Have someone in your life who is a bit of an environmentalist? You've come to the right place. It can be hard to know what to get for the eco-warrior in your life but luckily there's a wide range of options out there to suit those that put sustainability first. In fact, there are ethical versions of almost any product, and they're often even more luxurious than the original.
As many of us are becoming a little more earth-conscious, there are more sustainable options available than ever before. We've created this buying guide alongside our ten favourite eco-friendly gifts available on Amazon, eBay, John Lewis and Waitrose so you can find the perfect present, whether it's for Christmas, a birthday or a wedding, or just to say you care.
Quick List - Top Sustainable Gifts
LSA International
An Elegant Trio of Miniature Vases Handmade From Recycled Glass
Chilly's
Reusable, BPA-Free and Made of High-Grade Stainless Steel
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Choosing a sustainable gift needn't be hard if you know where, and how, to look! Follow our buying guide tips to get sorted with a gift that's not just ethical but fabulous too.
If you're buying a gift for someone for a specific event such as moving into a new home, you might want to find a sustainable gift that will be useful to them. Likewise, if it's a birthday gift you're looking for, a fun or indulgent gift that is also eco-friendly is sure to impress! Check out the different gift types for more ideas.
Sustainable and eco-friendly toiletries make wonderfully luxurious gifts for anyone, especially as lots of care has usually gone into them. Cruelty-free perfume or makeup make excellent presents and handmade soaps are perfect smaller gifts.
For an original gift, how about a zero or low-waste toiletries kit? Super environmentally friendly, they usually include shampoo and conditioner bars, soaps, and accessories such as a bamboo or cotton flannel.
One type of gift you can never really go wrong with is food or drink! Whether you go for a box of chocolates, a bottle of wine or something else, there are many, many sustainably-made food and drink items that are decadent and delicious.
Great for those with a lower budget or as a smaller or add-on gift, you can find some gorgeous UK-made, vegan and organic treats on our list.
From eco kitchen supplies like chopping boards or pans to crafty gifts like beer or chocolate making kits, there's a sustainable gift to suit everyone's kitchen (and your budget). In particular, reusable water bottles and travel cups make excellent gifts for all kinds of people and come in a wide range of cheerful styles and designs.
For those who are very committed to an eco-friendly lifestyle, consider purchasing a zero-waste kitchen or dining kit. There are many types available, but look for ones containing beeswax wraps and sustainable cutlery for people who like to take lunch to work or go for picnics!
If you have a little more money to spend and want to give something that will be cherished, consider choosing a sustainable gift for the home. From rugs and furniture to plants and vases, there are many beautiful items with the planet in mind.
Look for organic, naturally-dyed fabrics, furniture that has been made and sourced sustainably, or vases made from recycled glass for a treat to impress!
There are lots of items out there at claim to be sustainable, but on closer look, you realise they're far from perfect. In this section, we'll go through the different things to look for in a sustainable gift.
An often overlooked aspect of choosing a sustainable gift is where it is made. A product can be made of the most eco-friendly materials, but unfortunately, that is negated by the transit miles if it has to be shipped or flown from another part of the world.
Another important thing to think about is how it is made. If no details are given on the site, it may be made by underpaid sweatshop or factory workers, and just made to look as if it's a green option. There are many beautiful gift options made sustainably by small businesses here in the UK, which we have included on our list.
Organic, cruelty-free, vegan – you're sure to have come across these labels on many types of products and may be wondering why they factor into how sustainable something is. Well, organic products are made without the use of pesticides, chemical fertilisers or other artificial chemicals, which is much better for the earth and us, too.
Cruelty-free simply means a product (and its ingredients) were not tested on animals. Mainstream brands who test on animals often have harsh chemicals in their products, which are then absorbed by your skin. Cruelty-free items contain non-toxic ingredients with fewer chemicals, which is undoubtedly better for your skin, and the environment.
A vegan product does not contain animal by-products in its ingredients and should have also avoided cruelty towards animals in its production. In terms of our own health, animal welfare and environmental concerns, vegan products are often a very sustainable option.
We all know it's best to avoid plastic if we're trying to take care of the environment, but it's important to check that the gift and/or its packaging are recyclable, or even better, compostable.
Choosing items with minimal or eco-friendly packaging is a great idea, but it's good to look for gifts made from recycled or naturally sustainable materials such as glass or bamboo.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | True Grace Village Seashore Classic Scented Candle | ![]() | Lovingly Made in Wiltshire From 100% Natural Wax | |
2 | Laboratory Perfumes Amber Eau de Toilette | ![]() | Eco-Friendly, Natural Perfume Made Entirely in the UK | |
3 | LSA International Canopy Trio of Recycled Glass Vases | ![]() | An Elegant Trio of Miniature Vases Handmade From Recycled Glass | |
4 | Chilly's Vacuum Insulated Leak-Proof Drinks Bottle | ![]() | Reusable, BPA-Free and Made of High-Grade Stainless Steel | |
5 | Chateau Maris Organic Les Planels | ![]() | An Irresistible Organic Red Wine From France | |
6 | Booja-Booja Fine de Champagne Chocolate Truffles | ![]() | Multi-Award Winning Vegan Truffles Handmade in Norfolk | |
7 | Naissance Cocoa Love Organic & Vegan Chocolate Gift Set | ![]() | All-Natural Vegan Chocolate Kit Perfect for Couples or Kids Alike | |
8 | BamBox Bamboo Bento Box | ![]() | An Eco-Friendly Lunchbox Made From Sustainable Bamboo | |
9 | Eco Warrior UK Organic Zero Waste Lunch Set | ![]() | A Beautiful Gift Set From a UK-Based Family Business | |
10 | The Natural Spa Zero Waste Travel Kit | ![]() | Gorgeous Vegan Toiletries for Travel or on the Go |
The label describes this candle as "a bracing walk on the clifftops and the lightheaded feeling of being by the sea" and we can confirm that it does what it says on the tin! In at number one we have the Village Seashore Scented Candle made from 100% natural plant wax, scented with geranium, neroli, cedarwood and moss.
