’Tis the season to be jolly, eat mince pies and drink mulled wine… but it’s also a time of giving.
Christmas lists are being written and all sorts of wonderful presents are starting to fill the shops’ shelves - be it virtual or otherwise. But with the climate crisis looming over us, now more than ever we need to stop, think, and shop more consciously to be mindful of our precious environment.
There are plenty of ways to go more green when choosing gifts – from picking items made from sustainably-sourced materials, to having gifts wrapped in recyclable packaging. There are brands who have placed eco-conscious practices at their heart, focusing on sustainable practices from start to finish and aiming to lower their carbon footprint and help reduce waste.
Whether shopping for children, siblings, grandparents or friends, there are more and more environmentally-friendly choices on the market these days, including exciting novel ideas such as ‘make your own’ kits. Impress eco-warriors or encourage others to be more thoughtful to the planet with a sustainable gift this Christmas - and spread awareness in style.
Shop our edit of the best sustainable gifts for Christmas present inspiration…
Stripe & Stare Pyjama set
Give the gift of sleep this Christmas with this super comfy long pyjama set from Stripe & Stare. These are not your ordinary PJs, they are made from Tencel Micro Modal, a sustainably sourced material derived from Beechwood trees in Austria. The fabric is more than twice as soft as cotton while remaining breathable, and designed with a pretty pink raspberry ditsy print so you are guaranteed to drift away in style.
Whether lounging around on a Sunday morning or hitting the hay for a cosy night’s sleep, these will keep them warm, toasty and have an eco-friendly twist at the same time. Available in sizes XS to 3X.
Buy now £95.00, Stripe & Stare
Grind Coffee Gift Set
Treat coffee lovers to a special caffeine fix with their own Grind gift set that is beautifully packaged in a pink recyclable box. Alongside the iconic tin filled with either ground, whole bean or mixed compostable coffee pods (Nespresso compatible), they will also receive a limited-edition tote bag with an illustration of Shoreditch Grind and the choice of a Grind mug, espresso martini candle or espresso martini kit.
All the coffee is organic and ethically sourced, and each kit comes with a unique code to provide you with your first subscription pack for free – the gift that keeps on giving.
Buy now £35.00, Grind
Osprey Talon Earth Bag
Have a thrill-seeker in your life? Or someone constantly on the move, commuting across the city or hiking around the countryside? This bag from Osprey will make the ideal gift – with versatile features including an internal laptop sleeve and stretch mesh side pockets as well as a blinkie light and LidLock bike helmet attachment. It’s a great option for those on the go.
The bag is made from recycled fabrics, thread and labels and finished with a PFC-free durable water repellent treatment proving you can find eco-conscious pieces that are also practical.
Buy now £160.00, Osprey
Atom Studios Split Silicone iPhone 12 case
For the person who is always glued to their phone or has a clumsy streak, smartphone accessories always go down a treat. Atom Studios provides eco-friendly alternatives to plastic while still remaining stylish.
Made from durable anodised aluminium with eco-wood fibre for a contemporary finish, the design has a slim profile, is easy to carry in your hand and keeps your device protected from knocks and bumps. It is also wireless charging compatible for the ultimate convenience.
Available in nitrogen blue, bromine orange, calcium beige and carbon black, and all in recyclable packaging. Suitable for iPhone 12s.
Buy now £34.99, Amazon
Martha Brook Personalised Vegan Leather Embossed Notebook
Give them somewhere to note big ideas with an embossed notebook. The sophisticated options are available in a range of different colours and with up to four personalised initials. Made in the UK using vegan faux leather, the soft cover opens up to 180 pages of A6 blank cream paper for when they need to put pen to paper. Perfect for slipping into their bag on-the-go and it makes a thoughtful gift for eco-conscious writers.
Buy now £19.95, Not on the High Street
Mahabis slippers
Keep their tootsies warm and cosy over the winter with a pair of Mahabis slippers. With a unique curve design, they are made from a combination of sustainable, recycled and organic materials and one tree is planted for every pair bought.
The snug lining of Italian EcoCert organic wool is set on a sturdy sole, made from a responsibly sourced Pura-Latex rubber. The exterior is created with recycled felt and they come in a variety of vibrant colours.
Buy now £99.00, Mahabis
Scott&Co Vegetable Seed Grow Your Own Kit
Green-fingered gardeners will be excited to receive this kit that features 10 varieties of vegetable seeds to plant, water, grow, and then consume.
The instructions provided detail everything you need to do in relation to the pots and compressed compost discs, the latter of which forms the basis of your vegetable growing. You can choose from the likes of cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, carrots and aubergine. Just be sure to mark them with the plant labels so you remember which is which.
Buy now £12.99, Amazon
Tony’s Chocolonely Rainbow Six Pack
Satisfy their sweet tooth with a stack of Tony’s Chocolonely’s melt-in-the-mouth chocolate bars - an ideal gift for the chocolate connoisseur in your life. The bumper six-pack includes classic flavours such as milk chocolate, milk caramel sea salt, milk almond honey nougat and dark almond sea salt, and is all Fairtrade.
