Christmas: a time of joy, happiness and excess. And we don't just mean the food – we mean the gifts, the wrapping and all the rest of it. But we all know that all of these things don't really do much for the planet. And not only that, but these gifts often languish away in the cupboard for years to come. So how can you give an eco-friendly gift this Christmas? 🎅
We, of course, will make a case for the gift experience. Experiences make memories, they can be shared, they facilitate bonding and they are truly special.
Especially when they're an Indytute experience – but then, we're biased. We spend all our time thinking about experiences and activities that have a true connection with our customers, by which we mean you. Our experiences range from a bit mad to once-in-a-lifetime, and every single one has been vetted by us.
But it's not all about us, so we've tracked down the best sustainable present ideas for you to give or receive this Christmas – and we've thrown a few of our own experiences in, too.
🎄 9 Sustainable Christmas present ideas 🎄
Buy a gift for a refugee with Choose Love
Thanks to ingenious charity Choose Love, you can buy a gift from your significant other for someone in need. It can be a basic wash bag, medical care, a shower, or even access to a year of education. Every item on the Choose Love website represents a similar item or service in one of the charity's global projects.
choose.love
Chocolate and Love Gift Set
If you buy something edible, it doesn't count as clutter, right? Of course, it helps with it's as delicious – and as do-gooding – as Chocolate and Love's gift set. This totally gorgeous brand is Fairtrade, organic, mostly vegan, and out of this world good.
chocolateandlove.com
The Indytute's Clutch Bag Kit
Instead of just giving your fashion-forward pal a bag, give them a chance to make their own clutch bag of dreams with our super stylish home kit. They'll get everything they need to bake the bag, plus a little helping hand from a Zoom tutorial. The bag is made out of reclaimed leather, too. Ding ding ding!
indytute.com
Beeswax Wraps
If you feel like you have to get something physical, get them something they'll use. And beeswax wraps are just so damn handy – we carry them around in our bags all the time, true story. They're great for wrapping sandwiches (yum); cake (double yuuuum); storing fruit, like that mushy half-avo you've got knocking around the fridge; wrapping around your shampoo/conditioner/soap bar when you're on the move… The list is endless. You could even go one step further and gift your friend our beeswax wrap making experience.
indytute.com
Union Roasted Coffee Subscription
Oooh boy, this is a good'un. Firstly, it's delicious coffee. Secondly, it's a subscription, so you're lucky recipient gets it straight through their letter box, and Union Roasted works in partnership with smallholder growers to improve the quality of their beans and their livelihoods. ⠀
unionroasted.com
Tentree Christmas card
Swerve naff Christmas cards and do good for the planet at the same time with these slick numbers from Tentree. They're made from recycled post-consumer paper studded with tiny seeds, and each card plants one tree.
tentree.com
A charity donation for a cause they support
Or buy an Indytute experience on Black Friday and £5 will go to support The Fleabag Support Fund, so you're killing two birds with one stone there. Well done you.
Indytute Lino Cutting Kit
Give someone a gift they can use again and again and again and again and…. Oh, you get the gist. Once they've made their gorgeous lino cut out, they can use it to reprint their artwork an infinite number of times – just ask Sarah Spenser for their pro tips. So you're giving them the gift of both the experience and a lifetime of artwork – how very generous.
indytute.com
Indytute Gift Card
And last but absolutely not least, The Indytute Gift Card. We'd actually say it's the best of the lot – your recipient can choose whatever they like from our abundance of brilliantly curated experiences, whether it's a slap-up meal on a barge, the chance to learn how to paddleboard, or simply a whisky tasting masterclass in the comfort of their own home. And it's valid for two years, so no worries about it getting lost in the global pandemic.
indytute.com
FURTHER READING: Want some ways to celebrate? Try our stay-home party ideas.
Main image: Mel Poole
