From hedgehog tunnels to wines that fund marine conservation, these sustainable gifts are good for the planet and the recipients
From hedgehog tunnels to wines that fund marine conservation, these sustainable gifts are good for the planet and the recipients
The number of hedgehogs in the UK is declining, and many hedgehogs have to roam a mile every night to find food. Creating channels in the built environment is one of the easiest ways to help species survive. This tunnel is made of recycled plastic, turning the garden fence into a hedgehog highway. £12.99; Ethical Supermarket
Christmas without puzzles is not Christmas. All Cloudberries puzzles are made of recycled paper and cardboard, and printed with plant-based inks, making them a sustainable gift. In addition, it is the first and only puzzle company to plant a tree for every tree sold. We love this 1000 piece retro poolside puzzle designed by artist Yoko Honda. £16.99; cloudberries.co.uk
The organic cotton boxer briefs are particularly soft, breathable and with interesting prints. They are manufactured by a wind power plant and are packaged in recyclable plants. Rapanui Clothing is an advocate of circular fashion. They use old clothes to create new items, and customers can send them back for free after wearing them. £12; rapanuiclothing.com
Promote someone this Christmas by subscribing to a gift from Positive News magazine. Each issue has inspiring stories about what is happening in the world, which are collected in certified carbon neutral magazines. Your recipients will receive the magazine throughout 2022, as well as a copy of the current issue and access to the digital version that will be issued at Christmas time. £30; positive news/Christmas
When they decompose in a landfill, the used coffee grounds produce methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times stronger than carbon dioxide. Rens is committed to solving this problem by turning used coffee grounds and old plastic bottles into lightweight, waterproof sports shoes, available in 10 colors. Friendly to the earth, friendly to feet, suitable for jumping in puddles-what's not to like? 87 euros (73 pounds); rensoriginal.eu
Did you know that the seahorse may become extinct within 30 years due to plastic pollution? Buy a bottle of the award-winning eco-friendly Provence rosé wine from Sea Change for the winemaker in life, and do your part to clean up the ocean. Every bottle sold helps fund marine conservation projects and is shipped in low-waste packaging. £16.99; seachangewine.com
The Last Bear is a touching adventure story about April and a polar bear. It has been shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Award in 2022. The book is suitable for readers over the age of eight. It is a thought-provoking way to introduce children to climate emergencies and their impact on endangered species in an easy-to-understand way. £7.43; British bookstore website
Use this exquisite gift set from Rubies in the Rubble to take your eco-warrior friend's cheese board and Boxing Day sandwich to the next level. All the fruits and vegetables used are purchased directly from British farmers, otherwise they will be wasted because they are too small, too large, deformed or defective to be sold elsewhere. £12; rubiesintherubble.com
Picture: Rubies in the rubble
Caroline Lee-Smith's cosmetics not only smell good, but are also friendly to the environment. She uses 100% natural, palm oil-free ingredients, solar energy to power some of her processes and plastic-free packaging. This zero-waste gift pack contains organic lip balm, argan chamomile cream, jasmine facial serum, and chamomile and calendula shower gel. £17; caroscreams.co.uk
When holding festivals, it may be difficult to put sustainability first. The latest book from River Cottage by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall contains many ideas on natural DIY decorations, edible gifts, minimizing wasted leftover lunches, and traditional recipes that make the most of seasonal products. £20.46; British bookstore website
Boy Wonder is a children's fashion brand headquartered in the UK. Every order includes a free repair kit. In addition to being bright and fun, these long-sleeved T-shirts are also made of organic cotton yarn and hand-painted designs. In addition, all packaging is free of plastic. £35; Boy Wonderland
Glasgow-based Dear Green Coffee was crowned the "Green Champion" this year for obvious reasons. From becoming a registered B-Corp and participating in the zero-emission competition, to the use of environmentally friendly packaging, sustainability is a core part of a company. It also prides itself on a transparent and ethical supply chain, with 2% of its annual turnover donated to charitable organizations. £8.60; Dear Green Coffee Network
