65 Ethical Gift Ideas For A Conscious Christmas
If you’re searching for the perfect sustainable Christmas gift, look no further. I’ve listed 65 ethical gift ideas from conscious brands in the UK, the USA, and Australia.
This post contains affiliate links
“Who made your Christmas gifts?” is the question we all need to be asking this year.
Plastic waste gets a lot of attention from environmentalists (and rightly so) but when you shift your focus to human rights, conscious consumption can have a profoundly positive impact.
I created this list of 65 ethical gift ideas to help anyone wanting to shop sustainably this Christmas.
(P.S. Don’t forget to check the gift guide section on my blog for more gift ideas such as eco-friendly stocking filler ideas on a budget, and gift ideas for men)
What is ethical shopping?
The fact that you’re here at Christmastime shows that you care, but you may be wondering what ethical shopping is. This is my definition:
Ethical shopping is intentionally buying from brands that aren’t exploiting people, animals or the environment. An ethical shopper chooses to support small or local businesses and small-scale artisans over tax-avoiding corporations.
Why is ethical shopping important?
Ethical shopping is increasing in popularity (hooray) with 53% of adults wanting a more sustainable Christmas.
People are starting to realise that the products sold in supermarkets and on the high street are made overseas by people on poverty wages.
While millions of people (mostly BIPOC) struggle to feed their families, the corporations they make products for are hiding huge profits in offshore tax havens.
It’s not surprising that people who are able to are happy to pay more to support a sustainable brand.
If given a choice, you’re going to choose the brand that can guarantee no child labour or illegal timber (FSC certification isn’t reliable) was used in their manufacturing.
While shopping second-hand is the most eco-friendly choice, it doesn’t protect the workers overseas who have been exploited by our overconsumption and neocolonialism for so long.
This is where ethical shopping comes in.
65 ethical gift ideas
I created this list of ethical gift ideas to help anyone wanting to make a positive impact this Christmas.
Sustainable shopping isn’t mainstream and there is so much greenwashing around it can be hard to know who to trust. If you’re unsure, always check for green credentials that protect workers.
The companies on this list are either Fairtrade, ethically source their ingredients, or donate part of their profits to social causes. There are also a few eco-friendly alternatives to popular Christmas presents thrown in.
As important as it is to reduce your waste and consumption, buying from Fairtrade brands can improve the lives of people all over the world. When people in developing countries become empowered, it gives them the resources to send their children to school.
You might also enjoy my blog post on How to wrap presents in an eco-friendly way, or these tips for making your Christmas sustainable.
If you’re buying for kids, you might like Sustainable wooden toy brands that aren’t greenwashing.
CATEGORIES:
Fairtrade Christmas gifts
Ethical beauty gifts for her
Ethical toiletries for him
Sustainable kid’s clothes and toys
Ethical jewellery
Underwear and activewear
Perfume and candles
Sustainable electronics
Fairtrade Christmas Gifts
This section contains gifts ethically made gifts by people under Fairtrade conditions, or supporting charities that help people in developing countries.
Social Stories Club
UK-based with international shipping
When you buy a gift hamper from Social Stories Club, you are supporting disadvantaged communities and providing a fair income to the farmers who made the products.
The hampers feature tea, biscuits, chocolate bars, honey, coffee, and many more treats with no slavery in the supply chain. You can choose from a range of different sizes, or make your own.
Soul Flower
US-based with international shipping
Soulflower started off as a boho clothing boutique selling eco-friendly clothing at festivals and has since grown into an online store.
They source their natural fabrics from certified suppliers (all cotton meets GOTS criteria) and their hippy screen-printed designs are inspired by nature, music and positivity.
Not all clothing is certified Fairtrade, however, it is all ethically made using low-impact dyes
If you use the filter (using the features tab in the menu) you can filter to Fairtrade and other ethical values.
Check out Fairtrade clothes at Soulflower
View harem pants
View mushroom products
View tie dye
Etiko
Based in Australia with worldwide shipping
Etiko is an ethical fashion brand that sells organic and Fairtrade clothing and accessories. Their founder wanted to create a brand that was free from child labour and underpaid garment workers.
Their shoes replace plastic with natural rubber from the Hevea rubber tree, organic cotton and are created in a Fairtrade factory.
