Feature Photo by Photo by Ylanite Koppens
If like me, you have been too busy to go Christmas shopping or are overwhelmed with the idea of excessive consumerism at this time of year, then here is the post for you! I’ve put together some amazing last minute DIY ideas that are perfect for gifting this Christmas, as well as some eco-friendly gift suggestions and even ideas for sustainable packaging and gift wrapping!
Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas
Imagine the joy of sharing a gift that supports sustainability and actively contributes to a better world. From zero-waste gifts to ones made with all-natural materials and minimal packaging, choosing the best eco-friendly holiday gifts can help support people and our planet—and even encourage our loved ones to go green.
Experience gifts
Instead of giving physical gifts, consider giving experiences that do not require any packaging. This could include concert tickets, cooking classes, or a massage at a spa.
Sustainable fashion
Clothing can be a great gift, but it is important to choose sustainable options. Look for clothing made from organic cotton or recycled materials or consider gifting secondhand clothing that is still in good condition.
Plant-based gifts
Plants are a great way to bring some greenery into someone’s life and help clean the air. Consider gifting a potted plant or a kit for growing herbs or vegetables, or making your own plant based gifts.
If you want to think bigger, companies such as Ecologi, Mossy Earth, Click a Tree, Tree Nation, Eden Reforestation Projects, Carbon Neutral Britain and One Tree Planted are all certified projects giving individuals a chance to make a change, plant trees and look after local and rural areas around the globe.
Donations
If you are struggling to find a gift for someone who already has everything they need, consider donating to a charity or non-profit organisation in their name. This is a meaningful way to give back and support a cause that is important to your loved one.
Sustainable home goods
There are many eco-friendly options for home goods, such as reusable food storage containers, bamboo utensils, and beeswax wraps. These items can help reduce waste and promote sustainable living.
Related – BAMBOO – A PLASTIC ALTERNATIVE
By choosing eco-friendly gifts, we can all do our part to reduce our impact on the environment and promote sustainability. Let’s make this holiday season one that is both joyful and sustainable.
BRAND RECOMMENDATIONS
WWF
WWF is a Swiss-based international non-governmental organization founded in 1961 that works in the field of wilderness preservation and the reduction of human impact on the environment.
WWF adoptions are the perfect gift for animal lovers everywhere and start from just £3 a month. With each adoption you receive an optional soft toy, a welcome pack and regular updates on how your adoption supports vital work supporting the animal of choice. There is a wide range of adoption animals you can choose from to buy as a gift, from penguins to jaguars, to turtles and gorillas.
Alternatively, a WWF membership is a brilliant charity gift for anyone who cares about the natural world; a WWF membership not only supports work to restore nature and help tackle climate change but provides your gift recipient with expert advice on how they can make a difference in their own life.
Bare Kind
Bare Kind is a certified B Corp on a heartfelt mission to make a difference for animals, one pair of socks at a time.
Despite being a small company, their ambition is huge. Each purchase of bamboo socks contributes 10% of the profits towards the protection of the animals featured on the socks. The brand supports animal conservation and rescue charities, and are currently working with over 25 charities, uniting fashion with compassion to create a better world for all. They use plastic free packaging, FSC certified cardboard & non toxic dyes.
I especially love these socks as I’m planning on visiting an orangutan sanctuary next year!
Tentree
To date, Tentree has planted more than 57 million trees. The company sells a wide variety of clothing items, each made of eco-conscious fabrics designed to have the smallest environmental impact possible. For every item purchased, Tentree plants 10 trees, with a goal to plant 1 billion trees by 2030.
PLANTURA
Plantura want to make sustainable gardening accessible to everyone – with fun and inspiring ideas. Their Plantable Calendar is a sowing calendar and seeds in one, with monthly gardening tips and organic seeds for your garden, balcony, or windowsill. I have just bought one as a secret santa gift.
Plantura’s mission is to help both gardening enthusiasts or complete newbies to transform your garden into a haven for wildlife like wild bees, bumblebees, and hedgehogs too. Living by the motto “less is more”, they avoid unnecessary ingredients in their products using animal-free fertilisers and CO₂-reduced potting soils.
