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Our ethical Christmas gift guide

Kim Gregory

For Christmas gifts that won't sit on your conscience, check out our ethical gift guide, packed with brands that care about the environment, animals, sustainability, charitable giving and people over profit

Exclusive | 4 min read

Give ethical gifts this Christmas to those you love whilst supporting mindful companies that are doing something great. From CEOs that donate profits to charity, founders taking care of the environment or getting serious on sustainability, here's our list of ethical brands with great ideas to fill stockings, place under the tree or enjoy over the festive period.

Organised by your loved ones’ interests to inspire your Christmas shopping, we hope you’ll find some goodies that are a perfect fit.

*Some items were sent to us for review. We haven’t included the ones we don’t rate

For the one who loves sustainable fashion

Origin is the UK’s first 100 percent not-for-profit sustainable fashion brand. We love the new sustainable t-shirt and stud sets (£49.50), plus their card game Super Sapiens (£25). Children and adult fashion ranges are available and Origin are offering free Christmas delivery. Allow three days for arrival, though some handmade items will take around two weeks.

For the impossible-to-buy-for one

Scottish Made produce quality products made from sustainable Scottish wood and stainless steel. They have a range of gifts but our favourites are the oak serving platters engraved with ducks (RRP £36) and the ‘Gin is my tonic’ engraved oak bottle openers (RRP £16). Delivery costs £4.99 or free for orders over £45, and usually takes 1-2 working days. 

For parents embracing diversity and empowerment

Beautiful Box Of You

A perfect keepsake with an important message from Philly and Friends, a brand born of a desire to see children of all races represented. We love their Beautiful Box Of You (£17.99) 35 affirmation cards to help instil confidence and empower children. The front of the cards carry sweet quotes (‘I am wonderfully me’), while the backs contain affirmations for parents or guardians to read to the child (‘you are as fierce as a lion’). They come in a lovely box so it’s a perfect gift to keep and enjoy for years to come. UK orders take 2-5 days. 

We love it because… for each book sold by this brand, the company puts a free book into the hands of an underprivileged child. 

For the vegan in your life

We adore this vegan cheezeboard from Ilchester, makers of the world’s best-selling cheeze advent calendar. At just £6, it includes Melting Mature Cheddar, Blue Cheez, Mexicana Vegan Spicy Cheeze and its award-winning smoky Applewood. It’s stocked in Waitrose, Asda and Sainsbury’s and is available to buy on the supermarkets’ online shopping sites.

Tyne Chease

For the one who loves nail glam

A lovely set of three nail colours from 516 Polish, including a gel shine top coat and a nail file for £32 (and £4.10 delivery).

There are over 40 colours of varnish to choose from in these customisable gift sets.

You can also pick up single pots of normal varnish from £5, gel colours from £10 and nail care accessories from £5, UV lamps (£30) and manicure trios for £15.

We love it because… all items are PETA certified, vegan, cruelty-free and non-toxic.

The brand is also the UK’s first indie nail polish brand championing ‘swatch diversity’ which means actively creating inspiration and more visual representation for people with deeper skin tones through inclusive imagery. 

For the one who loathes paper straws

A perfect stocking filler from The Silicon Straw Co., these reusable straws are vegan, child-friendly, dishwasher-safe and come with a handy cleaning brush.

Sets of six are available in pretty packaging and varying colours including rainbow for the kids (£10), or a Family Travel Tin Set with 8 straws folded into lovely little tins for easy access (£25).

We love it because… it was created by eco-conscious mum, Charlotte Walsh, who wanted to help cut down plastic use and leave a better world for her children.

For the one who loves being pampered

Place a square or two of these Seka Candles rose and geranium wax melt bars in your normal burner over an unscented tea light to fill your home with a gorgeous, calming aroma. The brand also has a special Christmas orange and cinnamon candle - but hurry, the festive wax bar version has already sold out. Prices start from £5.99.

For the jewellery lovers

If your loved one adores sea-life, they need to know about Honu’s ocean inspired jewellery, which has a range of sea-themed necklaces, bracelets and rings. The Tiny Sea Turtle Ring in Sterling Silver (£20) is our favourite.

Free worldwide shipping for orders over £35. Allow seven working days for UK delivery, and 15 for international. You can also pay in monthly instalments using Klarna and Clearpay.

We love it because… for every Honu purchase, the company donates a portion of the proceeds to the Sea Turtle Conservancy.

Plus, these beautiful pieces are recyclable and come in plastic-free packaging.

For the ones interested in mental wellbeing

Written by specialist men’s health author Jim Pollard, the Men’s Health Manual (£12.99) is packed full of realistic, practical and easy-to-follow advice for men on mental and physical wellness. It focuses on recognising problems and acting on them with tips on staying active, eating well and staying well. Delivery is £2.99 with next-day dispatch. 

We love it because… it’s the first men’s health book built on the foundation of mental health and wellbeing, with 25p from each copy sold going to the Men’s Health Forum charity.

We also love Forest Bathing, by Sarah Devos and Katriina Kilpi.

*Shop both now at Haynes

For eco-conscious families

These beautifully soft bamboo and cotton socks for babies (£15 for a box of 4, aged 6-12 months) can be used as hand puppets when babes have outgrown them - and let’s face it, that’ll be in the blink of an eye. The box itself has a colour-me-in backdrop - perfect for the kiddos who are more interested in the boxes than the presents under the tree.

The Critically Endangered Socks baby range was launched in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature and the business aims to protect critically endangered animals by raising awareness (we love the founder’s story) and leading the way for sustainable fashion. Delivery costs £1.50. More stock will be added at the end of November. 