Nudie
EU-based (with no extra customs charges for the UK) and international shipping
Well-known for their ethical jeans, this Swedish brand is about much more than just denim. They’ve got Fairtrade cotton t-shirts and jumpers, plus, for those of you who want to be ethical and sustainable from head to toe, they also sell Fairtrade underwear. All clothing is delivered to you in a beautifully designed box ready for gifting.
Terra Thread
Terra Thread creates ethical bags and apparel from organic cotton in Fairtrade factories so you can be sure your gift is making a positive impact on the lives of others.
It traces and audits all of its supply chain and claims that all products are vegan-friendly.
Recycled silk scarves
UK-based with international shipping
These beautiful scarves are made from recycled silk, linen or wool and handmade in Kathmandu by one of the leading fair trade felt companies in Nepal.
The Fairtrade scarves can be bought from Green Tulip, a small ethical gift shop that sells a large range of artisan-made gifts, each one telling a story and supporting a community
Oxfam Unwrapped (global)
This is the perfect present for someone who doesn’t want a physical gift.
Oxfam has a range of e-cards and gift cards that help fight poverty. For a limited time, all proceeds of Unwrapped gifts are helping people affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Life is already challenging enough for people facing conflict, disaster and poverty. There couldn’t be a better time to use your gift to help others.
Fair Squared
UK-based
Fair Squared are a Fairtrade brand that works to ensure all people in the supply chain benefit from their business - that includes farmers, producers, suppliers and manufacturers.
Their affordable range of products, which include soap gift sets, skincare, hair products and lip balm is packaged in eco-friendly packaging wherever possible and is cruelty-free.
Fair Squared also distributes free condoms to help in the fight against aids.
Discovered
US-based with international shipping
Discovered is an online marketplace for handmade products that have been ethically crafted by artisans in emerging countries. Its goal is to connect skilled people from countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Kenya to consumers all over the world.
Their products are beautiful and unique - they make the perfect gift for someone who values a meaningful gift.
Discovered sell a range of beautiful products, like bags, jewellery, and home decor. Their handwoven pashmina scarves would also make a lovely gift.
Social Supermarket
UK only
If you want to buy ethical gifts that support marginalised communities, give back to charities (such as domestic violence or human trafficking), and empower positive social change, then Social Supermarket is perfect for you.
You probably know that popular supermarkets are unethical due to their cheap products coming from exploitative practices that harm both people and the planet.
Social Supermarket is the opposite, bringing thousands of ethical products to one online marketplace.
Featured is Miss Macaroon, a supplier of vibrant treats and beverage gift sets, which provide work experience to disadvantaged young people.
Check out Social Supermarket's gifts
View Miss Macaroon gift sets
Bush Medijina
Based in Australia
Bush Medijina is an indigenous women-owned business that combines traditional cultural knowledge with modern skincare to create effective products.
They are lovingly handmade by local aboriginal women using wild-harvested organic ingredients.
Each of the balms in this gift set has medicinal extracts mixed with a coconut oil and beeswax base. They provide relief against sore, irritated skin, congestion, and a stressed and tired mind.
Ten Thousand Villages
USA only
Every handcrafted gift in Ten Thousand Villages has a meaning behind it. They are a non-profit Fairtrade organisation selling handmade products by disadvantaged artisans from more than 120 artisan groups in more than 35 countries.
If you know someone with individual personal style or unique decor in their home, then they will love knowing the story behind the objects, jewellery and accessories in this ethical gift store.
2. Ethical beauty gifts for her
Beauty products are made up of many different ingredients, yet most supply chains are secretive. This is a big red flag because you have no way of working out if the coconut oil came from farmers in poverty, if there is unsustainable palm oil inside, or if birds were harmed during the olive oil harvesting.
The beauty industry also has a serious microplastic problem with many ingredients being derived from fossil fuels.
Always look for green credentials, like Fairtrade and organic so you know the product you’re buying isn’t harmful to people or the planet.
The following ethical beauty brands contain responsibly sourced ingredients and no petrochemicals or microplastics.
Don’t forget to check out my discounts page for money off at selected retailers.