HAPPY EARTH
Happy Earth is an ethical, vegan, and sustainable clothing brand that gives back. Made with organic cotton, inspired by nature and dedicated to preserving it, Happy Earth are committed to donating a minimum of 1% of their profits to charitable organisations through tree planting, Climate Change, and Trash Clean-Up Projects. They are also a certified B Corporation.
Related – B Corp Brands
FLISSIE
Flissie is a UK based brand that celebrates body positivity by designing a range of boxer shorts that are inclusive of all female body shapes and develops self-confidence.
With a mission to help women feel comfortable and grow the sustainable fashion movement, whilst giving back to female-focused causes, Flissie donates one pair of boxers to a women’s refuge for every three pairs of women’s boxers purchased through their Giving Back programme.
Flissie boxers come in singles or a bundle of three colours and are made of Tanboocel™ bamboo viscose, which is manufactured in a closed loop process, meaning that 100% of the excess chemicals that are used are trapped, contained and recycled and the alkali used for processing the bamboo chips is also recycled. It also conforms with the Oeko-Tex® Standard 100, is organically certified and it’s hypoallergenic making it wearable by those with sensitive skin conditions..
Two Blind Brothers
Two Blind Brothers is a comfort clothing company based in the US, created by two visually impaired brothers, and 100% of the company’s profits go towards funding research to cure retinal eye disease. Customers can browse and purchase individual items or “shop blind” and purchase mystery boxes without seeing the products—much like the people they are supporting.
Delila Home
Delilah Home prioritizes organic cotton and hemp in crafting their bedding, towels, and pet beds. Their commitment lies in creating products devoid of allergens, carcinogens, and harmful chemicals typically present in traditional cotton textile production. This makes them the perfect choice for individuals with allergies, skin sensitivities, respiratory problems, or simply an eco-conscious mindset. They allocate 10% of their profits to local charitable causes like 1% for the Planet and Operation Warm.
EcoRoots
EcoRoots is committed to delivering top-notch environmentally friendly and minimal-waste items to its customers. Their product line spans various categories, including deodorants, essential oils, body scrubs, and more, all aimed at aiding your shift toward sustainable choices for your daily needs – including products for relaxation! Most of their offerings are not only free of plastic but are also packaged and shipped in eco-conscious ways. Moreover, the company allocates a percentage of their yearly sales to support environmental conservation initiatives, partnering with organizations like the Ocean Conservancy.
DIY GIFT IDEAS
I love getting creative, so for this festive article, I’d like to inspire you to get creative too and help you start making your Christmas gifts from scratch. Nothing beats the feeling of giving and receiving a homemade Christmas gift. Whether it’s a DIY project or a heartfelt handmade item, it shows that you have put time, effort, and thought into the present. Here are a few ideas:
DIY Lip Balm
This fantastic DIY beauty gift from Sustainable Cooks is both sustainable and fun to make. I tend to use zero-waste containers to keep it green. You’ll need:
- 1 tsp candelilla wax
- 6 tsp organic coconut oil
- 2 tsp organic unrefined shea butter
- 10-15 drops of essential oils like peppermint, vanilla, etc.
Start by melting all of the ingredients (except the essential oils) together in a double boiler on low heat. Mix well with a spoon, then add in the essential oils.
Immediately pour the lip balm into the containers. If the balm begins to harden too soon, just melt again on a low heat. Let it cool for a few hours until fully solidified.
This homemade lip balm will last for about a year. Enjoy the feeling of a sustainable and natural beauty product, it’s so easy to make you could make them for the whole family in one sitting!
Solid Lotion Bars
This three-ingredient Solid Lotion Bar recipe from Sustainable Cooks makes incredible easy to use moisturizing bars.
You’ll need:
- 1part beeswax
- 1part sweet almond oil
- 1part coconut oil
The beeswax can be replaced with carnauba wax and if you have an allergy to nuts, the coconut oil can be replaced with shea butter.
Start by filling a medium-sized pan with 2 cups of water and place it on the hob. Set up a double boiler and add beeswax, letting it fully melt.
Once melted, add coconut oil and sweet almond oil, stirring gently until the coconut oil is melted as well.
Remove the double boiler from the pan with an oven mitt and wipe off any water from the bottom of the boiler. Pour the melted mixture into moulds and allow it to set for a few hours or overnight.
To add a fragrant touch, include 10-15 drops of your favourite essential oils in step 2 with the sweet almond and coconut oil.
