The ultimate ethical gift guide for Christmas 2020

It’s been a whirlwind of a year, but Christmas is all about spreading good cheer. Whether or not you’re able to see your loved ones in person, these Christmas gift ideas will bring a smile to their face.

Food & drink gift ideas

Cake or Death Letterbox Brownies, from £17 for a box of 6, cakeordeath.net

We are all about moist, gooey brownies, and that’s where Cake or Death gets it spot-on. These fudgy bites will be gobbled up by vegans and non-vegans alike, and the best part is, they can be delivered to your doorstep! The hot pink leopard print boxes fit right through your letterbox, and are the ultimate treat for Christmas and beyond. Available in flavours like Sea Salt, Peanut Butter and Biscoff, there are even gluten-free options, so there’s something for every die-hard brownie fan.

30-Minute Vegetarian Cookbook, £12.99, giftstoyou.com

Every foodie needs a repertoire of meat-free recipes, and this veggie cookbook is packed with inspiration. Ideal for those who are short on time or prefer simple recipes, this book features both vegetarian and vegan recipes inspired by cuisines from around the world, as well as basic recipes for making essentials like paneer, kimchi and falafel.

The Rosé Sparkler - Prosecco Rosé, £12.99, seachangewine.com

Calling all wine lovers! Eco-conscious wine brand Sea Change offers the perfect feel-good gift for Christmas. Selected from award-winning vineyards in Italy and France, the wines are light and easy to drink, with the bottles featuring beautifully illustrated labels that remind people of the need to protect marine life and their environment. What’s more, for every bottle of Sea Change wine sold, a donation will be made to marine conservation charities that are fighting plastic pollution. The Rosé Sparkler is vibrant and fun, bursting with red fruit and fizz, making it a wonderful gift for prosecco lovers. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Pentire Adrift Botanical Non-alcoholic Spirit, from £26.80, pentiredrinks.com

This new botanical non-alcoholic spirit is made from unique plants that are native to the Cornish coastline. The drink has been expertly crafted after careful research and experimentation with local botanists, distillers and brewers. Free from sugar, artificial colourings and flavourings, it features ingredients like rock samphire, sage and a signature Pentire herbal blend to create a crisp and herbaceous drink that’s the perfect base for a non-alcoholic cocktail.

Gifts for beauty lovers

BEYOU Bath Bombs, £5.99, beyouonline.co.uk

We’re huge advocates of having a relaxing bath as a way of taking care of our mental health. And there’s nothing like an aromatic bath bomb to cap off the experience. BEYOU’s version feature 100% organic and vegan ingredients and contains no artificial colours or preservatives, making them the ideal gift for bath fanatics who truly care about what they put on their skin. Available in four scents, including Lemon & Neroli and Peppermint & Eucalyptus, each bomb features oils and botanicals for a rich and indulgent bath experience.

The Hair Fuel Mask, from £38.99 per month, thehairfuel.com

Even when working from home, we all want to have healthy, luscious locks that are the envy of every Zoom meeting. That’s where The Hair Fuel’s hair mask subscription service comes in. The product is 100% vegan, cruelty-free and sustainable, using recyclable, reusable and biodegradable materials. Formulated to boost hair growth and renewal, the service includes a monthly box with sachets of wet and dry ingredients as well as a reusable mixer bottle and shower cap in the first month’s box.

Consciously Pamper Box, £38, conscioushouselondon.com

Give the gift of of all-natural skincare with Conscious House London’s gift bundles. The products are ideal for those striving for a zero-waste and plastic-free lifestyle, with each bundle containing some of the brand’s signature products in sustainable packaging. The Consciously Pamper Box contains a mix of natural, plant based cleansing and skincare goodies to pamper from top to toe. Products include an elderflower lip balm and lip scrub; overnight hand cream; and a super-soft face cloth.

Vegan Christmas gifts

Vegan Christmas Selection Box, £14.39, thevegankindsupermarket.com

The vegan foodie in your life will love working their way through the treats in this box. The Vegan Kind’s selection includes old favourites as well as new vegan goodies such as Rhythm108 Sweet N Salty Almond Milk Chocolate, Salted Caramel Marshmallows Dunked in Belgian Dark Chocolate, and Whitakers Orange Fondant Creams.

The Vegan Kind Beauty Box, from £12.75, thevegankind.com

As a beauty lover, there’s nothing like discovering new brands and products. That’s why we love The Vegan Kind’s monthly subscription service, which features skincare, cosmetics, beauty products and more delivered straight to your door. From cleansing oil and lip balm, to perfume and eye ilnes, the subscription is the perfect gift for fellow beauty addicts, with all of the products being ecological, skin-friendly and cruelty-free.

Vegan Gift Box, £33.86, giftstoyou.com

We all know the way to a vegan’s heart is through good food, so this hamper will really do the trick. It’s packed with sweet and savoury plant-based treats that healthy yet feel indulgent. Products include Nudie Snack Roasted Broad Beans, The Protein Ball Co Breakfast Balls, Growers Garden Broccoli Crisps and Lovemore Vegan O’ Chocos.