Evolve Beauty
Based in the UK with international delivery options
Swap your Boots gift set (unfortunately Boots test on animals) for the luxury organic beauty brand, Evolve. Each product is made by hand in a UK factory running on renewable energy.
They use sustainably sourced ingredients that are kind to the earth and package them in glass with lids made from recycled plastic.
The product in the photograph above uses mica to give it a gold shimmer. Child labour is a big problem in the mica industry, yet you will find mica in all mainstream eyeshadows. You can be sure Evolve’s mica is sustainably sourced because the product is certified by Ecocert and is organic.
I’ve been using Evolve’s products for a couple of years now and I’m a big fan.
Check out Evolve Beauty gift sets.
View gold bio-retinol face mask
Earth Harbor - Glow On Kit
Based in the USA with international shipping
This ethical beauty gift set by Earth Harbor contains a moisturiser, a serum, a night cream and a mask for glowing skin.
Earth Harbor was born out of a love for the Earth and a passion for creating ocean-friendly products.
Their products are formulated to European standards with what seems like every certification going (including organic, carbon-negative and cruelty-free)!
If you are looking for products that are eco-friendly and natural (aka no synthetic petrochemical derivatives, GMOs or controversial ingredients) then you will adore Earth Harbor.
Odylique - Rose Gift Set
Based in the UK with international shipping
Handmade in Sussex for 30 years, natural beauty brand Odylique stands out from the crowd because they don’t outsource to mass-production factories.
The Rose Giftset includes their Timeless Rose Moisturiser, a calming toner, and their creamy cleanser. It is available in trial size in plastic tubes or full size in glass bottles.
Odylique is one of the most sustainable beauty brands I’ve come across and also the most effective thanks to their therapeutic ingredients.
I’ve also reviewed their avocado giftset in the past.
*Use my affiliate discount code LAZY20 for 20% off.
Mokosh
Based in Australia with international shipping
Marian, the founder of Mokosh, believes you don’t need a new product for each area of your face, that water is unnecessary in skin care and that skin problems should be treated with formulas that restore the skin’s natural state.
Their starter kit is a four-step set to cleanse, balance, nourish and protect. It is certified organic, cruelty-free, and is free from palm oil.
Elate Cosmetics
Based in the USA
Elate is an ethical beauty brand that creates naturally derived make-up in bamboo packaging.
Elate also offer refills that come in seed paper meaning you can plant the envelope in your garden afterwards and watch wildflowers grow. How awesome is that?
Their products are 90% organic and cruelty-free. Elate source as many ingredients from Fairtrade producers as possible. Their bamboo supplier is green certified and Fairtrade so you can be sure employees are being paid and provided with opportunities throughout the supply chain.
Check out Elate Cosmetics at EarthHero*
*Get 10% off with my affiliate code - SUSTAINABLYLAZY
Conscious Skincare
Based in the UK
Rebecca founded Conscious Skincare after struggling to find products suitable for her skin problems caused by hypothyroidism. She wanted ingredients to be naturally derived and suitable for the allergy sufferers in her family.
Conscious Skincare put people before profit. Their ingredients are ethically sourced, organic and cruelty-free and their packaging is eco-friendly (aluminium, glass, recycled plastic and recycled paper).
Earth Mama Organics
US-based, email them for an international delivery quote
Earth Mama make its products from the safest ingredients nature has to offer. Founded by a herbalist trained in plant medicine, Earth Mama provides natural parent and baby products and empowers the entire birth experience through their blog and free birth plans.
All their products are certified by USDA and NSF organic, leaping bunny (cruelty-free), EWG, EarthKosher and non-GMO so you can be sure they are natural and eco-friendly.
Check out Earth Mama Organics
View pregnancy gift set “mama to be”
Hairy Jayne
UK only
Hairy Jayne makes ideal gifts for people who want to reduce the plastic in their beauty routine.
Jayne, who was a professional hairdresser in London for almost 20 years before starting her ethical indie business, makes zero-waste skin and hair products by hand in the UK.
Her products are vegan, cruelty-free, and free from palm oil. What’s also great is her shampoo bars will leave you with lovely clean, fresh hair - I feel safe saying this as I’ve tried them myself.
