Christmas is synonymous with abundance.
Whether it be bustling dinner tables filled to the brim with roast, fried and sautéed goods, stacks of perfectly wrapped presents delicately balanced under festive trees, or halls which have been vehemently decked with tinsel galore – the Xmas season produces plenty of wonderful fruits, but also lots of unsustainable waste.
How can I make more sustainable choices this festive season?
- Recyclable wrapping paper: It’s time to bring back the mantra we learned during our school days; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Opt for sustainably sourced and recyclable wrapping paper this season, or better yet, reuse old wrapping paper from birthdays and celebrations past. You might even invest in cloth-based wrapping paper, which can be reused for years to come.
- Proportional cooking: We know it takes a whole lot of extra mental mathematics, but it’s incredibly important to neither overcook nor undercook for your guests. Like Goldilocks, discover the measurements and amounts which will make your Christmas spread just right in order to prevent unnecessary food waste.
- Real Christmas trees: Though they tend to produce a lot more mess, there’s nothing like the woody smell of a real pine, spruce or fir tree. Though it might seem counter-intuitive given that you’re chopping a tree down, you’re actually supporting the continual re-forestation of areas with might have otherwise been used for commercial purposes.
- In the 7 years that it takes to grow the average Christmas tree, Christmas tree farms support local habitats and help to remove carbon from the atmosphere. Plus, according to the Association of Christmas Tree Growers, for every tree that is cut down each year, one to three new seedling trees are planted. It’s far better than the unsustainable practices associated with mass-producing plastic options.
- Reuse decorations: Don’t fall victim to cheugy Christmas trends. Build up a collection of meaningful, reusable heirloom decorations to use time and time again. You could even craft your own decorations from paper mâché or air dry clay.
- Support local businesses: If you’re able, shop at local greengrocers and farm shops instead of your classic supermarket chain.
- Sustainable gifting: Last but not least (and the reason you’re here), go for gifts from retailers which prioritise sustainable practices.
We’ve curated the ultimate sustainable gift guide to shop for Christmas 2024. Keep scrolling to treat yourself, your loved ones and the planet this festive season.
Shop now
Liga Candle Holders
These beautiful, neutral pillar candle holders are made from 100 per cent eco recycled sweetcorn husks. They make a fine addition to any sustainable dinner table and can be wrapped with festive branches for Christmas dinner.
Buy now £18.00, NOTHS
Pangaia 365 Lightweight Long Pyjama Set - lake blue
Pangaia’s classic genderless pyjama set is made with 100 per cent organic cotton. Uber soft and lightweight, any recipient is sure to change into these sumptuous PJs first thing on Christmas morning.
Buy now £145.00, Pangaia
ROKA London Finchley A Small Sustainable Canvas Backpack
The ultimate sustainable rucksack, Roka’s roomy commuter bag is complete with roomy internal pockets, organisational sections and a padded sleeve for your laptop or tablet. It’s made with weather-resistant canvas with a matte nylon lining and has been crafted with the help of 12-15 recycled plastic bottles. It’s also offered in an array of eye-catching hues and varying sizes.
Buy now £64.95, Amazon
The Garden Coffee Table Book Stack
This lovely garden and design-themed coffee table book stack contains both vintage and new copies of Fridays From the Garden Cookbook, A Kind of Magic: The Kaleidoscopic World of Luke Edward Hall and On the Necessity of Gardening: An ABC of Art, Botany and Cultivation – all of which have been hand-sourced by Kelly Croteau.
Buy now £309.00, The Go-To
Qwetch 850ml Insulated Stainless Steel Lunch Box
This extra-large cylindrical lunchbox has an insulated design which keeps food warm for up to five hours, or cool for up to seven. Produced by a B-Corp-certified company and made with premium food-grade stainless steel, it’s a brilliant commuter’s accessory.
Buy now £39.00, Green Tulip
Recycled Newspaper Coaster Set of Six
Uber chic and sustainable, these brightly coloured coasters are made with 100 per cent recycled newspaper. A set of six coasters comes in its very own sleek woven holder and is delivered by a small business located in the UK.
Buy now £12.95, Etsy
Ebworth Ash Curved Wooden Stool
The National Trust and Sylva Foundation have joined forces for a third year to create a series of beautiful furniture items crafted from ash timber felled from dieback on the National Trust’s Ebworth Estate in the Cotswolds. We love the gentle curve of this four-legged stool, which would make a beautiful addition to a calm, neutral-toned living space.
Buy now £175.00, The National Trust
Heyland & Whittle Relaxing Lavender Gift Set
Filled to the brim with wonderfully aromatic lavender and rose, this lovely giftset by Heyland & whittle contains two natural soaps and a rosebud-infused bath bomb for ultimate relaxation and self-love.
