So Christmas will be a bit different this year because of Covid, but maybe we can all make it different in a positive way – by being greener. Christmas presents are tricky – there is so much that is coated in plastic, that has high air miles and that we don’t use for very long! So, this week I wanted to do a list of eco-friendly gifts to give you all some inspiration. Some are a bit DIY (and you’ll see more of them soon), and others can be bought. As I keep saying, we can’t be perfect. But, it’s worth giving low-waste options like these a go, even if you only do one!
Jams and Chutney:
Jam is shockingly easy to make – it’s also a perfect gift to personalise with different spices or alcohol if you like. You can use pretty much any fruit you like, you can make it vegan and you can reuse old jars to package it! Chutney is also quite easy and has lots of variations – it’s also great to pair with other gifts like biscuits or crackers. I’ll be doing a post on jam and chutney making soon, but you can get general jam ideas from here and chutney recipes here.
Soap:
There’s always a joke in my family that if you get gifted soap, it’s because you smell, but actually it can be a really luxurious thing that people like to receive! Soap is also quite easy to get zero waste, vegan and cruelty free. Some of the best places to buy them are zero waste shops, markets and online eco-friendly shops – these are from an eco shop in Whitby. If you have friends or family who are interested in zero-waste stuff, a shampoo bar might also be a good idea, like these from the friendly soap company.
Biscuits and Crackers:
Again, I’ll be doing a post about these two soon, but for now, here is why they are such great gifts. They’re great to personalise with different flavours – so, if you know someone who loves spice, you can add more, or if you have a vegan friend you can make vegan biscuits, which I’m sure that they would be touched by. It’s also really easy to wrap these – you can repurpose cardboard boxes, tins or even generic storage boxes (which you can incorporate as part of the gift!).
Jewellery:
If you’re a fan of jewellery, then there are lots of low waste, eco-friendly options. For example, Where Romy Roams is a jewellery shop based on Etsy run by Romy – she collects shells and stones etc from beaches and then makes them into necklaces and earrings! She cleans the beaches as she goes and she uses recycled packaging to send out all her orders. It’s great to support a small business like this, but it’s also wonderful to support this use of materials and beach cleaning!
Zero-waste Beauty:
Know anyone who loves make-up and skin care? Well, there are lots of options for them. You could make skin care – I’d only recommend this if you know them really well, and if you know any allergies or skin issues they may have. I’ve done a few posts on this before, which you can find here. If you don’t want to DIY this, then there are loads of places that you can find low-waste, vegan and cruelty free skin care and make-up! Lush, Wearth London and your local zero waste shops will all have options for you.
A new hobby:
Instead of something someone will use once and throw to the back of a cupboard, why not give them a new hobby? My favourite example of this is a knitting kit! It’s a wonderful hobby for the winter evenings, and you get a product out of it! To keep it as sustainable as possible, you can find second hand knitting needles and patterns in charity shops and online. Wool is a long wearing material and readily recyclable, however, it’s best to use recycled and organic wool where you can.
Produce bags/ Shopping bags:
Although these are both very practical gifts, I personally love a gift that I can use. There are so many options for produce bags and shopping bags, some more exciting than others. The best are the organic cotton or linen bags – there are lots that have different patterns. You can find these on etsy or in zero waste shops (either online or in person).
Reusable Water Bottle/ Flask:
If you have friends or family who haven’t gotten a re-usable water bottle yet, or they like to get take-out coffee all the time, then this could be a perfect gift. There are lots of options for reusable bottles – my favourite is a Chilly’s bottle because you can use them for warm or cold drinks. If you’re looking for reusable coffee cups, there are lots of different sizes. Chilly’s also do these, or you can find them at zero waste shops or even your local coffee shop!
That’s it for now! Next week I’ll be making a few of these gifts. And, if you want more Christmas content, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter (@WasteMakesWaste) and Instagram (@waste_makes_waste).
Waste Makes Waste 