As many of us shift our energy towards being more eco-conscious, gift-buying can become a bit more difficult! We want to support sustainability, while still giving a useful and exciting present – but where do you start? ELLISS has compiled a list of 20 sustainable gifts for 2021 which includes products for gym lovers, keen bakers and fashionistas. Shop away!
1. HOMEWORK
Homework is an East London based brand who’s ethos is to be as sustainable as possible. They have a range of unique scents such as their Haze candle which is fragranced sweet green blend of tobacco, clary sage and ho leaf for a refreshing experience. All of their candles are hand-poured into metal tins which they encourage you to reuse or send back to them to use for future orders. They even go one step further – their tin manufacturer is powered by solar power! You can shop a selection of their candles, soaps and bath salts on our website here.
2. RECYCLED ACTIVEWEAR
Long-lasting, sustainable activewear can be expensive, which is why many people would love a garment like this to be gifted! Girlfriend Collective are as eco-friendly as they come. With 100% recycled packaging and a transparent supply chain, the company also has a stunning range of leggings which have been manufactured from used water bottles.
3. NATURAL BATH SETS
Who doesn’t love a bath gift set? It’s the ultimate present to encourage someone to take time out and relax with some luxury products. In the sustainable world, one of the best brands for this is Agnes and Cat, available by other e-commerce retailers such as The Eco Shop. All of their products are made from natural ingredients and they do an amazing range of bath bomb fizzers in unique smells such as coffee and walnut.
4. ORGANIC CLOTHING
If you’re buying for a fashionista, what better way to surprise them with a new piece of sustainable clothing. Here at ELLISS, we use soft, natural fabrics, from organic cotton to hemp and bamboo to create wearable and stylish pieces. Our unique styles and prints are what make our customers keep coming back!
5. VEGAN BAGS
For fashionistas who want to be stylish, you can’t go wrong with a vegan tote bag. “Sleek, spacious and practical” is how Luxtra London describes their collection and we have to agree! These bags come in a range of colours and are perfect for shopping trips or as an everyday work bag. Luxtra uses innovative sustainable products such as apples, mango and corn.
6. SUSTAINABLE VASES
If you’re shopping for a new homeowner, a great gift could be a vase or plant pot that’s fully sustainable. Nkuku works with sustainable and natural ingredients and has a fully transparent supply chain. Many of the products they sell are made from recycled materials and they look after the planet in other ways too such as minimising air freight and reviewing their packaging regularly. They have a range of collections such as lighting, furniture and Christmas ornaments too.
7. RECLAIMED JEWELLERY
You can’t go wrong with a pair of statement earrings or a statement ring when it comes to gift buying. Hernán Herdez is a season-less jewellery line which is all handmade in NYC and crafted from recycled materials to reduce environmental impact. The products range from organic, to sleek and contemporary and are perfect as a present.
8. AFFORDABLE LOUNGEWEAR
Tala’s collection of “Laze” loungewear is stylish and sustainable. The range of ribbed crop tops and joggers look super comfy for the cooler months and are long-lasting too. Tala is relatively new when it comes to sustainable companies but they’re certainly making an impression. The main values of their business are affordable sustainability and that’s something we can get on board with!
9. NATURAL ANTI-AGING OIL
Quite often we hear about nasty chemicals being used in skincare products, and we’re always on the hunt for natural products that still look great. The Jurlique skincare range is made up of natural and plant-based products and they try to minimise their impact on the environment throughout the production process. Their purely age-defying firming face oil is a great gift if you’re shopping for someone older.
10. ORGANIC APRON
If you’re buying for someone who loves baking, what about an organic apron? Aerende products are handmade in the UK by people facing social challenges and they create lots of pieces for the home that are beautiful and sustainable. The apron is made out of organic cotton, comes in three different colours and has an adjustable neck strap.
11. NATURAL DEODORANT BALM
Finally, a deodorant that is beautifully packaged and environmentally friendly! If you’re buying for someone who is interested in more sustainable toiletries, this is the ideal gift. This natural deodorant balm from Akt comes in a variety of sophisticated scents and leaves you feeling dry and smelling great all day with no need to reapply. The packaging is also entirely plastic-free and each tube lasts up to two months!
12. SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS PERFUME
How much do you really know about where your perfume comes from? With Sana Jardin, the company goes above and beyond to be responsible. They work closely with communities in Morocco to pick flowers that go into the fragrances, with by-products from this going towards creating candles for the women to sell themselves. All packaging is also made from recycled materials – you don’t get more sustainable than that – the perfect gift.
13. ORGANIC BODY BUTTER
Happy Holistics is a great UK-based brand that creates body products made from organic materials. Their soothing organic body butter help hydrate the skin, in entirely vegan and cruelty free and contains no palm oil which is what many of other products use. All packaging is biodegradable and the product itself is handmade – a thoughtful gift for your eco-conscious friend!
14. COMFY NIGHTWEAR
Noctu only uses cotton that is GOTS (Global Organic Textiles Standard) approved, this means that the cotton is 100% organic and fully free of pesticides. It also ensures that workers who make the nightwear receive fair wages and good working conditions. The designs are simple but soft and comfortable. The Aku Harem pants are a personal favourite of ours!
15. HANDMADE ESPRESSO CUP
A nice idea for a coffee lover could be a handmade ceramic espresso cup. The Zan + Me version is made in the UK from sustainable materials and entirely plastic free. On top of that, the kiln that is used to make the ceramics is powered by solar energy! The designs are minimalistic but unique, check them out here.
16. RECYCLED PHOTO FRAME
A gift that many people love to receive is that of a captured memory, in a framed photograph. Vista is a great place to find a frame that has been sustainably made, with the environment in mind. The company collects tons of polystyrene from all over the world and processes it into tiny pellets. From there, they make a material that can be used to create their lovely frames – while keeping the polystyrene out of the landfills!
17. ECO-FRIENDLY STATIONARY
Buying for someone who is starting a new job or academic year? A quirky set of eco-friendly stationery could be a great gift idea. Batch.works are based in the UK and use 3D printing to create stationery products with minimal waste. They use recycled and responsibly sourced materials such as sugarcane starch.
18. A GUIDE TO SUSTAINABLE LIVING
If you’re buying a gift for someone who is just starting their sustainable transition, how about a guide to help them out? “No. More. Plastic” is a great book with lots of small solutions on how people can start to make a big difference. It has lots of great reviews and many people say it has helped them to be more eco-conscious in their everyday life
19. REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE
One solution to cutting down plastic in our day to day life is to invest in a reusable water bottle. Although cheaper options are available, a good gift to someone could be a long-lasting water bottle that keeps its temperature. Chilly’s bottles come in lots of different colours and sizes and are amazing for keeping things cool and hot – they’ve gained a lot of popularity in recent years too so it could be a great present!
20. ORGANIC COTTON DRESSING GOWN
There’s nothing more comfy in the cooler months than snuggling up in a cosy dressing gown – it’s also a thoughtful gift for those who love a pamper night! Green Fibres sell a lovely organic cotton dressing gown that is undyed, unbleached and GOTS certified. It’s unisex too so great for whoever you are buying for!
21. COMFY RECYLED SOCKS
Socks are the one of the best little presents to give and receive if you’re looking for something cosy, comforting, practical and affordable! These unisex recycled denim socks from Organic Basics are the perfect gift for anyone who is eco-conscious and loves lounging around the house. Organic Basics also do an amazing range of sustainable underwear, activewear and jersey basics if you don’t just want to stop at socks.