The Best Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Gifts of 2020
Call Us Santa's Sustainable Shoppers! We Found the Best Eco-Friendly Gifts of 2020
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It's 2020, and shopping sustainably should be at the top of your to-do list, especially during the holiday season. With all the added waste that comes with excess packaging, overdone wrapping paper, and bows and ribbons of all kinds, it's only fair to do your part, as small as it may seem. When it comes to finding the perfect gift for a friend, colleague, or significant other, eco-friendly products are readily available, and less expensive than you might think. From vegan leather bags to clothes made with organic, ethically sourced cotton and wool, and all the green goodies in between, put your money where it matters this festive season and beyond.
Shop our favourite green gifts now!
— Additional reporting by Kara Kia, Sophia Panych, and Tori Crowther
Davines What a Nourishing Dream Gift Set
Davines is another B Corporation beauty brand, where sustainability is at its heart. The brand uses renewable and eco-sustainable sources only, manufacturing is done in compliance with eco-ethical standards, and Davines offices and manufacturing facilities are carbon neutral. If you want to gift a hair care routine that truly cares for the planet as much as it'll care for your hair, the Davines What a Nourishing Dream Gift Set (£40, available in Oct. at Liberty London) — which contains the Nounou Shampoo, Nounou Conditioner, and OI All In One Milk — is perfect.
Quinn the Fox Sundown Pencils Set
The whimsical Quinn the Fox Sundown Pencils Set (£10) not only look adorable, but they're actually good for the planet — made out of recycled CDs, putting excess aughts waste to good use.
All Birds Women's Wool Runners
The All Birds Women's Wool Runners (£95) feature laces that are made with plastic bottles and wool sourced from Merino sheep.
Wildsmith Skin Compostable Handwash and Lotion Duo
Not only do both formulas in the set feature the same comforting scent (a mix of linden blossom, chamomile, and cedarwood), but the packageing of the Wildsmith Skin Compostable Handwash and Lotion Duo (£50) is made from mycelium, which is compostable. Yes, really. What is mycelium you ask? It's the vegetative root structure of a mushroom — an organic material that is then grown around a mould to form a custom-sized, sturdy structure (like these bottles) to be used in place of plastic.
Wild Natural Deodorant
Transitioning to a more sustainable beauty routine involves reassessing every product you use regularly, and for many of us that definitely includes deodorant. Wild Natural Deodorant (£12 for a subscription starter pack, £25 for case and 3 refills, £32 for 5) not only creates gorgeous-scented aluminium-free formulas (we're currently obsessed Toffee Apple), but also has figured out a way to create a reusable tube that cuts down on plastic waste. Start off by buying your loved one (or yourself) one of the aluminium cases (available in aqua, purple, coral, and silver), along with a three or five deodorant refills depending on your budget (right now they come in five different scents). Then in the future, they can choose to buy refills as needed, or sign up for the company's subscription service.
As for how the actual deodourant works? Take a second to read our review of the formula itself.
Birdsong Gift Card
A Birdsong Gift Card (£25-£250) is a great choice if you're undecided on what to get.
Ethique Eco-Friendly Pinkalicious Shampoo Bar For Normal Hair
Small but mighty, this Ethique Eco-Friendly Pinkalicious Shampoo Bar For Normal Hair (£13) is the equivalent to three bottles of liquid shampoo.
Nanushka Jen Vegan Leather Clutch
HIGHR Collective Lipstick
The HIGHR Collective Lipstick (£22) collection sets the bar high for what it means to make sustainable cosmetics. Every aspect of the lipstick has been thought about in terms of sustainability and its affects on the environment, from its clean, vegan formula (they don't use any ingredient that can harm the environment or animals), to the packageing (which prioritises metal over plastic, and means the boxes are made entirely from recycled and biodegradable packageing and printed with vegetable and water inks).
In addition to being sustainable, the lipsticks themselves make great gifts simply because of how wearable the colours are (as well as how comfortable they feel). Choose from five user-friendly shades: Mercy (rosebud pink), Bravado (a cool, scarlet red), Truest (a blue-based medium pink), Chateau (a pinky beige), and Chiltern (a vibrant orange-red).
Nata Iris Candle
The beautiful Nata Iris (£14) candle will add some colour and style to your dresser or side table.
Dr Hauschka Daily Companions gift
Sustainability has always been important to Dr Hauschka. The brand uses 100 percent certified green electricity and has done for many years. The plants, oils, and waxes are collected from controlled organic cultivation and under fair trade conditions. And of course, all of the products are made from recycled materials. When it comes to festive sets, the Dr Hauschka Daily Companions Gift (£20) is a favourite for keeping skin hydrated this winter as set contains, a Lip Care Stick, Hydrating Hand Cream, and Hayflower Cleansing Lotion.