The candle is also presented in a pretty etched glass container that you could reuse or recycle after use. True Grace is a family business committed to local and sustainable production. They bring a great deal of artistry and love into their products, making everything in their workshop in Wiltshire from only the best ingredients.
Amber Eau de Toilette is made from cruelty-free ingredients that are kind to the skin, as well as being sustainably made in the UK. Amber is a complex and exciting fragrance designed to suit your mood throughout the day. Gender-free, it is designed to evolve on the skin to how you're feeling.
It has zesty citrus notes when first applied in the morning and gets subtly richer into the evening, with sensual woody notes of white amber, leather and oakmoss. Then, earthy cedar and ambergris take you into the night. All of Laboratory Perfumes packaging is sustainably sourced and widely recyclable.
The perfect wedding or new home celebration gift, the Canopy Trio of Recycled Glass Vases are distinctive, unusual and elegant! LSA International's Canopy Range of glassware has been developed with the Eden Project in Cornwall.
Handmade from recycled, sustainably-produced glass, the vases come packaged in recycled and recyclable materials and are printed with organic vegetable inks. Suited to both a single stem or a bunch of grasses or wildflowers, you can also place a bulb at the vase's narrowest part to encourage roots to develop below.
When it comes to reusable water bottles, Chilly's are unrivalled. Their bottles are made from BPA-free high-grade stainless steel, and they're double-walled and vacuum insulated making them totally leakproof. Keeping cold drinks cold for more than 24 hours and hot drinks hot for 12 hours, they make both a practical and pretty gift.
Chilly's water bottles are also beautifully designed and come in a wide range of dreamy colours. Reusable bottles are sustainable in nature, but this well-made bottle is durable and long-lasting, delivering a fresh taste and plastic-free hydration for years to come. Refreshing!
Food and drink always make excellent gifts, and this Organic Les Planels by Chateau Maris is the best red wine we've found. With gorgeous black fruit, cherry and peppery notes it has a great depth of flavour and impressive tannic grip.
This wine is irresistible, extravagant and highly drinkable, so it's sure to become a favourite. From the sun-drenched region of Languedoc-Roussillon in France, it's perfect for the regular dinner party thrower in your life or just someone who might deserve a little indulgence.
As sweet treats go, Booja Booja truffles have got to be some of the best out there. Their whole range is divine but the Fine de Champagne Chocolate Truffles are a truly special gift idea. Made with just a handful of the finest ingredients, the Fine de Champagne shines through!
Organic, gluten-free, soy-free and vegan, these multi-award-winning truffles are handmade in Norfolk. The'yre also ethically produced with a minimal amount of natural ingredients – these truffles are as angelic as it gets.
Does the gift reciever you have in mind enjoy both crafting and chocolate? If the answer is yes, you simply must get them the Cocoa Love Organic & Vegan Chocolate Gift Set by Naissance. Perfect for couples or as a children's gift idea, it's fun, easy to follow and above all, delicious!
The raw chocolate making kit includes unrefined cocoa butter, cocoa powder, agave syrup and sweet orange essential oil which are all totally organic. It also has reusable silicone moulds, a pipette and a booklet to guide you through the process. One for conscious chocolate connoisseurs everywhere!
There are lots of eco-friendly food container options out there, but this bento box from BamBox is our favourite. Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world and is naturally biodegradable, making it ideal for sustainable production.
We've chosen this bamboo box in particular because it has a silicone seal to keep food fresh and a super-secure elasticated fabric strap, making it a practical as well as a sustainable gift. BamBox also donates 25p of each lunchbox sold to Friends of the Earth, to help them fight plastic pollution. Bonus!
This gift is slightly more functional than some of the others on our list, but those living (or trying to live) a sustainable lifestyle will love it. Featuring organic beeswax wraps, a bamboo cutlery set in an organic cotton pouch, a straw with wire brush cleaner and a toothbrush, this kit is aimed at eating on the go.
The green and white bamboo tree design on the beeswax wraps is adorable and all of the products have been sustainably sourced and made. Eco Warrior UK is a small family business and the whole kit is designed and packaged in England. This kit may not be that convenient to carry around just in case, but it's useful for trips or planned days out.
Ideal for a loved one who's often travelling or on the go, this Zero Waste Travel Kit by The Natural Spa is packed with luxurious products, all in a handy and compact tin. It comes in a choice of four scents to suit all tastes; winter spice, citrus, floral, or fresh.
The kit includes two cold-processed soaps, a shampoo bar, a conditioner bar and a bamboo flannel, which are all made by hand in a small workshop in Devon. The products are vegan and low waste, and they smell delightful, however, they might be difficult to store together in a tin once they have gotten wet.
Giving truly is as delightful as receiving and if you want to treat your loved ones to something special, check out our related articles on gift-giving. There's no time like the present!
We hope this article has given you lots of inspiration for choosing the perfect sustainable gift. Whether practical, indulgent or both, we could all do with being a bit more green.
Author: Melanie McPhail
No. 1: True Grace|Village Seashore Classic Scented Candle
No. 2: Laboratory Perfumes|Amber Eau de Toilette
No. 3: LSA International|Canopy Trio of Recycled Glass Vases
No. 4: Chilly's|Vacuum Insulated Leak-Proof Drinks Bottle
No. 5: Chateau Maris|Organic Les Planels
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