The Sustainable gift guide UK

Wearing a jacket and t-shirt from the B Kinda preloved clothing subscription

Now more than ever we need to support small, local and independent businesses, as well as ones that give back or leave less of an impact. As consumers, we can choose how and where to spend our money and while big chain stores cannot always be avoided we can try and balance our purchases with ethical ones as much as possible. There are such creative makers, designers and artists and shopping small often means being able to gift loved ones with something more unique than you would find on the high street.

So I thought I would put together a few sustainable gift ideas for Christmas.

1. A beautiful Lunar Calendar from Luna and Fern, a small UK independent that focuses on mindful living and sells an array of beautifully created gifts including this gorgeous print which is made using eco-friendly prints and compostable packaging and all purchases also support ocean conservation.

2. For the fashion lovers in your life a one-off box or even a monthly subscription from B Kinda Clothing is a great option. Their preloved mystery boxes which consist of 4 items cost £20.95 per box and is a great way to directly support circular fashion and another bonus is all profits go to charity.


3. Marvling Bros make these cute matchbox gifts are perfect for stockings and there is so much choice you are sure to find something that will put a smile on your loved ones' faces. This UK indy was founded by to best friends and has gone from strength to strength. All the matchboxes are recyclable, biodegradable and postman-proof.


4. In times like these we all need a bit of positivity which is why these Positive Affirmation Cards from Colourfulness Cards are a great option. They are made and printed in the UK and are plastic-free, use sustainably sourced materials and are fully recyclable.

 

5. I have been using AKT London deodorant balm for the past two months and love it, not only does it work really well but they are also vegan, cruelty-free, gender-free and plastic-free and gets the thumbs up from me.

 

6. Identity Lingerie makes some beautiful and sustainable nightwear and lingerie including these stunning green silk pyjamas. This UK family-run business is all about slow fashion, small batches and zero-waste practices. A portion of their profits is contributed to aid Ukraine and its citizens.

7. For anyone who loves the outdoors do check out Passenger clothing. This UK brand has grown but is still committed to planting a tree with every purchase and the majority of their clothing is made from sustainable materials such as recycled cotton and hemp and they are also patrons of The Rainforest Trust.

8. The Queer Emporium in Cardiff showcases over 20 local lgbtq+ makers and creatives and is now stocking some items online which means you can support this local indy even when you can't make it to the store.

 

9. Ucon Acrobatics is an indy based in Berlin which creates things like crossbody bags using ecological recycled PET fabric and is vegan and a certified B-corp.

 

10. For those who struggle to find a decent alternative to the heavily chemical-filled nail varnishes out there, Earthy Nail polish is just that, a fantastic alternative. It's plant-based, vegan and cruelty-free nail varnish from the UK and they have also recently replaced their plastic caps with bamboo ones, you can also send back empty bottles which will be cleaned and reused.

 

11. The Cotswold Eco Company is a fantastic one-stop shop for carefully curated eco-conscious gifts and goodies and I my reusable handmade beeswax wraps I picked up from here - such a pretty and practical gift.

 

12. St. Eval Candles, a family-owned business based on a farm in Cornwall makes beautiful sustainably crafted candles which smell divine and would be a wonderful gift for any loved one.

13. Mixbook is a great way to share your travel memories or create a family keepsake for yourself, children or grandparents and get those photos of your phone in to print. The photobooks are easy to make and are printed on paper that is ethically sourced from sustainable forests and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and the Rainforest Alliance. Mixbook has Up to 45% Off + Half Off Standard Shipping at Mixbook with Code FEBSAVE Ends: 02/05

14. Wonderbooks by Save the Children. Save the Children has started a lovely monthly book subscription for £9 per month your child can receive a beautifully illustrated book and discover how children around the world live while supporting Save the Children charity.

 

15. Oxfam Unwrapped is a range of charity gifts that give back such as clean water to training women farmers. You get a lovely card for your loved on to open while knowing important funds have been donated to Oxfam's ongoing work worldwide.

* Disclaimer - some items had been sent to me to review, others I have bought myself - I have not been paid for this post and all my words are my own and these are my personal recommendations.