The term 'eco friendly' is a tricky one to navigate these days. A recent survey by Deloitte found that 34% of us are now choosing to buy from brands that have environmentally sustainable practices or values. With brands rushing to scrape together the greenest elements of their businesses and put them at the fore of their marketing, greenwashing has increased – with 40% of companies making misleading sustainability claims. The government has issued a new Green Claims Code, but in the meantime, how do you know who is really championing sustainable practices?
We've spent some time creating this eco gift guide, containing products that are either fairly traded, ethically made, recycled, vegan, cruelty free or which support conservation or green causes.
Whoever you're buying for, here’s our guide to the best sustainable gifts.
Jump to:
- Sustainable gifts for him & her
- Eco gifts for homemakers
- Sustainable gifts for green-fingered family and friends
- Eco gifts ideas for foodies
- Sustainable gifts for furry friends
You might also like to see our Best gifts for walkers: 15 top presents for hikers, our 35 best gift ideas for outdoor adventurers and nature lovers or 10 great gifts for bird lovers.
Best Eco Friendly Gift Guide 2024
Sustainable gifts for him & her
Fjällräven Övik Knit Sweater W
This beautiful Fair Isle patterned wool jumper from Swedish brand Fjällräven is extremely warm and makes a perfect mid-layer garment. And when your great-grandchildren decide it's become too shabby to wear, it's fully biodegradable as well.
The wool it uses to produce this jumper is traceable and in line with the brand's animal welfare standards – which means that horrible practices such as 'mulesing' are completely ruled out. In fact, Fjällräven has a 'wool promise' that spells out the measures it's taking, as well as a 'down promise' that relates to the feathers used in its winter down jackets.
Weird Fish Tyburn eco printed check fleece shacket
This comfortable, warm and attractive ‘shacket’ is part of Weird Fish's range of 100% recycled polyester clothing. It's surprisingly soft, with a warm fluffy lining, and comes in a range of colours – including this attractive new antique cherry. Great for warmer winter days, and comfy – and light – enough to wear indoors all day.
BAM 73 Zero Insulated Jacket
- Buy now from BAM Bamboo Clothing (£145)
This high-performing polyester jacket is 100% recycled and recyclable, and finished with Teflon EcoElite™ – a new plant-based water repellent. What's more, it's an excellent midlayer for the coldest weeks in the winter, and warm enough to be worn on its own at either end of the season. The hood is a snug fit against the face, with adjustable toggles to keep the rain and cold wind firmly out. There are men's and women's jackets available in a range of colours.
Matt Sewell Bobble Hat - Twite
- Buy now from Ethical Superstore (£32)
Show your support for endangered birds by donning this merino wool Twite bobble hat, a proud member of Silverstick's Matt Sewell Silverstick collection. The vibrant colors of this hat are inspired by the well known artist and illustrator's artwork of the Twite, an endangered UK bird on the red list.
Plus, 10% of the proceeds from this product contribute to Wildcard, a grassroots environmental conservation organization dedicated to rewilding Britain.
Crafted in Britain using traditional techniques and fine-grade merino wool yarns, this bobble hat complies with Õko-Tex Standard 100 and ISO 17050-1, ensuring the merino wool is dyed with azo and chlorine-free textile dye.
Safety Razor Shaving Set - Aloe Vera
- Buy now from Friendly Turtle (£31.99)
This comprehensive shaving set includes a safety razor, shaving soap bar, a shaving brush, and 5 complimentary razor blades, all of which boasting sustainable credentials:
- The safety razor, crafted from stainless steel, can be recycled in household collections and as it's only the blades that need replacing, it avoids the problem of discarding the entire razor.
- The synthetic-haired shaving brush has a sustainably sourced oak handle.
- The handmade aloe vera shaving soap is formulated for sensitive skin using all-natural, ethically sourced ingredients, and is packaged in recyclable, plastic-free materials.
