25 Sustainable Christmas Gift Ideas
Ok, you’ve held this off as long as possible, it’s time. Shopping for Christmas presents is usually a love it or hate it activity, and with shops currently shut (in England) there isn’t the added bonus of doing it with your friends or treating yourself to coffee and pastries afterwards. While online shopping may not be as enjoyable as strolling through markets and popping into shops, it can still be a great way of getting everything you need in one go.
This year, I think we can all agree, is one we’d all rather get over and done with, but Christmas Day is the light at the end of the tunnel, with promises of seeing family, sharing good times and enjoying the food we look forward to all year. presents, while not the most important part of the celebrations, are a great way of sharing a bit of happiness at the end of the year and letting those who you haven’t seen as much of this year that you’re thinking of them.
As usual we’ve been hit with the Black Friday sales (cough cough 4p tops, I’ll leave that for another day) and Amazon has been merrily raking in the money taking advantage of the situation. But there are other alternatives. We have access to ethical, sustainable gifts online and we should be taking this opportunity to support small businesses and independent retailers more than ever! I thought it would be helpful to put a gift guide together with a twist.
This list of present ideas features only ethical retailers, small businesses (real people trying to make their dream a reality!) and vegan brands trying to do some good in the world. I’ve tried to find a range of price points to suit different budgets ranging from £5 to £192. From vegan knitted hats, to eco-friendly yoga mats, there should be something for everyone you’re buying for here, and everything is made sustainably with the planet, people and animals in mind. (Only the item marked with * contains a gifted item)
Happy shopping!
Wearth London – Ceramic Planter £27.50
We all know a plant mum by now (or we are one ourselves) and they’re constantly looking for new house plants or succulents to add to their family. This ceramic planter is an ideal gift to help them display their plant babies proudly – plus look how cute the little face on it is!
*PR gifted product
*Watson & Wolfe – Classic Cork Belt £40
The Watson & Wolfe classic cork belt in black makes for a perfect gift, for men or women, and is 100% cruelty-free. The belt has three layers, a base of PU, a lining and a top layer of hard-wearing natural cork leather, and a rectangular buckle. All three materials have been bonded together and securely stitched for extra durability and longevity, the perfect alternative to the traditional leather belts.
Jakelle Studios - Barca Thong Gift Set £69
We didn’t get the hot girl summer we were hoping for but the Barca set from Jakelle Studios can prep us for the 2021 attempt! Made from bamboo in a clean cut, minimalist design, the crop top is double layered and supports you well and the v-shaped thong sits just above the hip for a flattering shape. Order before the 5th December for guaranteed Xmas delivery!
Collection & Co - Pelion Orange Block Heeled Boot £65 (on sale down from £130 – hurry!)
Imagine the reaction of the person you love opening their present to see these beauties staring back at them! You will just have to accept that they won’t be taking these off for the entire day. The Pelion boots are a classic style and the orange faux suede adds that extra special something to make these anyone’s new favourite boots. Collection & Co also sell sustainable products like bamboo toothbrush, vegan candles and even dog shampoo.
Lush – Twilight Gift Set £34
Always a solid option when shopping for an ethical, sustainably made Christmas gift, and this year Lush did not disappoint. Perfect for someone who’s starting to try and buy more vegan/cruelty-free bath products, especially if they have a bathtub! From their famous bath bombs, to zero waste shampoo bars, to face masks, they have something for everyone. I particularly love this Twilight Christmas gift set, including a body spray, body lotion, shower gel, and bath bomb – plus it comes with a reusable fabric wrap.
MooMoo & JuJu – Rainbow Face Mask with Lining £25
My good friend Moon has recently set up a business with Junior Almeida creating these fabulous reusable face masks that will actually make you look forward to wearing it! The iridescent sparkle is too good to resist, and it comes with a cotton lining and a bag to store your mask in (anyone else just been stuffing it their pockets and regretting it??) They also have a Christmas offer of buy 2 masks get 20% off, and make sure to follow them on Instagram too.
Tasony Home Fragrance – Dried Flower Diffuser £25
We all need to freshen up our homes after Christmas, and what better way to do it than with a stylish reed diffuser. I love the Tasony dried flower diffuser with its feathering grass and “bunny tails”. The Aurora scent has notes of blackberry leaves, blackcurrant, rose and sandalwood. Alternatively, the heart shaped clam shell wax melts are only £5 and would make such a cute stocking filler or secret Santa! The wax is made from coconut and rapeseed and can release fragrance for up to 16 hours.
Pssst! Use my friend @thefreefrommum discount code “THEFREEFROMMUM” for 10% off!
Be Mindful Be Happy – Plant Heroes Sweatshirt £35
My friend Claire has set up her own brand called Be Mindful Be Happy and is spreading awareness of mindfulness through her sustainable products and clothing, using only GOTS certified organic cotton. She also provides guided mediations, some free and some for only £5, which would make a really thoughtful gift for someone too. I love the plant heroes sweatshirt, such a perfect gift for the eco warrior in your life!
Treen – Kali Hat £32
Made from GOTS certified organic cotton instead of wool, the Kali rib knit beanie in camel colour would make a gorgeous gift for someone. There are also similar style scarves from the same brand, Melawear. Treen are online but also have a store in Edinburgh, go check it out if you’re local.
