Give the planet a present by going green this Christmas.
Better still, make it easy and sustainable for yourself by diving into our pick of the very best eco-friendly gifts.
From reusable coffee cups, to books on how you too can make a difference, we’ve got something for all the eco-fans in your life, whether they’re big or small.
Peace on earth. Not pieces of plastic.
No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference by Greta Thunberg, Amazon, £2.69
“Everything needs to change. And it has to start today.” This collection, which was published in May 2019, contains 11 inspirational speeches made by teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg. A tiny book at tiny price – we think it’s the perfect stocking filler.
8oz Black Bamboo Reusable Coffee Cup, Trouva, £9
This stylish black reusable coffee cup by ‘Ecoffee Cup’ is made from naturally organic, sustainably sourced bamboo fibre – one of the world’s most sustainable resources. It holds 8oz/250ml which is the standard Flat White size. And it’s fully dishwasher safe, too.
Toast Ale: 12 Bottle Mixed Case, Amazon, £34.95
Toast Ale uses leftover bread to make beer – and give all their profits to the charity Feedback to support the fight against food waste. This 12 bottle mixed case contains three bottles of Craft Lager 5.0%, three bottles of Pale Ale 5.0%, three bottles of Session IPA 4.5% and three bottles of Born & Bread American Pale Ale 5.0%. Brewed at Wold Top, Driffield, N Yorkshire. Their ingredients? Malted barley, surplus fresh bread, hops and yeast.
Reusable Face Pads with Wash Bag, Etsy, from £8.95
These reusable face pads from Etsy seller MummyMarvellousMakes are seriously the bee’s knees – but they can also be the flamingo’s, or dog’s, or kitten’s. You can personalise the pattern of the fabric and choose whether you want a super-soft fleece lining, or terry-cloth. They’re bound to create a buzz.
Bamboo Toothbrush & Handmade Fabric Case, Etsy, from £2.50
Another perfect stocking filler! Plastic toothbrushes are not biodegradable, so switching to a sustainable, eco-friendly bamboo toothbrush can help reduce your carbon footprint. You can choose the colour of the bristles (black, blush or white) made from ‘activated charcoal’ – as well as being non-plastic, the charcoal provides natural whitening and stain removal for your teeth. The fabrics used for the carry cases are all upcycled to avoid water wastage and landfill.
Chilly’s Octopus Vacuum Insulated Leak-Proof Drinks Bottle, John Lewis, £25
We love this reusable monochrome octopus drinks bottle. It can hold 500ml of water, and is made of stainless steel and BPA-free Tritan. Leak-proof, it keeps drinks cool for up to 24 hours (or hot for 12 hours) and comes in a Chilly’s gift cylinder that will look lovely under the Christmas tree. The unique Sea Life Edition design was created by Will the Artist to raise awareness about plastic pollution.
Zero waste year 2020 Planner and Journal, Amazon, £7.90
This cute journal will set you off on the right foot for 2020. Packed with ways to cut down on waste, plus a “habit tracker”, garden log, pages for zero waste recipes and a yearly/monthly/weekly calendar; we think this is a great start to being more conscientious about what we’re using.
Pure Chimp Shampoo Bar, Amazon, £6.95
This moisturising natural shampoo bar can also be used as a soap. Simply rub along the length of your hair, producing lots of lather, to prevent residue. It’s great for sensitive skin, as it has a PH Level of 8.5, and is 100% natural, vegan, handmade in the UK, no animal testing and paraben free. Also, 5% of profits go to charity, and it comes wrapped in recyclable paper with a biodegradable label. Another great sustainable stocking filler. We swapped from liquid to solid shampoo – you can read about it here.
So Eco Face Make-Up Brush Set, Very.co.uk, £18.99
This cute kit contains an angled contour brush, a tapered blending brush, a round foundation brush and a lip brush. Each kit comes in a brush wrap made from unbleached natural cotton. There’s zero plastic and bamboo handles. Eco-beauty at its best.
Mangobeat Naturelle Speaker, Etsy, £43.67
This is something different: No wires, no drums, no Bluetooth. The Mangobeat Naturelle speaker, made by Etsy seller Mangobeat Boutique, uses a natural amplifier with an acoustic speaker – and it’s compatible with all mobile phones.