3. Ethical Toiletries for men
It can be hard to find ethical toiletries for the men in your family at Christmas, especially if they haven’t expressed an interest in sustainability. You desperately want to get it right so they keep using the eco gifts you buy.
Here are some highly rated small businesses selling a range of sustainable skin and hair care products marketed toward men.
If you’re in the UK and would like more gift ideas for men, check out this Father’s Day gift guide.
Green People
UK-based with some overseas delivery options
Green People offer two gift sets for men containing organic, cruelty-free toiletries.
Green People is a well-known ethical brand that is transparent about the ingredients they use in its products. They are certified microplastic-free making them ideal for anyone who cares about the environmental impact of their ingredients.
Some of their products are packaged in sugar cane but many come in recyclable plastic packaging that should be able to go in your home recycling bin.
Badger
Based in the USA, with worldwide stockists
Badger is a family-run B Corporation located in New Hampshire. Their products use traditional, plant-based ingredients that are minimally processed and certified organic.
Lots of their products marketed toward men involve grooming or shaving body hair, but they also sell balms for the skin, too.
Buy at EarthHero US
Buy at Biome AU
Buy at Big Green Smile UK/EU
The Australian Natural Soap Company
Based in Australia with International shipping
The Australian Natural Soap Company (ANSC) is a family business established in 2013. Once upon a time, they made their products in their kitchen and today they are still handmade.
The ANSC believe that our environment knows best when it comes to nourishing, and sustaining healthy beautiful skin so they only use the highest quality plant oils in their products.
Bambaw
UK and EU delivery only
This is the best safety razor ever, at least that’s my opinion having used it for over three years. It’s easy to grip and gives a cleaner shave than a disposable razor.
Bambaw is an eco-friendly brand that sells a range of plastic-free, compostable and reusable products for the home and on the go.
Our Green House
Based in the USA
Our Green House is a family business that sells a large range of natural products and gifts. It is easy to find something for the eco-conscious man in your life.
Their products are all organic and many are Fairtrade too so you can be sure ingredients are ethically sourced.
This plastic-free hand salve is made by Whispering Willow, a family-owned company dedicated to creating quality natural apothecary products.
Wild refillable deodorant
Based in the UK with international shipping
The refillable deodorant brand Wild is definitely the coolest-looking deodorant I’ve seen. You can either make a one-off purchase or set up a flexible subscription so that the refills get posted to you every three months.
There’s a “for him” set with 3 refills or you can set up a subscription to receive a refill as often as you like.
I recently reviewed Wild’s new sensitive range which is bicarbonate-free as my partner has been struggling with a rash from his previous natural deodorant (a different brand) and he’s very happy with Wild. (Please note Wild is not an antiperspirant - for more details see my blog post on transitioning to a natural deodorant)
Check out Wild’s shop*
Sign up*
*Use my affiliate discount code for 10% off - AFFLAZY10
4. Ethically-made kid’s clothes + toys
You might think buying ethical toys for Christmas is easy now that wooden toys are in all the high street stores, but being made from wood doesn’t mean it is sustainable.
Cheap pressed wood, like MDF, is produced with hazardous formaldehyde adhesive (although restrictions have finally just come into place in the EU) and may be painted with paint containing plastic or animal fat.
The majority of cheap wooden toys are also mass-produced in China where illegal timber and forced labour are a problem. The FSC is not a trustworthy organisation and evidence suggests forests are still not being sustainably managed under them.
The only solution is to buy toys secondhand or to choose retailers that use absolute transparency in their supply chain.
Plan Toys
My favourite toy brand is the award-winning plan toys that go above and beyond in quality and transparency. They even designed their own wood from the sawdust of latex trees that can be used in the bath.
Most of the toys are made from rubberwood which is a byproduct of the rubber industry and their glue is formaldehyde-free.
They cover all ages, all budgets, and have something for all ages.
Find at Walmart (US)
Buy at Honeybug (USA)
Buy at EarthHero (USA)
Check Kidizen - preloved (USA)
Lanka Kade
UK only
Lanka Kade is an affordable toy brand that makes certified Fairtrade toys by hand in Sri Lanka.
Most of their toys are made from rubberwood which comes from rubber plantations. This type of wood is a by-product of the rubber industry and is often burnt, so reusing it to make toys is eco-friendly.
