Buying presents for friends and family is never easy, and 2022 is certainly no exception.
Now is a perfect time to give thoughtful sustainable presents. And what could be more thoughtful this year than a gift which is a delight for the recipient, provides a much needed boost for an independent UK business and contributes positively to our planet.
Why not take a moment to browse through our carefully reviewed collection of independent shops selling the very best in vegan, handmade and environmentally conscious gifts?
We’re certain you’ll discover plenty of options to help lighten your festive ‘to do’ list.
Especially for Christmas
Betsy Benn
Betsy Benn is a design studio based in Cheltenham, who make thoughtful gifts that are just right for your loved ones. Their female-led team aims to change the world through smart and unique design, sustainable materials, and giving back to the communities we live and work in.
Shop at: betsybenn.com
Keep this Cracker
Keep This Cracker comes flat-packed in minimal packaging, ready to pop into shape and fill with your own choice of gifts, and free from single use plastic. The collection comes in reusable card wallets designed for customers to keep and store their crackers away.
Shop at: keepthiscracker.com
Panda Joy®™
Panda Joy®™ is a minority and family-owned Oxfordshire based publisher of sustainable and eco-friendly greeting cards. They produce 100% tree-free greeting cards, consisting of 75% bamboo and 25% cotton linter to eliminate the use of virgin trees. What’s more, a third of profits is donated to environmental and community good.
Shop at: pandajoy.co.uk
For Beauty Lovers
Earthy Nail Polish
Earthy Nail Polish was born from a frustration towards unsustainable cosmetic products that do more harm than good to your nails. They use natural origin and bio-sourced materials with sustainable packaging, including a unique bamboo cap that is anti-bacterial and decomposable. They also operate a return reuse policy whereby all empties can be returned to be sterilised and reused.
Shop at: earthynailpolish.com
For Book Lovers
Books That Matter
Books That Matter is an award-winning book subscription box and literary gift brand putting women’s writing in the spotlight through unique reading experiences.Their boxes, and outer packaging are made from recyclable materials and are all recyclable themselves. They only work with, and support, independent businesses and all of the treats inside our boxes are vegan.
Shop at: booksthatmatter.co.uk
Vertebrate Publishing
Vertebrate Publishers is a small independent publishing house based in the “outdoor city” of Sheffield that specialises in producing books that connect people to the wonders and adventures associated with outdoor adventure such as climbing, wild swimming, running, cycling and more.
Shop at: adventurebooks.com
For Business Owners
Branding by Tigz
Want to show someone you support their business this Christmas? Help them become more visible with a personal branding shoot! Tigz Rice, an empowering portrait photographer, creating beautiful visual stories that show the world your WHY.
Shop at: brandingbytigz.com
For Coffee Lovers
Alpaca Coffee
Alpaca Coffee are on a mission to make coffee better for everyone. The people who farm it, roast it, pack it, buy it. Their range of specialty range of single-origins and blends are packaged in 100% plastic-free and compostable packaging.
Shop at: www.alpacacoffee.co.uk
Black Squirrel Coffee
Black Squirrel Coffee provides awesome coffee for the climate conscious. The roastery collects used coffee grounds from local cafes, and turns these in to fuel logs which are used to roast the next lot of coffee beans. This saves over a tonne of coffee waste from landfill every year (and that amount is growing!)
Shop at: www.blacksquirrelcoffee.co.uk
For Fashion Lovers
Askari Clothing
Askari is a streetwear brand inspired by their founder’s African and South Asian heritage. All products are sustainably and ethically made and 50p of each purchase is donated to Plan International. The process in which the fabrics are made uses 70% less water and the factory that supplies the garments is run on solar and wind energy. The supplier is also in the UK therefore reducing delivery emissions.
Shop at: askariclothing.com
Life Less Ordinary
Life Less Ordinary create fashion products made from unique, cruelty-free products such as the Tagua nut and cork – a great vegan leather alternative that is also sustainable. They take so much joy from playing small parts in big moments. They have had the pleasure of making proposal bracelets from their hidden message Morse Code collection and our coordinates bracelets have travelled all over the world, reminding people of their special place on this earth, not matter where they are.
Shop at: life-less-ordinary.co.uk
Silky Scrunch
Slky Scrunch are passionate about creating handmade Scrunchies that look and feel amazing. They only use sustainable materials, from their fabrics to elastics to the threads, even our packaging is eco friendly!
Shop at: www.slkyscrunch.com
For Fragrance Lovers
ånd fragrance
Ånd fragrance is a vegan, cruelty-free, regenerative perfume company which features a collection of seven fragrances formulated from the highest quality carefully sourced exquisite ingredients created by Simon Constantine, former Head perfumer and head of ethical buying at Lush cosmetics.
Shop at: www.andfragrance.com
Purscents
At Purscents, their idea is to craft fragrances deeply inspired by nature that will not just refresh your home but enhance your well-being too. Their aromatherapy scented candles and reed diffusers are lovingly hand-crafted in England using 100% plant-based ingredients, infused with only pure essential oils and extracts.
Shop at: purscents.co.uk
For Foodies
Motley Bakes
Established in 2017, Mötley Bäkes is an American inspired vegan bakery selling brownies, blondies, cookies, chocolate and cakes. Home of the popular creme egg.