Experts estimate that the UK processes 2.5 billion cups of coffee each year, many of which end up in landfills. The family-run Huski Home hopes to change this situation with a travel mug made from recycled rice husk. Equipped with a leak-proof flip cover and a non-slip base, it can keep your coffee warm for 90 minutes, and it is available in 13 colors. £10.99; huskihome.com
This mulled wine jelly is perfect for pairing with cheese, seasonal game or on ice cream. Hand-made in small batches by Gathered Botanicals, a family-owned company in Cornwall, all seasonal ingredients in its products are grown in their gardens and forage along coastal paths or sourced from local farms. £4; collectbotanicals.co.uk
This illustrated book is described as "the journey of beauty and glory of plants" and is the sequel of Jonathen Drori's best-selling book "Around the World with Eighty Trees", full of plant science Surprise. By purchasing it through bookshop.org, you will also do your part to support local independent bookstores. £18.60; British bookstore website
If you are looking for an interesting stocking filler, who made this? Will be the nirvana for the children in your life. They will learn to match 27 animals with their feces, while discovering more information about the natural world along the way. Just be prepared for the large amount of poo facts around the dining table. £13.99; dwtshop.org.uk
This gift set is bright enough to illuminate any winter morning. It contains seven pairs of children's socks, partly made of scraps that may be thrown into the landfill. Traidcraft is the first fair trade pioneer in the UK, sourcing products from creators in more than 30 developing countries. From £29.95; traidcraftshop.co.uk
Think bubble is a summer pastime? Think again. Dr. Zigs is a family business that specializes in environmentally friendly, low-plastic, palm oil-free bubble suits-they look amazing in cold weather. Dr. Zigs is located in the foothills of Snowdonia and works with refugee camps and orphanages around the world through his "bubble instead of bomb" project. £17; drzigs.com
Yala's ethical jewellery is made in small batches by Kenyan artists to minimize the impact on the environment. This brass pendant is made from recycled scraps and comes with a recycled gold chain. This is the first jewellery company in the UK to obtain B-Corp status. £35; Yarra Jewelry
During the lockdown, more people tried to ride a bicycle than ever before, but safety issues often discourage people. B-Corp Beryl aims to break some of these obstacles: its clever brake lights can detect when the cyclist is slowing down and warn other road users. £39.99; Beryl.cc
When nutritionist Henrietta Norton found that there were no sustainable supplements on the market that she thought she could recommend, she started making them herself. Wild Nutrition focuses on natural, ethical and locally sourced supplements that contain no artificial flavors or animal-tested ingredients. The gift card comes with a 45-minute consultation. From £25; Wild Nutrition Network
No longer need plastic mobile phone protective film. This biodegradable shell is made of a mixture of bioplastics and bamboo fibers, and the manufacturer says it will be completely decomposed in the compost after six months. Durable, stylish, and compatible with some iPhone and Samsung models. £19; wild case company
The non-alcohol movement is booming, and Freestar is one of the outstanding pioneers and won the gold medal at the 2019 World Beer Awards. Brewing is not traditionally an eco-friendly process, but the method Freestar uses can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 90%, use water and energy by 80%, and generate 70% less waste than usual. Cheers for this. £9.95; Freedom Star
These soy crayons are the perfect stocking filler for mini environmentalists. They are made of natural pigments and come in plastic-free packaging. Check out Sprinkles Creations UK for more sustainable gifts to keep kids busy during the holidays. £2.50; wearthlondon.com
Of course, the vouchers for carbon dioxide removal are not entirely festive. But when each person generates an additional 650 kg of carbon dioxide during the year, this is one of the most sustainable gifts. If the recipient says this is not very warm, just remind them that no one wants to be warm anyway. From 25 Euros (£21); CLImeworks.com
Picture: Matthias Heyde Main picture: Diette Henderson
Positive News may earn a small commission from some of the links in this article, but our sustainable gift selection is done independently. Any commissions we earn from affiliate links for these sustainable gifts help fund our inspiring journalism.