Eco Conscious Christmas Gifts
Christmas is a time of giving, but now more than ever, it is important to make a conscious decision to purchase eco-friendly and sustainable gifts this festive season. The impact that our ‘throwaway culture’ has on the planet is profound. Taking the time to consider what we buy, what it has been made from and where it has been made, are hugely important. With all of this in mind, here is a roundup of our favourite items from wonderful eco-conscious brands.
Farm Soap Co. – Pine Hair & Body Soap
Farm Soap Co. botanical soaps are handmade in small batches in Dorset, using traditional artisan methods. Not only are all their products vegan and cruelty free, the herbs and flowers used, are grown from their organic walled garden. The Dorset Sea Salt and seaweeds used are foraged from the shores of the Jurassic Coast. Their fragrances are delicate and contain no synthetic chemicals. We particularly love the Pine Hair and body soap, scented with Siberian pine needles which are known to soothe skin conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. The perfect stocking filler!
Eren Armitage - Matte White Hand Carved Mug
Sipping a hot drink from a well-crafted mug is one of our favourite forms of self-care. Embracing the Scandi notion of Hygge gives you time to relax and reflect, appreciating the simple things in life. Eren Armitage’s ceramics are handmade with great care and attention to detail. Eren carefully selects locally sourced materials for her creations and fires them in her home studio. Her hand carved mugs are adorned with a delicate tactile design and the matte white glaze resembles snow. Offering both comfort and functionality, you would not only be gifting a vessel for beverages, but also an embodiment of craftsmanship and a connection to the Earth. It is a reminder that every day rituals can be extraordinary.
We couldn’t create a Christmas gift list without including a Wheat Bag. Wheat Bags are an essential tool in dealing with natural pain relief and provide comforting warmth for those chilly Winter nights – just pop it in the microwave. They are large enough to fit across an aching back or shoulders or even nestle one into a bed before you climb in. Our product packaging is 100% recycled and free from plastic. We know that Christmas is a busy time of year, so we offer a gift-wrapping service to save you time.
Selwyn House – Oak Candlestick
Firm favourites of ours, Selwyn House make pieces exclusively from trees that have grown in Britain and most wood is purchased from small independent sawmills. Seamlessly blending eco-conscious practises with aesthetically pleasing design, their Oak Candlesticks are made from offcuts from their larger pieces. We think they would make a beautiful gift and are the perfect addition to any Scandi-inspired home.
Luxurious pyjamas are always such a treat this time of year, and as we spend a third of our lives asleep, pyjamas make a lovely gift. With a background in illustration, Eloise Jephson’s prints are all hand-drawn before being printed in Worcestershire onto 100% silk satin. The process of creating each piece is kept entirely local in the UK and keeps the environmental impact to a minimum. Drawing on the mythological, the zodiac and the curiosities of the natural world, her pyjamas and accessories are thoughtful and playful. If you are looking for a very special gift this Christmas, then you can’t go wrong with a silky robe.
There’s something so calming and ritualistic about the lighting of a good candle. The ‘Wood’ candle by Homework reminds us of walking through the forests in Sweden, with the crunch of the twigs beneath our feet and the fresh heady scent of pine. The candles are created in small batches, use responsibly sourced ingredients and encourage people to reuse their jars and even offer to recycle them. What’s not to like?! As an added bonus, they are also members of the 1% For The Planet, in which they donate 1% of their annual sales to environmental causes.
Kathryn Davey – Natural Dyeing Book
For those of you unfamiliar with Kathryn Davey, she is a master natural dyer, designer and author based in Dublin. After building a successful natural dye company, Kathryn has now switched her focus to teaching this traditional art. She believes in connecting with the abundant beauty of nature, learning the plants and the range of colours they provide, and now seeks to teach others. She runs numerous courses (which would be a lovely gift in itself), but the next best thing is her beautiful book ‘Natural Dyeing’. The book takes you through then entire process from start to finish and is full of inspiring images and detailed instructions.
The Arboretum is a creative design studio based in rural Sussex that focuses on making small but beautiful formed trees. These fun little home ornaments would make an adorable stocking filler or even a Scandi-style addition to your Christmas décor. Each tree is unique and celebrates the natural beauty of timber.
Blästa Henriët – Linen Wash Bag
Finding a gift with purpose can be hard but look no further - not only are our linen wash bags highly practical, but we also think they are rather beautiful. Available in 2 sizes and 3 colourways, you are spoilt for choice. With sustainability at our core, our wash bags are made entirely from European linen and printed with water-based non-toxic ink in Staffordshire. Unlike many wash bags that can be hard to clean, ours can be thrown in the wash for a refresh – in fact we think the linen gets better!
Photo credit: Brenda Rosete @dook_soap
We have always been huge fans on Dook’s salt soap, so when we found out that they had created a powdered face mask made with clays and potent skin-loving botanicals, we were delighted. The Balancing Face Mask is made from premium ingredients, including French green clay, spirulina, Vitamin B and Rosemary essential oil. The scent is fresh and uplifting and the end result leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth. Everything is made in small batches in their small Edinburgh workshop, and as an eco-conscious gold star, the packaging is beautiful and 100% plastic free.
Wax Atelier – Bundle of Candles
Brighten up someone’s day by gifting a bundle of hand-dipped candles from Wax Atelier. The cosy flickering of dinner candles on a Winter’s evening is magical enough to entice you to not only buy as a gift, but for yourself too! Available in a variety of colours, Wax Atelier specialises in handmade, sustainable wax products, made in London. Sustainability is at the core of their brand ethos, and they source most of their materials locally. The candles are produced in small batches, using environmentally low-impact processes.
Jess Wheeler - Brass & Freshwater Pearl Mistletoe
It is impossible not to be impressed by the delicacy and beauty of Jess Wheeler’s work. Her cross disciplinary approach has a nostalgic, nature driven narrative and perfectly captures the beauty and fragility of our natural world. Importantly, Jess’ pieces have a conscience. Each piece is carefully handmade by Jess and her team in her workshop in rural Wales, making each piece organically unique. They are heirloom pieces that celebrate traditional craftsmanship – such as this stunning brass & freshwater pearl mistletoe, to be hung with pride Christmas after Christmas. Made using hand cut shapes from recycled brass and sustainably sourced freshwater pearls.
Everyone has that person on their Christmas list that they are never sure what to buy, but we have the answer - gloves! And not just any gloves; Rove gloves. These 100% wool gloves combine luxury and functionality and are available in sizes suitable for men and women. Made from 100% merino lamb’s wool, spun and dyed in Kinross, Scotland, the wool is ethically sourced from farms that do not practice mulesing. They also send all orders in grass paper bags which are both recyclable and home compostable.
Fine Cell Work – Utility Range Apron
An essential gift for a budding baker or culinary whiz, this linen utility apron by Fine Cell work is sure to be a hit. The linen for the aprons has been generously donated by de Le Cuona, who share a passion for creating products from sustainable materials, all while serving a social purpose. However, the linen is not the only thing to love about this apron; the double strap design makes it easy to slip on and off, but even more than that, the sale of this apron helps to transform the lives of prisoners and prison leavers. Fine Cell Work is a charity and social enterprise committed to the rehabilitation of prisoners. Their aim is to support and encourage them to finish their sentences with work skills, money earned and the self-belief to rebuild meaningful crime-free lives.