They also sell a range of handmade ragdolls with a range of skin tones.
Browse at Ethical Superstore
Browse at Not On The Highstreet
View minibeast puzzle
View insects
Our Green House
Based in the USA
Our Green House is a family business selling a huge range of ethical and organic children and home products.
Half their online store is dedicated to eco-friendly gift hampers and the other sells organic and wooden toys, arts and crafts, organic clothing and dressing up, plus they have a range of ethically sourced products for your home. Lots of their range is Fairtrade, while others are handmade in the USA.
Here are some quick links to popular categories:
Green Toys
Based in the USA with overseas stockists
Green Toys have created a brilliant range of toys from recycled plastic milk jugs. As much as I adore wooden toys, plastic definitely has a place.
We use Green Toys in the bath and paddling pool where mould can be a problem. They get buried in the dirt or our veggie patch. At the end of the day, I don’t have to worry that they will be hard to clean or damaged.
The quality is excellent and they are free from toxic chemicals, like BPA and phthalates.
*10% off with code sustainablylazy
Little Green Radicals
UK-based with international delivery
London-based Little Green Radicals started life in 2005 with a passion for fair trade and a quirky sense of humour. They were one of the first companies to use Fairtrade-certified organic cotton to make ethical baby and children’s clothing.
All clothing from Little Green Radicals is organic and certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard, it also carries the Fairtrade logo.
Finn and Emma
Made using 100% natural and organic materials, Finn and Emma create ethical kids’ clothing and accessories in Fairtrade factories which provide economic security for local people, particularly women.
Finn and Emma sell clothes with pretty prints and simple graphic designs alongside a range of wooden toys and baby accessories.
For more ethical children’s clothing brands, check out 20 ethical and organic children’s clothing brands for babies and kids.
5. Eco-friendly jewellery
Jewellery can make a special gift for someone you care about at Christmas, but is your necklace ethically made?
Gold, silver and gemstones come with an abundance of ethical and environmental issues. Not only is mining a carbon-intensive and polluting industry, but child labour is also a serious issue.
Gold mining uses toxic chemicals like mercury to extract gold from the rock so it is incredibly dangerous work for children.
Supporting sellers using recycled metals is the eco-friendly choice, whereas choosing Fairtrade, responsibly mined jewellery can boost the economies of rural communities who depend on mining for work.
If you’re after a jewellery gift and want to know more ethical brands, check out 12 Ethical Jewellery Brands In The UK
Astor and Orion
Based in the USA, ships internationally
Astor + Orion is a partnership between renowned American sculptor, Tomas Wittelsbach, and Karen Hartman. Designs are printed in 3D and transferred to the factory to be cast in recycled metal.
Hartman chose to partner with an ethical factory in Thailand for their manufacturing. She chose it because it has a state-of-the-art water filtration system, which earned them an international certification for its environmental practices.
Inspired by nature, mandalas and kaleidoscopes, Astor and Orion are reminding the world that sustainable products are anything but boring.
View dreamer hoop earrings
Check out Astor and Orion gifts under $50
MATILDE JEWELLERY
Based in the UK with free international shipping
Materials: Recycled metals and lab-grown diamonds
Price range: ££ - ££££
Matilde Mourinho is a jewellery designer who recently launched her own sustainable jewellery brand. Made by artisans in Turkey, Matilde uses lab-grown diamonds to reduce the environmental impact and human exploitation that happens with mining.
Sustainable At Biome
Based in AU
Biome is an ethical lifestyle store in Australia that stocks a beautiful collection of ethical jewellery.
Combining style with sustainability, they stock jewellery from local designers who make the pieces by hand in small batches and Indigenous-owned and operated small businesses.
Lebrusan Studios
Based in the UK
Planning a Christmas proposal?
Lebrusan was one of the first UK retailers to be licensed in Fairtrade gold and silver so her metals can be traced back to the exact mines they came from.
Arabel Lebrusan is an award-winning designer who believes “jewellery has the power to change lives” and has committed to using ethically sourced diamonds and sapphires.
FUTURA
Based in the USA with international shipping
Futura is a sustainable jewelry brand that exclusively uses Fairmined ecological gold which is the only type of gold that is mined without toxic chemicals, like mercury.