Gingerbread Body Scrub
This Gingerbread Body Scrub by Wallflower Girl is so simple to make with ingredients found in your kitchen cupboard, such as brown sugar and ground ginger. No heating or baking is required, and it’s a perfect Christmas gift for someone special – or for yourself!
You’ll need:
- 500g / 2 cups of brown sugar
- 240ml / 1 cup of oil (coconut or sweet almond oil work well)
- 2 tbsp of ground ginger
- 2 tbsp of mixed spice (or pumpkin pie mix)
- A jar or container
- Optional extras: Add 1 tbsp of vitamin E oil for dry skin.
Start by combining all ingredients in a bowl. If the mixture is too oily, add sugar. If it’s too dry, add more oil. Some oils may overpower the ginger and cinnamon scents, so add more spices if necessary and if you’d like to do so. Store this mix in an air-tight container or jar, then decorate it and voilà! You have a delightful, healthy homemade gift idea for Christmas.
Salted Caramels
Did you know that caramels are one of the easiest candies to make at home? With a simple recipe and a few tips and tricks, you can create delicious caramels that will rival any store-bought version.
If you (like me) have been looking for a salted caramel recipe that is sure to impress, then look no further – I’ve found the best one here. There’s something special about the combination of sweet and salty salted caramels, and I found this recipe that makes them simply irresistible. It makes for an excellent gift, or a treat to enjoy in your own home.
Eco-Friendly Packaging
Sustainability shouldn’t stop at gifting; it should also apply to gift wrapping. The chemicals used to make wrapping paper, plastic ribbons, and glittery and metallic papers are harmful to the planet, and much of it isn’t recyclable. So, to help you wrap your gifts more sustainably, I’ve put together a list of ideas that are kinder to the planet while still looking beautiful and sophisticated.
Reusable Fabric Wrap
Wrap your presents in machine-washable fabric squares that can be repurposed or reused. Wrappr, for example, offers a variety of designs, each with a To/From card with instructions on the back.
They have an excellent selection of furoshiki reusable fabric wrap in a variety of patterns, colours, sizes and materials, including 100% organic cotton, so you’re certain to find the perfect one for each gift. Their gift wrap is designed by independent artists, so the designs are incredibly unique.
Eco Craft
Eco-Craft, a Lancashire-based family business established in 1991, specializes in crafting recycled, recyclable, and compostable products. Their range includes various eco-friendly packaging solutions tailored for small businesses. This encompasses postal boxes, recyclable paper tape, gift tags, and presentation folders, all fashioned from recycled paper sourced locally within the UK and the EU.
Driven by a deep commitment to environmental preservation, Eco-Craft has embedded a corporate ethos focused on minimizing ecological and ethical impacts throughout their product lifecycle. They prioritize offering items that are consciously produced and disposed of with the planet’s well-being in mind. The majority of their paper and card inventory consists of 100% recycled materials, with a substantial portion derived from post-consumer waste like old brochures and printouts. Occasionally, small flecks or speckles may be visible in their card stock, serving as a testament to its recycled nature.
NOT ON THE HIGH STREET
Why not get creative and make your own gift wrap designs. This Brown Kraft Wrapping Paper available from Not on the High Street is 100% recyclable and biodegradable.
It’s ideal for potato printing, stamping, stencil printing and even finger printing and perfect for making your own DIY gift wrap. This is the best quality I have come across for printing as it is non coated, and the ink dries almost instantly which means no smudging and a perfect finish. Use with red & white bakers twine to create classic brown paper packages tied with string.
GIFT WRAPPING DECORATIONS
Create beautifully adorned gifts with a rustic, natural touch by incorporating seasonal elements such as sprigs, pine cones, and cinnamon sticks to embellish packages and give them a seasonal scent.
You can also easily fashion miniature Christmas trees using pine needles to adorn all your Christmas gifts. Also, transform an old book page by cutting out shapes like Christmas trees, snowflakes, or reindeer to add a unique flair to your presents.
Elevate the appeal of gifts wrapped in kraft paper by using red-and-white cotton ribbons and decorating them with sprigs of rosemary or ferns.
These cardstock poinsettias make a gorgeous gift topper, and also look pretty all on their own. Bring them to life by cutting cardstock by hand (find the template here), then secure with a button and finish with a fringed ribbon.
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