Facetheory – Vitamin Superhero Skincare Gift Set £29.99
Quickly becoming skincare guru’s go-to brand, Facetheory offer science-backed skincare at affordable prices – my kind of combo! The Vitamin Superhero set features three of Facetheory's signature essentials; Vitamin C Cleanser, Regena-C Retinol Moisturiser and Porebright N10 Serum. I have the Regina-C moisturiser M4 Pro and it’s been incredible, I wear it as a night cream.
Ditto Bakes – Mixed Classics Bundle £26
For anyone with a sweet tooth, this bundle of vegan brownies and blondies is enough to make you drool over your screen. Including flavours like Biscoff, Oreos, Party Rings and Jammie Dodgers, these sweet treats are the ultimate indulgence – just don’t expect the recipient to share with you!
Vegan Style Book £13.50
If you know someone who’s majorly into fashion but looking to go green with their clothes, this book would make the perfect gift for them. Written by Sascha Camilli, Vegan Style goes into the different materials you should look for, how to spot animal products in clothes and where to look for vegan fashion brands. It also has information on vegan homeware, travel and beauty!
Votch – Piñatex Watch £135
Vegan watch experts, Votch, have created their classic watch with a vegan Piñatex strap, an innovative and sustainable fabric created from pineapple leaf fibres. A vegan watch is a really special gift to someone, it’s not exactly cheap so make sure the person you have in mind is definitely a ‘watch person’.
Charlie Feist – Kai Black Backpack £65 (on sale down from £75)
Made with an eco-nylon and vegan leather, the Kai backpack would make a great gift for anyone who’s always on the go (remember before Covid there were places to go and people to see!). It can fit laptops, water bottles, notebooks and way more, with interior and exterior pockets, all wrapped up in a chic, minimalist design.
Eden - Perfumes from £18
Vegan perfume connoisseurs will already be familiar with Eden, but these make a great gift for people who are transitioning to a vegan lifestyle and finding their feet in the beauty world. Eden make a vegan, cruelty-free version of so many popular fragrances, you can just find out what they usually wear and get them the eco-friendly dupe!
Womsh – Vegan Wave Sneakers - £192
PETA approved vegan leather sneakers made from apple waste and recycled PET from plastic bottles – the perfect present for the fashion obsessed eco warrior! The chunky style and monochrome colourway work perfectly with so many outfits, your loved one will never get tired of wearing these.
Jakke – Rita Pink Jacket £85 (on sale down from £170)
Faux fur isn’t for everyone, but no one can deny it’s always going to be a better alternative to taking the life of an animal for their skin. Jakke makes these gorgeous oversized boxy jackets, perfect layered over sweaters or dress up with a dress and boots.
Girlfriend Collective - Compressive High Waisted Legging £49.50 (on sale down from £62)
For the health-nut friend or relative who goes crazy for new workout gear, these sustainable leggings will take pride of place in their wardrobe. Each pair of the Compressive Leggings save 25 plastic bottles from landfill and they’re treated with eco-friendly dyes.
WWF – Adopt an Animal
This would make the perfect gift for a young person who’s interested in conservation and protecting the animals! If you adopt a WWF animal and pay monthly donations (or a one-off purchase) your beneficiary will receive a cuddly toy version of that animal, a welcome pack, regular updates and a personalised adoption certificate and video call background. Choose from giant pandas, tigers, bottlenose dolphins, elephants, orangutans and much more!
Turtle Bags - Organic Long Handled String Bag £7
A low-cost gift with a life-long purpose, no more plastic shopping bags needed! I have one of these and I love how much I can fit into it, plus it always looks good with my outfit. The long handle allows you to wear it over your shoulder and stuff as many vegan chocolates in there as you like.
LaBante London – Kindness Brown Vegan Two-Tone Wallet £49.99
A new year may well call for a new wallet, if you’ve worn yours out ordering all those takeaways (no? just me?) It’s such a nice gift to receive a new purse/wallet as you don’t often think to buy yourself one until the one you have is falling apart. The brown faux leather adds a touch of class and the metal V finishing is a subtle nod to its vegan origin.
Yogamatters – Aqua Evolve Yoga Mat £60
Be the envy of the yoga studio (post-Covid) with this marbled, calming yoga mat - perfect for any water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces). This mat also helps the planet as the company who makes these mats take algae blooms (bad for eco-systems) and turn it into foam from the waste.
Beauty Bay – Origin 42 Colour Eyeshadow Palette £15 (on sale down from £25)
Vegan, PETA certified cruelty-free ‘colour-by-numbers’ style palette, perfect for those just starting to experiment more with make-up. A range of earthy tones, shimmering metallics and matte bases provide the perfect starting point to plot the direction of your beauty journey.
House of Sunny – Day Tripper Vol 2 Cardigan £90
Inspired by an Ibiza sunset, this cardigan is like a warm hug and a promise of more vacation opportunities next year. A vegan knitted cardigan is hard to come by and this one is ideal for the fashionista in your life (if you’re lucky you might even get to borrow it!)
Merrell - Fluxion GORE-TEX® £77 (on sale down from £110)
Built for trail running, these babies would make the best Christmas present for anyone trying to get healthy (myself included). Breathable, waterproof and lightweight, these shoes will make running into the new year look oh so appealing.