Shop at: www.motleybakes.net
For Homeware Lovers
Karakorum
Karakorum is an independent ethical home décor brand that focuses on creating social change one fair trade item at a time. Linking up with social enterprises and fair trade suppliers to offer them a route to market in the UK (and abroad). They strive to support traditional crafts, small businesses and fair trade practices.
Shop at: karakorum.co.uk
Skudaboo
A collection of beautiful and unique wall art and homeware, from artists around the world, perfect for those who love Bohemian-inspired and eclectic home decor. Our collection is carefully curated to help you create lovely, dreamy spaces to match your personal style and individuality.
Shop at: skudaboo.co.uk
For Jewellery Lovers
RobinRose Jewellery
RobinRose Jewellery designs, makes, repairs and remodels gold, silver and platinum jewellery. They use recycled gold and silver wherever they can, and offer lab grown and second hand/vintage stones wherever possible.
Shop at: robinrosejewellery.co.uk
Luneta Creations
Luneta are a sustainable beaded jewellery brand. They upcycle vintage necklaces into new colourful creations, giving their beads a new lease on life and potentially saving them from going to landfill. They currently offer necklaces, earrings, bracelets and hair clips made with vintage beads, plus a selection of curated vintage jewellery, jewellery boxes and cards (including Christmas cards!).
Shop at: Lunetacreations.com
For Kids
Bamboo Beautiful
Bamboo Beautiful sell a beautiful kids range with bamboo tableware, bamboo baby towels and blankets, and wooden toys. I also sell bamboo socks and scarves, reusable water bottles and coffee cups, natural, vegan, handmade soaps, beauty products, bamboo toothbrushes and more.
Shop at: bamboobeautiful.uk
Charnwoods Child
Charnwoods are a curated collection of toys and gifts from independent brands who focus on ethical and sustainable practices. They encourage conscious buying, not impulse buying, reducing all unnecessary packaging, small batch items from independent crafters.
Shop at: charnwoodschild.co.uk
For Parents
Tracy’s Treasured Keepsakes
Tracy’s Treasured Keepsakes create keepsake bears, cushions and blankets from those sentimental items of clothing. By creating keepsakes from their clothing it reduces the amount of clothing going into landfill.
Shop at: tracystreasuredkeepsakes.co.uk
For Self-Care
Beauty Favours
Beauty Favours is a brand of luxury and eco-friendly products that are leaping bunny certified. They currently have two solid shampoo bars: Champagne and Roses shampoo bar containing organic argan oil and panthenol and a Charcoal and tea tree shampoo bar and beard wash.
Shop at: beautyfavours.com
Jenny Nordic Skincare
All of Jenny Nordic Skincare products are carbon neutral. They use organic and plant-based ingredients. They also encourage people to use less and simplify their skincare routine. Their packaging is reusable, recyclable and partly made out of recycled materials.
Shop at: jennynordic.com
Wild Rising
Wild Rising is an award winning, natural and organic skincare brand. All our products are rooted solely from nature and are vegan and cruelty-free. This business was founded on my passion for clean, organic and earth derived ingredients.
Shop at: wildrisingskincare.com
For Sports Lovers
Lokr Space
Lokr Space make it easy for you to shop for innovative, ethical, sustainable sportswear built for performance all in one place. Never compromise on kit. The planet depends on it.
Ran by Nature
Ran by Nature create adaptable and sustainable activewear, made ethically in the UK. They have a range of custom length leggings and tops made from recycled waste, sports hijab and other modest activewear. They also offer a repair and recycle service!
Shop at: ranbynature.com
Verta Golf
Verta Golf are an innovative and sustainable golf accessory company. Their first product Clean Strike is a game changing product which cleans your equipment in a safe and convenient way. They use Ocean Recycled plastic, bio degradable packaging, and their cleaner is made from Eco and natural substances.
Shop at: www.verta.golf
For Stationery Lovers
Blue Stiggy
Blue Stiggy make eco conscious hand made notebooks and stationery that are personalise on their vintage Typewriter (her name is Dorothy). They are made from recycled paper and textile industry waste and are all orders are posted in plastic free packaging.
Shop at: bluestiggy.co.uk
Little Green Paper Shop
Little Green Paper Shop’s products are designed to reduce waste in the car industry. Their papers are made with recycled cotton fibres and even elephant poo. These are embedded with pollinator seeds certified by the RHS.
Shop at: littlegreenpapershop.com
For Everyone Else
The Charity Shop Gift Card
The Charity Shop Gift Card are a social enterprise that has launched the UK’s only gift card that can be spent exclusively in charity shops. The gift card provides a truly sustainable gift for those looking to shop more consciously. The gift card can be spent in hundreds of charity shops across the UK with more shops being added all the time.
Shop at: thecharityshopgiftcard.co.uk
CityStack Gift Card
CityStack aim to support independent pubs hit hard by the current economic crisis and help pub lovers to socialise within their budget. Gift a £20 stack of coasters, which allows you to get £100 worth of food & drinks at ten great independent pubs across London.
Shop at: citystack.co
Used and Loved
Used and Loved is a website that collates the second-hand web into one place. Everything they do is about reducing waste and reducing the overconsumption of new. They aim to make second-hand shopping much easier, more fun and more inspiring.
Shop at: usedandloved.com
Thanks for helping to support UK businesses and the planet. Happy Christmas!
If you supply high quality ethically sourced and environmentally conscious gifts and would be interested in featuring in a future guide, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