We love it because… the quality socks are built to last so they have a long-life and low environmental impact, are made with sustainable materials, and support a number of charities including WWF (UK), Friends of the National Parks Foundation, International Elephant Foundation, Wildcats Conservation Alliance, Oceanic Society, and the Whales and Dolphin Conservation.

For the one who loves a fancy cuppa

Make that special person’s cuppa even more calming with this gift set from Rose and Dragon that pairs three flavoured teas with mindfulness cards and at-home tea meditation. The December box combines festive flavours that are indulgent yet healthy: ‘Fireside Feelings’ (black tea with cocoa, almond and spices), ‘Cranberry Mimosa’ (white tea, green tea and dried cranberry) and ‘Winter Wonderland’ (coconut tea with fruit pieces and spices).

A one-off box costs £20, a subscription box for a month costs £16.99 (14p a cup), three months will set you back £54, six months at £105 and 12 months at £200.

We love it because… the brand encourages positive mental wellbeing and their teas are ethically sourced and sustainable, with packaging made from plants or recycled materials.

For the puzzle loving adventurers

Stories are more than fairytales and castles. With this vibrant jigsaw puzzle, you can teach your little adventurer stories of heroic women throughout history: activists, scientists, queens, artists and sporting champions, from Ada Lovelace to Serena Williams. For ages 5+, the 100 piece Rebel Girls jigsaw puzzle is gorgeous and only £10.50.

We also love the circular Rainbow jigsaw puzzle, celebrating all the heroes helping us through Covid-19 this year from nurses to Captain Tom Moore.

Standard delivery is £2.95 and takes 3-5 working days. 

We love it because… these puzzles are educational, inspiring, diverse and empowering for kids. Also, £2 from each Heroes jigsaw sold will go to The Samaritans. Plus, the boards are made from 100 percent recyclable material.

For kids who love to build

Help your little one reach for the stars with this beautifully crafted wooden rocket ship (£99.95 and free delivery to UK mainland) from Hippychick. Inside, there are 12 differently themed rooms, from operation stations to laboratories, to set imaginations alight.

The ship opens and closes with solid wooden screws and a screwdriver so children can build dexterity and fine motor skills, combining construction and role play into one. This product is on the pricier end, but there are cheaper wood based toys available too, including a cute stacking rainbow (£39.95). Free delivery to UK Mainland. 

We love it because… the toys are made from sustainable wood, toxin-free paints, and encourage imaginative play. Great for getting kids to ditch screen-time. We also love that this business started on the dining table of the founder, Julia Minchin.

For the happy campers and hikers

Is there anything worse than a flask that won’t keep your drink warm, or leaks everywhere? We absolutely love the Ohelo Insulated Stainless Steel Tumbler (£30). It has some sort of magical wizardry that keeps your drink steaming hot for absolutely HOURS and doesn’t leak.

We really rate the non-spill lid and the way the twist-to-drink functions so you can sip a drink whilst laying down from any angle. Our founder suffers chronic pain and spends hours working on Lacuna Voices whilst laying on her side. Having a cup she can drink out of without having to sit up is a dream.

For knowledge-hungry teens

For the outdoorsy types

These comfy fleeces and jumpers aren’t any old dad jumpers. Sherpa’s Adventure Gear Rukum Yak Sweater (£180) is made using yak hair collected by hand during yak moulting season in Nepal.

That makes it strong, light and sustainable. We also love the women’s Kohima Sweater (£75), the men’s Bodhi hat (£30) and the unisex Jhola bag (30).

Free UK delivery usually takes around five days.

We love it because… one per cent of revenue from the yak fibre clothing financially supports herders in Nepal with health and education programmes. With every item you buy, the company provides one day of schooling for a Nepalese child.

For the yogis

Spice things up for the yoga-lover with these eco-friendly, recyclable yoga and Pilates DIYogi mats that can be written or drawn on using markers. Colouring is a popular mindfulness trend so adding this activity to exercise can make for even more relaxation. Priced at £89, they offer free UK shipping in 1-2 days.

We love it because… with each mat sold, DIYogi donates £1 to Clear Blue Seas, a non-profit organisation working to remove high quantities of plastic from our oceans without affecting marine wildlife. In recent months, they’ve donated five per cent of profits to the World Health Organisation in their ongoing efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

For the home-birds

Luxury homeware brand Adriana Homewares describes itself as having ‘big dreams and a big heart’. Each product - including scarves, cushions and throws - is sustainably produced in Yorkshire ‘from fleece to finished product’. Prices start from £25 with mum and kiddo matching scarves, but our favourite is the Raspberry Rydale Scatter Cushion (£85). Free UK delivery in 5-7 days.

We love it because… it’s local, sustainable, handmade and beautiful. What’s not to love?  

Shop now at Adriana Homewares

For the chronically ill loved one

Hurry! Almost sold out!
These Spoonie Survival Kits are for people living with chronic illnesses to remind them that they’re not alone and someone is thinking of them.

The contents are a secret but our chronic pain suffering founder has had eyes on them and reckons they’re fab. Information on contents for the insomnia, chronic pain, self-care and chronic fatigue bags can be requested via the website. You can also purchase a sterling silver spoonie necklace for £14.99.

For the tree lovers

Tentree has a strong, deep-rooted passion to support the planet and local communities. This gorgeous tree range of soft Merino wool Juniper mittens are made ethically and priced at £29.95 a pair. The Juniper Beanie is made from four recycled water bottles and Merino wool (£34.95). Standard delivery is 3-5 working days (£3.95) and orders for Christmas must be placed before Friday 18th December. 

For the skincare fans

Consciously Pamper Box 

This pamper box of six quality goodies including luxurious soap, lip scrub and hand cream. All products are natural and plant-based. From Conscious House London, the gift box costs £38 and standard delivery is £1.50. 



Merry Christmas from us! Wishing you all a happy, healthy, pandemic-free 2021 xx

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