Guide to Better (and More Sustainable) Christmas Gifts
This year, perhaps more so than ever, we want to have Christmas our way, making up for lost time and treating our loved ones.
Christmas is a time of year when excess is encouraged, and while there’s nothing wrong with giving something special to a special person in our lives, it’s worth thinking about the impact your gifts have and whether there’s a better way.
The first thing we have to ask ourselves is will the gift be used? There’s nothing worse than knowing that your hard-earned money will be spent on something that spends years in a cupboard, only to end up in landfill. Think about what packaging the gift comes in, is it contributing to needless waste? Finally, will your gift have an impact and make a positive difference to the world?
A well thought through gift, that will have a good life and has sustainability at its heart, is a good compromise. There’s no need to break your rules on sustainable shopping when it comes to Christmas gifting.
Here’s our guide to some of the nicest, and most sustainable gifts around…
For the wildlife lover in your life
Neal’s Yard Remedies, Nourish bee lovely trio £19.99
A soothing selection of Neal’s Yard Remedies body lotion, hand cream and lip balm, with reduced packaging this year. 3% of sales go to charities that help to protect bees.
For the gardener in your life
Weleda, Feed your skin gift duo £14.99
A pair of ‘light’ and ‘intense’ skin food, perfect to repair anything that the great outdoors throws at skin. Certified NATRUE, and using organic ingredients. Weleda farm eight organic medicinal plant gardens around the world, including 13 acres in Derbyshire. For every set Weleda will plant a tree.
For your lush local
Faith & Betty, Bath bomb £3.75
Made in Bristol by Faith Morton. Faith & Betty make natural skin and body care products in small batches, that are kind to both the body and the environment. 100% Natural and unrefined, palm oil free, chemical preservative free, synthetic fragrance free. With recyclable and biodegradable packaging.
For the conscious foodie in your life
Food For Thought, by Phil Haughton £15.99
Phil Haughton, Founder of Better Food, opens up about the importance of food, family and community in an uplifting and thought-provoking book – Food For Thought. In his first ever book—filled with fascinating stories, tempting recipes and helpful tips—Phil takes us on a journey of good food, from soil to plate.
For the nature lover in your life
The Almanac: A seasonal guide to 2022, by Lia Leendertz £12.99
Lia Leendertz lives in Bristol and writes about gardening, growing food and cooking. The Almanac is Lia’s reinvention of the traditional, rural almanac and has become an annual must-have for readers keen to reconnect with the seasons, appreciate the outdoors, and discover ways to mark and celebrate each month.
For the young chef in your life
Green Kids Cook, by Jenny Chandler £14.99
Local author and food educator Jenny Chandler inspires children to learn to cook and eat in the most environmentally sound and sustainable way possible with Green Kids Cook, while having fun with it too!
For the activist in your life
Landworkers’ Alliance Calendar 2022 £17.99
For 2022, the year following COP26, the Landworkers’ Alliance calendar showcases twelve practices that are part of the solution for cooling the planet and building the world we know is possible. The imagery for the calendar is once again created by Rosanna Morris and are beautifully reproduced onto 100% recycled paper.
For the fun-guy (or gal) in your life!
The Bristol Fungarium Organic Mushroom Tinctures (Lion’s Mane, Maitake, Reishi, Shiitake, and Turkey Tail) £30
Exciting new tinctures to our range. The Bristol Fungarium tinctures are made from mushrooms grown organically just outside of Bristol in Barrow Gurney. Ask one of our health & bodycare specialists on advice as to which variety suits your recipient’s needs.
Pay it forward
For the person who has everything, why not cut the chance of any waste and gift to a cause that you and they care deeply about. Here are some local causes that we’re proud to support this year:
SARI (Stand Against Racial Inequality)
SARI are fantastic local organisation supporting those who live with prejudice and discrimination in marginalised backgrounds.
The Green House
We’re delighted to support The Green House, a Bristol based charity which provides free counselling for anyone who has experienced sexual abuse. They create an essential support system to help people recover and improve mental health, wellbeing and resilience.
Houria
Food is our passion at Better Food, and the work done by Houria in using food to provide opportunities and training to survivors of slavery is something we were keen to support. Being a local charity, set up recently, we wanted to shine a light on the positive work they do within our community.
BillyChip
Support BillyChip’s fundraiser
BillyChip is a unique safe and secure platform which allows the public to directly donate to rough sleepers at a time when few people carry cash. The recipient can redeem a BillyChip in coffee shops and takeaways for food and drink.