We've spent some time creating this eco gift guide, containing the best eco-friendly gifts that are either fairly traded, ethically made, recycled, vegan, cruelty free or which support conservation or green causes.
The term 'eco-friendly' is a tricky one to navigate these days. A recent survey by Deloitte found that 34% of us are now choosing to buy from brands that have environmentally sustainable practices or values.
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With brands rushing to scrape together the greenest elements of their businesses and put them at the fore of their marketing, greenwashing has increased – with 40% of companies making misleading sustainability claims. Whoever you're buying for, here’s our guide to the best eco-friendly gifts that are proven to be sustainable, and that we would trust to purchase.
The best eco-friendly gifts to buy for Christmas 2024
Let's do better for our wonderful planet we call home.
Eco-friendly gifts for him & her
Fjällräven Övik Knit Sweater
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This beautiful Fair Isle patterned wool jumper from Swedish brand Fjällräven is extremely warm and makes a perfect mid-layer garment. And when your great-grandchildren decide it's become too shabby to wear, it's fully biodegradable as well.
The wool it uses to produce this jumper is traceable and in line with the brand's animal welfare standards – which means that horrible practices such as 'mulesing' are completely ruled out. In fact, Fjällräven has a 'wool promise' that spells out the measures it's taking, as well as a 'down promise' that relates to the feathers used in its winter down jackets.
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Yeti Rambler Mug
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A smart reusable bottle mug makes a thoughtful gift, and having a few spare options to grab as you leave the house or keep in your bag or car is always handy. We've tested lots of the best travel mugs to buy, and the Yeti Rambler came out as one of our favourites, keeping drinks hot or cold for hours.
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Matt Sewell Bobble Hat, Twite
Buy now: from Ethical Superstore (£36)
Show your support for endangered birds by donning this merino wool Twite bobble hat, a proud member of Silverstick's Matt Sewell + Silverstick collection. The vibrant colors of this hat are inspired by the well known artist and illustrator's artwork of the Twite, an endangered UK bird on the red list.
Plus, 10% of the proceeds from this product contribute to Wildcard, a grassroots environmental conservation organization dedicated to rewilding Britain.
Buy now: from Ethical Superstore (£36)
Safety Razor Shaving Set, Aloe Vera
Buy now: from Friendly Turtle (£31.99)
This comprehensive shaving set includes a safety razor, shaving soap bar, a shaving brush, and 5 complimentary razor blades, all of which boast sustainable credentials. For example, the safety razor, crafted from stainless steel, can be recycled in household collections and as it's only the blades that need replacing, it avoids the problem of discarding the entire razor.
The handmade Aloe Vera shaving soap is formulated for sensitive skin using all-natural, ethically sourced ingredients, and is packaged in recyclable, plastic-free materials.
Buy now: from Friendly Turtle (£31.99)
Eco-friendly gifts for homemakers
Liga Beach Clean Round Coaster Set of 4
Buy now: from Heal's (£15)
These colourful coasters and placemats are made from recycled EVA plastics and eco-friendly cork, and a percentage of sales goes to Sea-Changers, a UK Marine Conservation charity.
Buy now: from Heal's (£15)
Organic Kitchen Towel & Wash Cloths, Ocean Set
Buy now: from Friendly Turtle (£26)
We love this eco-conscious gift set crafted from GOTS certified organic cotton, which includes a kitchen towel and two washcloths in soothing shades.
Buy now: from Friendly Turtle (£26)
Helen Round Reusable Bread Bag
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A must-have for home bakers and bread enthusiasts, this versatile linen bread bag offers an eco-friendly alternative to single-use packaging. Not only does it keep your bread fresh, but you can also roll it down to create a charming breadbasket for serving at the table.
A 100% linen bag with a natural cotton tie, it's hand-printed in Cornwall using water-based inks.It also washes easity at 30 degrees.
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Pott Speckle Stoneware Scented Candle
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Handcrafted in the UK, Potts candles have great eco-friendly credentials as well as a range of deliciously scented candles, such as Tonka, Orangery and Eucalyptus.
The Potts are hand-thrown by skilled potters across the UK, and the meticulously blended and hand-poured candles, feature natural rapeseed and coconut wax and 100% natural essential oils The refills are sold separately, so there's no need to buy new plastic or glass holders.
