The ultimate ethical Christmas gift guide

Discover our pick of the best ethical gifts, from beauty buys, to zero-waste essentials.

1. Zao Sublime Manicure Kit, £35.95, zaoessenceofnature.co.uk

Zao Sublime Manicure Kit makes a gorgeous gift for the eco-conscious this Christmas. Comprising a glass nail file, a nail and cuticle care oil, plus three on-trend shades of ’10-free nail polishes, this kit is all you need to pamper your nails this Christmas. Zao’s nail polishes are all vegan and free of the 10 most commonly found petrochemical toxins in nail polish, instead using agro-solvents from natural origin.

2. LaBante Kindness Wallet in Black, £45.00, labante.co.uk

This stunning Kindness Wallet is a beautiful addition to any handbag. It features a fuchsia interior and custom LaBante London puller. It's the perfect party accessory for the festive season too. With no animals hurt during its production, and 10% of profits given to charity, doing good never felt so good!

3. Tentree Selkirk Socks £19.99, tentree.com

Keep tootsies warm with these thick, cosy socks made from recycled plastic bottles. Your purchase will be fighting the climate crisis, too, as Tentree plants 10 trees for every product sold!

4. Sherpa Adventure Gear Mayalu Bracelet, £10, sherpaadventuregear.co.uk

Make Christmas merrier with these bracelets. Meaning 'love of my heart', the Mayalu accessory is lovingly crafted by women co-ops in Tangkot, Nepal. Best of all, for every garment sold, Sherpa Adventure makes a donation towards education scholarships for children living in remote Himalayan villages.

5. Handmade Goldwork Embroidered Decorations, £5.99, oxfam.org.uk

Fairtrade and handmade by Indian artisans, these goldwork embroidered decorations make for beautiful additions to the Christmas tree, and help support Oxfam at the same time.

6. Karst Stone Paper Notepad, from £14, karststonepaper.com

We love beautiful stationery, and even more so when it's crafted with the planet in mind. The Karst collections are sustainably made using recycled stone, and a partly solar-powered production process, meaning no trees, waste, acid, or bleaches are used. The result is a collection of simple and functional notepads that are waterproof, coffee-proof, tear-resistant and recyclable.

7. CJ Wildlife Woodstone Alicante 32mm Nest Box, £21.99, birdfood.co.uk

The most sustainable nest box constructed from a mix of concrete and wood fibres that will not rot and guaranteed for 10 years. The design safeguards against predator attacks and its insulating properties create a more consistent internal temperature than an ordinary wooden box. A gift that will give young birds the best chance of survival year after year. Available in green or brown with free delivery until 1/1/20. Available from CJ Wildlife Freephone 0800 731 2820

8. Gola Rainforest Chocolate, £3.49, shopping.rspb.org.uk

You can never have too much chocolate at Christmas, and you won't feel guilty about it either with these ethically-produced bars. Handcrafted in Cornwall using cocoa grown in the Gola rainforest of Sierra Leone, these chocolates are a delicious gift, plus they're fair to farmers and are forest-friendly!

9. People Tree x BBC Earth Dress, £139, peopletree.co.uk

Perfect for ladies who like to walk on the wild side, this cheetah print dress makes a fashionable statement. The result of a collaboration between ethical clothing brand People Tree and BBC Earth, the piece is made from sustainable TENCEL Lyocell by a social enterprise in Mumbai that empowers disadvantaged women.

10. Elephant Gin Miniature Tasting Set, £16.90, elephant-gin.com

The ultimate gift that gives back, Elephant Gin is an award-winning beverage that contributes to the conservation of African elephants. This new tasting set makes a great gift for animal lovers and gin aficionados, with a trio of Elephant London Dry Gin, Elephant Sloe Gin and Elephant Strength Gin. You can also rest assured that your gift is supporting the work of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and its elephant orphanage near Nairobi!

11. Weaver Diamond Blanket, £45, edenproject.com

This hand-woven blanket looks and feels like wool, but is actually made from 50 recycled plastic bottles! It’s great for cosying up indoors, or even for an al fresco outing, as the soft, stain-resistant throw is easy to clean and hard-wearing.