Bower Hand Cream - Rosemary & Geranium 250ml Pump Bottle
- Buy now from Bower Collective (£9.49)
Indulge in the luxury of Rosemary & Geranium Hand Cream, a harmonious blend of invigorating geranium, revitalizing rosemary, and nourishing beeswax.
Made in the UK, it pampers your skin, leaving it soft and well-nourished without any greasy residue, all while imparting a subtle, delightful fragrance. What's more, it's fragranced with essential oils, free from harmful additives like SLS and parabens, cruelty-free, and palm-oil free.
The glass bottle is also made in the UK, and both the bottle and pump are fully recyclable, encouraging eco-conscious recycling and reuse practices for a sustainable touch.
Eco gifts for homemakers
Recycled Paper British Hedgerow Garland
- Buy now from RSPB (£12)
While tinsel may bring sparkle to a room, it also brings environmental consequences. String up this pretty, hand-printed paper hedgerow garland for a splash of vivid colour instead. Made from recycled paper created from scraps of cotton waste, with careful storage it could be used every year.
The vintage-styled garland has ten double sided shapes of different hedgerow animals and plants, including robins, holly, snowdrops, poppy seed heads and berries. It brings a touch of class to any living room ceiling, especially intertwined with LED lights.
Love Liga Beach Clean coasters and placemats
Buy now from Love Liga (£14)
These colourful coasters and placemats are made from recycled EVA plastics and eco-friendly cork, and a percentage of sales goes to Sea-Changers, a UK Marine Conservation charity.
Organic Kitchen Towel & Wash Cloths Gift Set - Ocean Set
- Buy now from Friendly Turtle (£26)
We love this eco-conscious gift set crafted from GOTS certified organic cotton, which includes a kitchen towel and two washcloths in soothing shades.
Helen Round Reusable Bread Bag
- Buy now from Bower Collective (£24)
A must-have for home bakers and bread enthusiasts, this versatile linen bread bag offers an eco-friendly alternative to single-use packaging. Not only does it keep your bread fresh, but you can also roll it down to create a charming breadbasket for serving at the table.
A 100% linen bag with a natural cotton tie, it's hand-printed in Cornwall using water-based inks.It also washes easity at 30 degrees.
Measurements: 42cm x 28cm x 12cm (16.5 x 11 x 4.7”).
Pott Speckle Stoneware Scented Candles, 290g
- Buy now from John Lewis (from £55.50)
Handcrafted in the UK, Potts candles have great eco-friendly credentials as well as a range of deliciously scented candles, such as Tonka, Orangery and Eucalyptus.
The Potts are hand-thrown by skilled potters across the UK, and the meticulously blended and hand-poured candles, feature natural rapeseed and coconut wax and 100% natural essential oils
The refills are sold separately, so there's no need to buy new plastic or glass holders.
Sustainable Home by Christine Liu
- Buy now from Ethical Superstore (£18)
Discover a wealth of eco-friendly insights in this guidebook crafted by sustainable lifestyle blogger and professional, Christine Liu.
With practical tips and projects tailored for every room in the home, the book explains how to lead a low-impact lifestyle, offering solutions like crafting your own toothpaste, transitioning to renewable energy providers, and curbing plastic use.
We love the book uses responsibly sourced paper, too.
RSPB Leaping Hare recycled crackers
- Buy now from RSPB (£16)
Bring a touch of colour to your festive table with these eco-friendly crackers made from recycled wrapping paper.
Each cracker includes a tasty organic-chocolate bird, a paper hat and, of course, a joke. Every element is fully recyclable, including the box, and of course, your money will go towards the RSPB.
Sustainable gifts for green-fingered family and friends
Simon King Brushwood Robin Nester
Robins are famous for nesting in unlikely places, such as in boots and hanging baskets, and under car bonnets. Make their lives a little easier with this open-fronted nester, designed by naturalist Simon King just for the resourceful birds.
Hide it in any foliage where the robin will feel safe, and you may be lucky enough to see a clutch of 4-6 eggs in the spring.