Buy now £25.99, John Lewis
Liga Beach Clean Cork Set of Round Coasters
Upgrade their tableware with this set of unique coasters, made from natural cork and recycled plastic saved from the ocean. Place around the table and they’ll impress dinner party guests with the colourful, quirky design, while preventing from any stains or heat damage. Not only do they look great, but you are doing great for the environment at the same time.
Buy now £14.00, John Lewis
Bullards Gin Bottle & Pouch Set
From classic London Dry, to Strawberry and Black Pepper Gin, British brand Bullards has created delicious botanical spirits that will make the perfect festive tipple.
To be enjoyed neat or combined with tonic for the ultimate G&T, the juniper spirit offers sweet, spicy and zesty flavours that certainly pack a punch.
The bottles are all handcrafted in the UK and each set comes with a refill eco-pouch to maintain the brand’s mission to reduce its carbon footprint and help lower waste.
Buy now £70.00, Bullards Spirits
Oxfam Recycled Cotton Fair Trade Rainbow Throw
Provide an interesting design detail to their sofa or bed with this vibrant rainbow-striped throw that has been carefully handcrafted by artisans at Asha Handicrafts in India.
As part of the Sourced by Oxfam collection, all proceeds from purchases will go to Oxfam while also supporting the livelihoods of artisans across the globe.
This sustainable piece of homeware is made from a mix of recycled cotton and recycled rayon and polyester and will add a splash of colour to any interior’s scheme. Dimensions: 150x125cm.
Buy now £24.99, Oxfam
Sprout Pencil
Sprout pencils are having their moment on TikTok and have a long celebrity fan base that includes the likes of Michelle Obama and Richard Branson. Gift a pack to your friends and family and let them be part of the action.
The world’s only plantable pencils, these writing intrusments will then sprout into vegetables, edible herbs, flowers and even Christmas trees, all from just a tiny pencil. Multi-functional and completely biodegradable.
Buy now £8.99, Amazon
The Urban Botanist Secret Garden Ecosystem
Bring the outside in with their very own sustainable ecosystem and watch as the secret garden blooms and thrives - with no effort required. The recycled globe-shaped glass is filled with tropical humidity-loving plants and sealed with a chic cork lid so no upkeep is necessary as they are self-sufficient due to their micro-climate. This is one for bringing a touch of greenery into your giftee’s home, whether they have the luxury of outdoor space or not.
Buy now £94.95, The Urban Botanist
Sculpd Candle Making Kit
Encourage your giftee to get creative with this candle-making kit. It contains everything you need to make one customisable votive with step-by-step instructions. You can choose the fragrance oil that makes up the scent that includes basil and citrus, peony rose, or ginger and orange to make a lovely room-filling aroma when lit. Either handcraft yourself for a homemade present or gift the kit for your loved ones to enjoy.
Buy now £29.00, Sculpd
Frank Green My Eco Gift Set
Time to get frank about living green – and this duo set will get them well on their way. Including a ceramic reusable cup with a push button lid and a reusable bottle with a straw lid, they are designed to keep busy commuters, walkers and adventurers hydrated and caffeinated wherever and whenever, while taking one small step to becoming more eco-friendly. These highly functional, innovative designs can be used over and over again to eliminate the need for plastic bottles.
Buy now £60.95, Frank Green
Nokia G60 5G smartphone
Treat tech lovers to a new smartphone this Christmas. The latest arrival from Nokia not only has a large bright 6.88” display and triple-lens camera to snap picture-perfect Instagrams, but it also makes a great eco-friendly upgrade.
The back is made from 100 per cent recycled plastic back, while the frame is crafted with 60 per cent recycled plastic to help friends and family switch to a more planet-friendly device. It also comes with Nokia’s exclusive ‘3-3-3 promise’ – three years of software upgrades, security updates and warranty – providing a long-lasting phone to reduce unnecessary waste on the planet.
Buy now £269.99, Nokia
Kalinko Strand Rattan Ice Bucket
Complete their at-home bar with this chic ice bucket, made from a 100 per cent natural rattan exterior. The insulation inside will keep ice frozen for more than 12 hours (it’s big enough for approximately 40 cubes) and is complete with a lid and tongs. Let them serve you up a refreshing G&T with ice and a slice in style.
Buy now £72.00, Kalinko
Laurent-Perrier Personalised Butterfly Tin
For a festive tipple, gift Laurent-Perrier’s Cuvée Rosé bottle in a beautiful butterfly tin, available exclusively from Selfridges, in-store and online.
The champagne house has decorated the tin with pretty butterflies as a nod to the importance of these creatures as pollinators in their vineyard, and you can customise it with a personal message of up to 25 characters long.
While they sip on the crisp berry flavours and admire the elegant design, there’s a nod to the planet too as with every purchase, £1 will be donated to the Plantlife organisation.
Buy now £79.99, Selfridges