Christmas gifts for men

Small Beer, £2.15, Ocado

Beer lovers that are looking for a healthier alternative that’s also sustainable will love these low-alcohol beers. Small Beer is a South Bermondsey-based brewery specialising in brewing classic beer styles below 2.8%. The company is London’s first brewery to achieve B Corp certification, plus the vegan range is all sustainably brewed, too. Best of all, it tastes great!

Blue Goose Eco Coffee Pod Gift Collection, £18 for 40 capsules, bluegoose.coffee

The ideal gift for the eco-conscious, Nespresso-loving coffee addict in your life, Blue Goose Coffee will help you spread caffeinated cheer at Christmas. The brand’s Eco Coffee Pod Collection features four speciality Arabica coffees packed into compostable pods that are suitable for Nespresso machines. Not only is the coffee sourced from some of the best growers in the world, it’s grown sustainably, organically and fairly, so you can be sure that your gift is protecting the planet whilst supporting people in communities around the globe.

Philip Sweater, £69.99, bamigo.com

We’ve all been practically living in loungewear these past few months, and men are no exception! If the man in your life is passionate about sustainability, Bamigo combines ethics and comfort for a line of loungewear that’s stylish, timeless and perfect for relaxing around the house or venturing outdoors. The new Philip sweater is super-soft, with a brushed inner fabric and ribbed hems for added comfort and shape.

Eco-friendly Christmas gifts

BAM Performance Sweat Hoodie, £69, bambooclothing.co.uk

Many of us have been practically living in loungewear this year, and we’re loving it. BAM’s comfy clothing will take your comfort level up several notches with its range of sustainable bamboo pieces. We particularly love the BAM Performance Sweat Hoodie, which is ideal for lounging around the house as well as keeping you cosy on walks through the countryside. The medium-weight bamboo cotton hoodie features ribbed detail for a tailored look, plus has headphone loops so you can listen to your favourite music or podcast while out and about. Plus, BAM is all about sustainability, and even measures the impact of the life-cycle of its clothing to ensure they’re as eco-friendly as possible.

Tan France x Etsy Coffee Gift Set, £35, etsy.com/uk

The ideal option for coffee lovers, Chimney Fire Coffee has teamed up with Queer Eye style guru Tan France for a limited edition collection of sustainable gifts. The range includes the new Tan France x Etsy Coffee Gift Set, which includes three of Tan’s favourite Chimney Fire Coffee blends, all of which are ethically sourced, packed in biodegradable bags and come wrapped in an artisan gift box. The set also includes tasting notes and a Chimney Fire Coffee tote bag.

Lunch Kit, £44.58, elephantbox.co.uk

From heading out on a picnic to taking your lunch with you on-the-go, Elephant Box’s bundle is ideal for people trying to reduce their plastic consumption. The stylish set includes a one-litre leak-proof lunchbox that will hold a hearty lunch no matter how saucy your salad is. It comes with a handy spork for eating on the go. The bundle also includes a simple to-go cup with a cork sleeve so you’ll never have to use a disposable coffee cup again!

Pampering Gift Set, £62.99, lifebeforeplastik.com

Conscious beauty consumers will love this gift set from Life Before Plastik. The sustainable shop works with over 80 independent brands and for its festive bundles, has carefully selected essential goodies for various needs and budgets. We love the Pampering Gift Set, which includes a Body & Bath Oil and Jamine & Matcha Green Tea Body Scrub from The Salt Parlour; UpCircle’s Olive Stone Face Mask & The Coconut Bee’s Avocado & Eucalyptus Body Butter.

Gifts that give back

Give A Tree with Treedom, from £13.60, treedom.net

Sometimes the greatest gift of all is not something material, but a gift that gives back to this planet that we call home. Treedom offers the chance to do just that, by planting and gifting a tree remotely for your loved one. Each tree is geolocated and photographed, so you can watch it grow and follow its story virtually through a dedicated online page. Besides helping the planet, your purchase will help smallholder farmers, too. Treedom provides extra support such as additional income, food security and sustainable agroforestry techniques, so every tree you purchase helps farmers to grow sustainable farms in 17 countries. Choose from various species, including Cacao, Mango & Avocado Trees.

Orangutan Pendant, from £95, janareinhardt.com

Jewellery lovers will appreciate the meaning behind this carefully created piece. This handmade orangutan pendant is created by award-winning master goldsmith Jana Reinhardt, who was inspired by the orangutan’s battle against extinction. £20 from the sale of each necklace will be donated to OVAID, a charity dedicated to sending vets to orangutan rescue groups and providing vet equipment and medicines. What’s more, the pieces are hand-crafted using traditional, sustainable methods, making them the ideal choice for eco-friendly conscious jewellery lovers. Available in sterling silver, 18ct yellow and rose gold vermeil, solid gold or platinum.