Ripple Effect, Garden Together – twin a garden
- Buy now from Ripple Effect (£60)
Twin your garden with Ripple Effect and your donation of £60 could help a family living in rural Migori, Kenya, with three years training in sustainable organic farming.
Starting with small kitchen gardens, twinning a garden will enable families to grow enough to eat, set up small businesses, send their children to school and go after their dreams.
National Trust CJ Wildlife Glamis Bat Box
- Buy now from National Trust (£10)
Gardens and green spaces are important territory for bats, and putting up a bat box gives them a safe place to roost and raise their young. This is vitally important as loss of habitat and exclusion from new developments means they are running out of roosting spots and their numbers are under threat.
The National Trust Glamis Bat Box features the expertly designed easy entry point and a grooved ladder entrance.
Beevive revival kit
- Buy now from Letter Box Gifts (£11)
We've all been there. There's a bee in front of you on the ground, too tired to fly away and there are no flowers around to place it onto so it can fuel up again.
Enter the rather genius little Bee Revival Kit - a tiny aluminium tube that holds a small glass vial containing sugar syrup, used to help bees in distress.
It comes in either black or gold, with a keyring attachment, and makes a gorgeous stocking filler for the naturalist in your life.
Ocean Plastic Pots flower pots and saucers
Ocean Plastic Pots, founded in 2020 by deep sea diver Ally Mitchell after years of commercial diving in plastic-polluted waters around the world, and seeing first-hand the devastating effects of plastic in the seas, produces a gorgeous range of eco pots.
Having taught himself basic manufacturing, Mitchell began to scour his local beaches for discarded plastic, fishing nets and rope to make flower pots, which he sold at a local food market in Edinburgh before it took off and increased to a national scale.
Ocean Plastic Pots won the RHS Chelsea Sustainable Garden Product of the Year 2021.
39 Ways To Save The Planet
Based on the Royal Geographical Society’s BBC Radio 4 series of the same name, Tom Heap’s book looks at a whole range of original and practical notions for slowing global warming. Covering everything from energy, nature, farming and society to transport, buildings, industry and waste, each carbon-busting idea also comes with its own list of fringe benefits such as cleaner air, improved animal welfare and job provision.
Eco gift ideas for foodies
The Sustainable Christmas Box:
- Buy now from Social Stories Club (£49)
This holiday gift includes thoughtfully sourced treats from a range of artisan makers.
It also comes with a booklet containing the inspiring stories behind the product: For example, the handcrafting of chocolate truffles by formerly incarcerated women and the creation of organic soap by a group of talented artists with disabilities, traditional farmhouse cheese biscuits made entirely from renewable energy and dark chocolate with orange, which contributes to reforestation projects and uses innovative packaging to reduce waste.
Eco-friendly Coconut Bowls & Spoons, Set of 4
- Buy now from Jungle Culture (£29.99)
Crafted by local artisans in Vietnam, Jungle Culture's coconut bowls are just the thing for serving a vegan smoothie bowl or a wholesome Buddha bowl!
Each set includes four exquisite natural wooden spoons, two bamboo straws, two coconut fiber straw cleaning brushes, and corresponding natural jute straw sleeves.
RISE Coffee Gift Box
- Buy now from Rise (£24)
Coffee gurus RISE are revolutionizing the coffee industry and setting new standards for a more responsible approach to sourcing exceptional coffee – they believe that the pursuit of great-tasting coffee should never come at the expense of people or the planet.
This gift box is the perfect idea for the coffee enthusiast in your life, and you can either buy it as a one-off present, or as a subscription. Recipients receive 2 x 250g bags of freshly roasted, ethically sourced coffee, the inspiring origin stories behind the coffee and a personalised gift message. And all this comes in an eco-friendly, sustainably sourced, and recyclable packaging.
Beeble Honey Whisky
- Buy now from Masters of Malt (£32)
Beeble, specialists in artisan honey whisky, has crafted a delightful spirit with a simple recipe of honey, water, and whisky. With a commitment to sustainability, Beeble tends to more than 130 hives in Wiltshire, using their luscious English apple blossom honey to blend with Scotch whisky, resulting in a harmonious elixir bottled at 30% ABV.
Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt: Silky, floral honey sweetness alongside a touch of oak, cinnamon and a touch of dried fruit.
Mini Single Origin Chocolate Collection from Land
- Buy now from Not On The High Street (£12.50)
Discover the ultimate gift for chocolate aficionados with this mini collection of all 6 Land bars.
Land are proud award-winning chocolate artisans, handmaking their chocolate in East London, with a meticulous 4-day process for each bar and a commitment to paying 3-4 times the fair-trade price to small-scale cocoa growers.
The Less Waste No Fuss Kitchen by Lindsay Miles
Our kitchens serve as the epicentre of our efforts to combat food waste, excessive packaging, and navigate complex ethical choices. The choices you make in your shopping, meal preparation, and consumption have a far more profound impact than the type of bag you use.
In her latest book, Lindsay Miles, renowned for her work on Treading My Own Path and Less Stuff, offers inspiration, practical solutions, and simple ideas, tailor-made for individuals leading busy lives who seek to introduce uncomplicated changes without overhauling their entire lifestyles.
Sustainable gifts for furry friends
Beco Pets Rough & Tough Turtle Recycled Polyester Dog Toy
- Buy now from John Lewis (£9.99)
An ideal playtime companion for your furry friend, this sturdy toy can endure vigorous chewing and wrestling, thanks to its double stitching and double layers, and it even features a playful squeaker inside.
Made from recycled materials, it gives waste a second chance at life and promoting responsible recycling practices.
And, to top it off, 100% of the profits from this toy are donated to Seawilding, to support the restoration of vital marine habitats.
ECO Donut Shaped Fluffy Dog Bed by Oh H*ck
- Buy now from Etsy (£40)
These prize-winning donut beds claimed the top spot as the Best Dog Bed in PETA's Vegan Homeware Awards 2023 - not surprising as they are made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.
Perfect for pups with separation anxiety, the calming donut bed offers a snug and secure haven. With plush padding and luxurious vegan fur, it also guarantees comfort and temperature control for a restful slumber.
Set of Two Eco Friendly Dog Bowls & Stands from Ruffter
- Buy now from Etsy (£92.99)
Pets and owners will love this set of two wooden dog bowl stands, hand made from FSC-certified birch plywood handcrafted in Ruffter's Cornish workshop. Crafted to fit the generously sized bamboo bowls from the eco-brand Beco, consisting of a blend of bamboo, rice husks, and corn starch, it's a match made in heaven!
To ensure stability on wooden floors, each stand is provided with additional cork pads.
Choose from five vibrant bowl colours, and the stands are available in two different heights, 12cm and 20cm.
And don't forget the sustainable wrapping options...
Furoshiki wrapping cloth
- Buy now from Etsy (£11.11)
Looing to gift wrap items in cloth gift wrap, or 'Furoshiki' as it is known in Japan? This year, it's more widely available than ever in the UK, so if this isn't quite the pattern you were after, check out our expert round up of the best reusable wrapping paper.
But really, all you need is some spare fabric and a little tutorial on wrapping techniques. Here's one from Pointful Things.
Goldrick Natural Living Wild Herbs Paper Tape
- Buy now from Goldrick Natural Living (£8)
Make your gift wrapping completely plastic free with this plant-inspired Wild Herbs paper tape. Fully recyclable and ethically made using water-soluble inks, this pretty tape is strong and durable.
Make gift giving eco-friendly
Eco-friendly gifts provide a meaningful way to show your love and care for both the recipient and the planet. By choosing sustainable presents, we can collectively make a positive impact on the world while celebrating special occasions with thoughtfulness and mindfulness.
For more environmentally responsible ideas, check out our guide to the best eco friendly Christmas decorations, best eco friendly outdoor kit and best eco friendly beach games.
And, if you're looking for nature-themed ideas for children, check out our pick of the best gifts for kids, and we've also put together a guide to the best experience gifts and best subscriptions for gifting.
