treat for any all makeup enthusiasts. Buying skincare for loved ones with sensitive skin can be tricky but fragrance free options can be a great solution. LouLouBelle is an aromatherapy skincare brand but they do offer a "Nude" range which is free from essential oils. The Bath & Body Oil sets would make a lovely gift.

Everyone loves sweet treats and a personal favourite is Raw Halo Chocolate. I love the Mylk & Vanilla but there are plenty of other flavour options. You can purchase direct from their website or at Waitrose. Raw Halo is vegan, dairy and gluten free and no may contains or factory warnings for milk (only a nut & peanut warning see website for info). Other firm favourites for dairy free and vegan chocolates include Booja Booja and Cocoa Libre.

I didn't realise for quite some time that wrapping paper is not always recyclable. I'm sure many of us assume it's just paper but glitter and coatings can be plastic. Laura Spring have Fabric Wraps inspired by the art of Japanese gift wrapping known as Furoshiki. These are screen printed in-house onto cotton squares of cloth that have been created by a social enterprise in India whose 'aim is to create sustainable livelihoods for rural women where employment opportunities are limited, to help helping them gain economic independence'. Also check out Laura Spring gift ideas, they also have lavender bags which they make from fabric off cuts. If you'd like to stick to the tradition of paper you can opt for brown paper or check out Re-Wrapped who specialise in environmentally friendly wrapping paper. The paper is recycled, unbleached and printed with vegetable based inks so you can recycle it after use.

I hope this has been helpful and good luck with your Christmas shopping.

Sarah x

Instagram

Sugarpuffish. Theme by STS.