Stasher Reusable Silicone Food Bags
Stasher's reusable silicone food storage bags ensure you'll never need to buy plastic, single-use zip-seal bags again. Available in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and colours — like the Stasher Reusable Silicone Sandwich Bag (£14) shown here — you can use Stasher bags to transport food, store fruit and vegetables, freeze food, and even heat up leftovers in either the microwave or oven (yes, really).
Brother Vellies Brandy Boot in Midnight
This Brother Vellies Brandy Boot in Midnight (£624) would make a generous and chic gift.
Floral Street Fragrance Cracker
If you're on the hunt for your next sustainable fragrance, look no further than the beautiful Floral Street. The brand uses recyclable and biodegradable boxes, (which can be used as a seed tray for plants and herbs) and the body lotion tubes are made from sustainable sugar cane bioplastic, which is 100 percent recyclable. If that wasn't enough, the products are also vegan, cruelty-free, and contain sustainably-sourced ingredients. We love the Floral Street Fragrance Cracker (£24, available in Oct.) as the perfect mini scent discovery.
Contur Smooth Move Leggings
Buttery soft with the perfect amount of compression — not so tight that the seams leave an imprint, but not so loose that you feel exposed — the Contur Smooth Move Leggings (£59) come in a wide variety of bright and cheery colours, from basic black to an unexpected seafoam. But that's not all, they're also eco-friendly, made from a sustainable fabric that's a combination of ECONYL (repurposed nylons), ocean plastics, and recycled cotton.
Molton Brown x Loop
This year, Molton Brown partnered with Loop, a company offering refillable options for some of your favourite products with the aim of reducing unnecessary waste. Why not gift your friend their favourite Molton Brown Hand Wash (£20) but in this eco-friendly format? Not only is it a thoughtful gift, but it also also help them discover some new ways to incorporate more sustainable practices into their lives in the long run.
Hello Klean Shower Filter
A shower filter that removes all the metals and minerals from your water, ensures that your skin feels softer, you hair looks shinier, and if you have highlights or single process, it will help it last longer. The Hello Klean Shower Filter (£65) not only looks great (something you can't say about a lot of filters on the market), but it's also one of the most sustainable options. Buy the metal canister once, and then going forward all you have to do is buy the refill capsules — all of which come in very eco-friendly packageing.
Skandinavisk Önska Gift Set
If you're looking to gift some gorgeous, cosy candles this festive season, we recommend the Skandinavisk Önska Gift Set (£42, available in Nov). The company is a B Corporation and is vegan and cruelty-free. All the packageing is either bioplastics or recycled plastics and has been sourced from replanted sugar cane fields, which is then produced locally in Denmark. This set comes with three scents: Jul, described as Rituals, Myth, and Magic; Snö, described as Winter Light; and Træ, described as Heart Of The Winter Home.
Veja V-10 Vegan White
Veja V-10 Vegan White (£119) trainers are a classic addition to anyone's wardrobe.
Finisterre Farne Rollneck Knit Jumper
Finisterre Farne Rollneck Knit Jumper (£125) is a modern take on a classic fisherman's jumper from a brand that's certified B Corp (the hardest eco-certification out there that requires the brand to be fully committed to prioritising the environment and society in every aspect of its business). Made from merino wool, this piece checks a lot of boxes: it's versatile, classic (e.g. it will never go out of style), not harmful to the environment, and incredibly warm.
Weekday Alisa Printed Hoodie
The Weekday Alisa Printed Hoodie (£35) has such a cool, Matrix-inspired vibe to it.
Lucy & Yak 'River' Organic Cotton Socks in Turquoise & Pink Polka Dot
These Lucy & Yak 'River' Organic Cotton Socks in Turquoise & Pink Polka Dot (£7) make a cheerful stocking stuffer.
People Tree Denim Boilersuit
This People Tree Denim Boilersuit (£195) will last for many years to come.
The Body Shop Festive Berry Gift Set
The Body Shop has always been at the forefront of sustainable and ethical beauty. The company is a B Corporation, which means it meets the "highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose." From this year's dozens of Christmas gifts, we love the The Body Shop Festive Berry Gift Set (£20), which comes with a Festive Berry Shower Gel, a Festive Berry Body Yoghurt, a Festive Berry Hand Cream, and a Festive Berry Body Scrub.
BBC Earth Soap Bar and Dish & Recycled Reusable Hair Wrap
This year, Boots has teamed up with BBC Earth to create a range that puts sustainability at the heart of gift giving. The focus of the range is to reduce bathroom waste and abandon single-use items. This Soap Bar and Dish & Recycled Reusable Hair Wrap (£10) saves on waste from liquid soaps in plastic bottles, and the set also contains a stylish, eco-friendly shower cap.
Monki Cares Cotton Tee
This Monki Cares Cotton Tee (£15) makes a great gift for a nature-loving friend.
Allkind Slipper Tan Vegan Wool
This cosy Allkind Slipper Tan Vegan Wool (£90) will keep your feet warm and snug all winter.