Buy now £19.99, Ethical Superstore
Isla De Gar Antique White Heart Hair Scrunchie
The most adorable addition to any festive slicked-back bun, Isla De Gar specialises in lovingly handcrafted accessories which embrace the slow fashion movement. It’s crafted from satin ribbon and measures roughly 15cm in diameter.
Buy now £35.00, Koibird
Edrae Ischia Apple Watch Strap
Imbued with a colour palette inspired by the Mediterranean islands, this Apple watch strap has been sustainably crafted from acetate. Effortlessly stylish and unique, it makes a fantastic gift for smartwatch lovers who don’t want to compromise their high-fashion outfits.
Buy now £63.00, The Go-To
Heist Studios The Sixty Opaque Tights
Highly saturated, opaque and eco-friendly, The Sixty tights by sustainable hosiery brand Heist feature a hand-sewn adaptive waistband and are made from soft, recycled yarn. Though they’re available in 13 different colours, we love the festive mauve wine hue.
Buy now £34.00, Heist
Octavia Rose Gold Pearl Letter Earrings
Octavia Rose specialises in slow-production jewellery, creating limited runs of even their most popular pieces to prevent waste. These dainty, pearlescent and hand-crafted letter earrings are inspired by the jewellery of Anne Boleyn and would make a luxurious gift for the queen in your life.
Buy now £150.00, The Go-To
Little Northern Soaphouse Ramblers’ Soap
A brilliant little zero-waste gift for the happy camper in your life, this portable tin contains luxurious handmade soap pieces by the Little Northern Soaphouse. Each tin contains roughly 45g of soap, or approximately 30 pieces. All the technicolour soaps are palm oil-free and are gently and naturally fragranced.
Buy now £4.00, Esty
Pukka Herbs Luxury Tea Selection
Dedicated to crafting delicious organic teas since 2001, Pukka is a fan-favourite among herbalists for a reason. This luxury selection box features a whopping 90 sachets of six delicious flavours which have been designed to create blissful, meditative moments throughout the day.
Buy now £29.99, Amazon
Santoku Knife – Maldon
This gorgeous kitchen knife features a blade handmade by Goto in Seki, Japan and an octagonal handle made out of Maldon Sea Salt’s waste plastic. A veritable treat for any culinary enthusiast.
Buy now £120.00, Allday Goods
Aeropress Go Coffee Maker
Best for: portable coffee-making
Aeropress is literally a game-changing brand, having won the hearts of at-home coffee connoisseurs and professional baristas alike with its simple-yet-clever pressure-extraction inventiveness. The OG Aeropress was a revelation for espresso-enjoyers without access to professional barista equipment – and the Aeropress Go is a revelation for those that can’t access said equipment for being in the middle of nowhere.
The Aeropress Go iterates slightly on the near-timeless design of the original, shrinking it down a tad to make it more travel-friendly. The Go comes with a smart red-lidded travel case, which also doubles as a mug! This is an all-in-one solution for outdoors coffee-making, and a god-send for campers trying desperately to keep their campsite tidy.
Buy now £40.37, Amazon
Tender Vol. I by Nigel Slater
It’s a wonder that Slater has been able to consistently produce 500-page cookbooks filled with mouth-watering and exciting recipes throughout his busy career. If you’re able to get your hands on both volumes of his renowned Tender series, prepare for a life-changing lesson on slow, sustainable farm-to-table cooking. The first book delineates Slater’s blooming relationship with his vegetable patch, while the second is focused on fruits. Both contain over 400 recipes each.
Buy now £24.93, Amazon
Toast Hand Quilted Velvet Throw
Available in an array of neutral, autumnal hues, this hand-quilted velvet throw blanket has a weighty, luxuriously soft finish. Though born towards the end of summer, Virgos thrive in cosy environments, and an opulent throw blanket is sure to help them relax and unwind as the mercury begins to drop.
Buy now £260.00, Toast
Dr Martens Sinclair Vegan Platform Boots
The cult-favourite platform Sinclair boot by Dr Martens is finally available in eco-conscious vegan leather. Hurrah! The stylish, modern-goth staple gives a fair few inches of extra height while retaining a sleek, zippered silhouette.
Buy now £190.00, Dr Martens
Weleda Skin Food Top to Toe Gift Set
Luxuriously moisturising, Weleda’s Skin Food range may be budget-friendly, but it’s a celebrity favourite - with stars like Andrew Garfield toting their love for the brand’s nourishing and sustainable selection of goods. This fabulous top-to-toe gift set includes a rich moisturiser for extremely dry skin, a lighter moisturiser for in-between skin and a lovely little lip balm to use on the go.
Buy now £20.00, Amazon
