The best eco friendly gifts from our 2023 sustainable Christmas gift guide
We've rounded up some of the loveliest eco friendly gifts to buy this year. Some are from independent artisans and others are part of conscious collections from retailers you will already be familiar with. Happy shopping!
The shopping team at House & Garden aim to focus on sustainable living as much as possible, or at least be more eco-conscious when planning the best gifts to buy at Christmas time. Shopping for loved ones is one of the best parts of the holiday season and this year there are plentiful eco-friendly gifts piquing our interest. Spanning across hundreds of independent brands and larger businesses creating biodegradable, fair-trade and eco-friendly products, we’ve discovered some lovely ideas.
What are the best eco-friendly gifts to buy for loved ones this Christmas?
We’ve compiled a gift guide packed full of eco-conscious gift ideas, including everything from organic cotton bedding to resuable water bottles, all made from sustainable materials. We have steered clear of the usual pieces that spring to mind when thinking about eco-friendly gifts–because let’s be honest, who really wants a compostable toothbrush or shampoo bar for Christmas?
What sustainable gifts do you buy someone who is eco-conscious and champions zero-waste?
When choosing your sustainable Christmas gifts, start with considering the interests of your environmentally conscious recipient. As we know, it’s all about making those attainable changes to reduce our carbon footprint. Are they big on hosting? Perhaps some sustainable tableware, coffee cups or glassware made from recycled materials. If they're into skincare, there are many brands producing sustainable beauty gifts, or undertaking initiatives to reduce single-use plastic in the industry. Similarly, self-care and pampering goodies never go amiss. Meanwhile, if they love foodie treats, there are wonderful gin gifts and vegan-friendly Christmas hampers available. Do they enjoy gardening? Investing in some really good garden tools will help to reduce waste as they’ll remain reusable for decades. All that’s left to do is shop for some suitably sustainable wrapping paper, or even make some diy gift wrap for an extra personalised touch.
East End Press prioritises ethical and fair relationships with their printers, crafts people and manufacturers, using FSC and PEFC certified wood, non toxic ink and recycled paper.
Haines tackles textile waste by selling surplus fabrics and wares from a curated selection of eco-conscious brands and makers, and one-off pieces made in collaboration with designers.
Recycled Glass Spiral Table Lamp with a Choice of Flex
Bristol Artisan sells curated hand-made goods. Wild Grove’s products are all made by hand with the lowest environmental impact possible. All products are recyclable or biodegradable.
Made from recycled cardboard and printed with vegetable inks- and when the time comes, are fully recyclable. 5% of Studio Roof’s sales from its Christmas collection go to NGO Karm Marg in Faridabad, India; a home that provides shelter to underprivileged children and youth and teaches them self-sufficiency.
Fine Cell Work is a UK-based rehabilitation charity and social enterprise, transforming the lives of prisoners and prison leavers by teaching them soft work skills, by training and paying them to do exquisite needlework to create beautiful products for sale.
Ornaments are 100% produced in Europe, specifically in towns and areas which have been historically involved in the production of Christmas items, directly contributing to the survival of a traditional cottage industry and supporting a village community.
‘Some of the things that we stock are old, some are new, all are made with consideration and care.’
‘Combining age-old techniques with disruptive design and cutting-edge technology, each collection is rooted in responsible craftsmanship, ensuring the highest social and animal welfare standards are maintained as each fibre is traced from goat to garment.’
Produced artisanally in Italy by a small family-owned business where 'the art of working the wax’ has been handed down from father to son for six generations.
The Daughters of Gaea ethos is to work with female-led artisan groups, providing empowered employment for hand workers across the world, of which 90%+ are women. All products are made with low impact GOTS dyes and from environmentally friendly materials.
Kalinko helps the craft families that they work with prosper as Yangon develops. Each piece is handmade using local, sustainable materials where possible.
Malaika focuses on teaching hand embroidery to local women in Egypt giving them a chance to learn a valuable skill and improve their economic standing.
The world’s first African and Caribbean rum. 100% natural. 5% of company profits & £2 of every bottle purchased here will go to ground level freedom and equality projects annually.
Following a career as a visual merchandiser for seven years, Rémy gained a City & Guilds qualification in Interior Design whilst selling vintage clothes and antiques at markets around Sussex. She joined House & Garden in 2019, having previously interned at the magazine with the decoration team. Follow her at ... Read More