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Sustainable Home by Christine Liu
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Discover a wealth of eco-friendly insights in this guidebook crafted by sustainable lifestyle blogger and professional, Christine Liu.
With practical tips and projects tailored for every room in the home, the book explains how to lead a low-impact lifestyle, offering solutions like crafting your own toothpaste, transitioning to renewable energy providers, and curbing plastic use. We love that the book uses responsibly sourced paper, too.
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RSPB Christmas Chorus Recycled Crackers with Chocolate (Box of 6)
Buy now: from RSPB (£18)
Bring a touch of colour to your festive table with these eco-friendly crackers made from recycled wrapping paper.
Each cracker includes a tasty organic-chocolate bird, a paper hat and, of course, a joke. Every element is fully recyclable, including the box, and of course, your money will go towards the RSPB.
Buy now: from RSPB (£18)
Eco-friendly gifts for green-fingered family and friends
National Trust Membership
Buy now: from National Trust (from £45.60 a year)
A National Trust membership makes a lovely gift. Not only are you investing in the conservation of wildlife and historic sites, but you also get free access to over 500 fascinating places, plus free parking at most of the car parks.
Buy now: from National Trust (from £45.60 a year)
Simon King Brushwood Robin Nester
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Robins are famous for nesting in unlikely places, such as in boots and hanging baskets, and under car bonnets. Make their lives a little easier with this open-fronted nester, designed by naturalist Simon King just for the resourceful birds.
Hide it in any foliage where the robin will feel safe, and you may be lucky enough to see a clutch of 4-6 eggs in the spring.
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Ripple Effect Garden Together, Twin A Garden
Buy now: from Ripple Effect (£60)
Twin your garden with Ripple Effect and your donation of £60 could help a family living in rural Migori, Kenya, with three years training in sustainable organic farming.
Starting with small kitchen gardens, twinning a garden will enable families to grow enough to eat, set up small businesses, send their children to school and go after their dreams.
Buy now: from Ripple Effect (£60)
National Trust CJ Wildlife Glamis Bat Box
Buy now: from National Trust (£14)
Gardens and green spaces are important territory for bats, and putting up a bat box gives them a safe place to roost and raise their young. This is vitally important as loss of habitat and exclusion from new developments means they are running out of roosting spots and their numbers are under threat.
The National Trust Glamis Bat Box features the expertly designed easy entry point and a grooved ladder entrance.
Buy now: from National Trust (£14)
Beevive Revival Kit
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We've all been there. There's a bee in front of you on the ground, too tired to fly away and there are no flowers around to place it onto so it can fuel up again.
Enter the rather genius little Bee Revival Kit - a tiny aluminium tube that holds a small glass vial containing sugar syrup, used to help bees in distress. It comes in either black or gold, with a keyring attachment, and makes a gorgeous stocking filler for the naturalist in your life.
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Ocean Plastic Pots Flower Pots and Saucers
Buy now: from Ocean Plastic Pots (£20)
Ocean Plastic Pots, founded in 2020 by deep sea diver Ally Mitchell after years of commercial diving in plastic-polluted waters around the world, and seeing first-hand the devastating effects of plastic in the seas, produces a gorgeous range of eco pots.
Having taught himself basic manufacturing, Mitchell began to scour his local beaches for discarded plastic, fishing nets and rope to make flower pots, which he sold at a local food market in Edinburgh before it took off and increased to a national scale. Ocean Plastic Pots won the RHS Chelsea Sustainable Garden Product of the Year 2021.
Buy now: from Ocean Plastic Pots (£20)
39 Ways To Save The Planet by Tom Heap
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Based on the Royal Geographical Society’s BBC Radio 4 series of the same name, Tom Heap’s book looks at a whole range of original and practical notions for slowing global warming. Covering everything from energy, nature, farming and society to transport, buildings, industry and waste, each carbon-busting idea also comes with its own list of fringe benefits such as cleaner air, improved animal welfare and job provision.
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Eco gift ideas for foodies
The Sustainable Christmas Box
Buy now: from Social Stories Club (£48)
This holiday gift includes thoughtfully sourced treats from a range of artisan makers. It also comes with a booklet containing the inspiring stories behind the product: For example, the handcrafting of chocolate truffles by formerly incarcerated women and the creation of organic soap by a group of talented artists with disabilities, traditional farmhouse cheese biscuits made entirely from renewable energy and dark chocolate with orange, which contributes to reforestation projects and uses innovative packaging to reduce waste.
Buy now: from Social Stories Club (£48)
RISE Coffee Gift Subscription Box
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Coffee gurus RISE are revolutionizing the coffee industry and setting new standards for a more responsible approach to sourcing exceptional coffee – they believe that the pursuit of great-tasting coffee should never come at the expense of people or the planet.
This gift box is the perfect idea for the coffee enthusiast in your life, and you can either buy it as a one-off present, or as a subscription. Recipients receive 2 x 250g bags of freshly roasted, ethically sourced coffee, the inspiring origin stories behind the coffee and a personalised gift message. And all this comes in an eco-friendly, sustainably sourced and recyclable packaging.
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Beeble Honey Whisky
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Beeble, specialists in artisan honey whisky, has crafted a delightful spirit with a simple recipe of honey, water, and whisky. With a commitment to sustainability, Beeble tends to more than 130 hives in Wiltshire, using their luscious English apple blossom honey to blend with Scotch whisky, resulting in a harmonious elixir bottled at 30% ABV.
Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt: Silky, floral honey sweetness alongside a touch of oak, cinnamon and a touch of dried fruit.
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Land Chocolate Mini Collection
Buy now: from Land (£13.90)
Discover the ultimate gift for chocolate aficionados with this mini collection of all 6 Land bars. Land are proud award-winning chocolate artisans, handmaking their chocolate in East London, with a meticulous 4-day process for each bar and a commitment to paying 3-4 times the fair-trade price to small-scale cocoa growers.
Buy now: from Land (£13.90)
The Less Waste No Fuss Kitchen by Lindsay Miles
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Our kitchens serve as the epicentre of our efforts to combat food waste, excessive packaging, and navigate complex ethical choices. The choices you make in your shopping, meal preparation, and consumption have a far more profound impact than the type of bag you use.
In her latest book, Lindsay Miles, renowned for her work on Treading My Own Path and Less Stuff, offers inspiration, practical solutions, and simple ideas, tailor-made for individuals leading busy lives who seek to introduce uncomplicated changes without overhauling their entire lifestyles.
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Eco-friendly gifts for furry friends
Beco Pets Rough & Tough Turtle Recycled Polyester Dog Toy
Buy now: from Pets at Home (£7)
An ideal playtime companion for your furry friend, this sturdy toy can endure vigorous chewing and wrestling, thanks to its double stitching and double layers, and it even features a playful squeaker inside.
Made from recycled materials, it gives waste a second chance at life and promoting responsible recycling practices.
Buy now: from Pets at Home (£7)
ECO Donut Shaped Fluffy Dog Bed by Oh H*ck
Buy now: from Etsy (£48 NOW £65)
These prize-winning donut beds claimed the top spot as the Best Dog Bed in PETA's Vegan Homeware Awards 2023 - not surprising as they are made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.
Perfect for pups with separation anxiety, the calming donut bed offers a snug and secure haven. With plush padding and luxurious vegan fur, it also guarantees comfort and temperature control for a restful slumber.
Buy now: from Etsy (£48 NOW £65)
And don't forget the sustainable wrapping options...
Furoshiki Wrapping Cloth
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Looing to gift wrap items in cloth gift wrap, or 'Furoshiki' as it is known in Japan? This year, it's more widely available than ever in the UK, so if this isn't quite the look you were after, check out our expert round up of the best reusable wrapping paper.
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But really, all you need is some spare fabric and a little tutorial on wrapping techniques. Here's one from Pointful Things.
Eco-friendly gifts mean a sustainable future
Eco-friendly gifts provide a meaningful way to show your love and care for both the recipient and the planet. By choosing sustainable presents, we can collectively make a positive impact on the world while celebrating special occasions with thoughtfulness and mindfulness.
For more environmentally responsible ideas, check out our guide to the best eco-friendly Christmas decorations, best eco-friendly outdoor kit and best eco-friendly beach games.
And, if you're looking for nature-themed ideas for children, check out our pick of the best gifts for kids, and we've also put together a guide to the best experience gifts and best subscriptions for gifting.