It traces all of its supply chain and ensures payment of a living wage. Each product is made by hand in the USA to reduce its carbon footprint.
3RD/DIADEM
3RD/DIADEM is a small business founded by Japanese designer and maker, Gow Tanaka. He makes ethical unisex jewellery in an East London workshop.
Gow takes inspiration from his cultural heritage and combines it with European lifestyle to create innovative eco-friendly designs using unique materials like recycled paper composite.
Veo.World
Veo is an ethical marketplace that sells a range of ethical jewellery from various small businesses, making it easier to find something to suit your individual taste.
Their collection of jewellery is handmade by Fairtrade artisans or small UK sellers so you can be sure your gift is one of a kind.
Brilliant Earth
US-based with international shipping
Brilliant Earth goes above and beyond the current conflict-free standards to produce jewellery from diamonds that can be traced back to specific mines. This level of transparency protects against human rights abuses and unsafe practices.
Through Brilliant Earth, you can design your own engagement and wedding rings. Their website is very advanced, you can even adjust the skin colour to get a better idea of what the ring will look like next to your skin.
They also have options for recycled diamonds, lab-grown gemstones and antique or vintage jewellery.
Kaligarh
Based in the UK
Ethical jewellery brand Kaligarh partnered with Himalayan artisans to help revive fading artistic traditions. Supporting them in their specialist craft has helped them rebuild their lives and identity after the 2015 earthquake.
Most small-scale artisans work independently so Kaligarh work with artisans directly and pays them premium rates
Discovered
US-based with international shipping
Discovered sells a range of ethically sourced jewellery made by artisans around the world. They are an online marketplace allowing you to buy directly from the maker.
This way, you can buy beautiful jewellery at a fair price and skilled artisans have a chance to sell to a global market and improve their livelihood.
Discovered have a section on its website that tells you the story of the people making their jewellery.
Aurate
Based in the USA with international shipping
Aurate is a women-owned brand based in NYC. It began with the goal of creating stylish contemporary jewellery that was also ethically sourced.
All its gold is 100% recycled and each diamond is carefully selected and tracked to ensure no exploitation is taking place.
6. Eco-friendly activewear + Underwear
Thinking of getting someone clothing for Christmas? Did you know most underwear and activewear products are made from synthetic materials derived from fossil fuels? Here are a few sustainable brands making clothing responsibly.
Find more brands here: 16 Sustainable + Ethical Underwear Brands (For Men + Women)
Planet Warrior
UK only
Most activewear is not ethical. It is made from petroleum (a fossil fuel derivative) and yoga mats are usually made of PVC - the most toxic of all plastics.
Planet Warrior is changing that by making yoga clothing and accessories from recycled plastic bottles and eco rubber. They are also partnered with Just Once Tree so that trees get planted with each sale.
I am a fan of brands that use recycled plastic. There is so much already on the earth so it makes sense to be reusing it.
While their activewear is eco-friendly (and their designs are awesome), unfortunately, they do not have inclusive sizing.
Check out Planet Warrior
View palm leggings (matching bra available)
WAMA
Based in the US with international shipping
WAMA chose to make its underwear out of hemp because it is an incredibly eco-friendly plant requiring little water and is naturally resistant to pests. It also regenerates the soil and grows so quickly it can be harvested multiple times a year.
This makes hemp one of the most sustainable fabrics.
WAMA have a range of styles for men and women, including bralettes. Their products are certified by Oeko-Tex, Peta (cruelty-free), and Green America and they participate in the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) to help promote good working conditions in supply chains. WAMA say they pay fair wages and have a team member overseeing their supply chain in person.
Maylyn & Co
Located in Canada and ships worldwide, free shipping to the US and CA
Maylyn & Co. is a loungewear and lingerie brand from Ontario. They create slip dresses and robes using slow production methods in a factory where garment workers are treated respectfully.
Their founder, May, was fed up with synthetic materials irritating her skin so she designed a breathable and comfortable range of sleepwear from plant-based, organic fabrics. Their trademarked vegan silk is certified cruelty-free by Peta.
Check out Maylyn & Co*
View vegan silk slip
*Use my affiliate code for 10% off: SOPHIE
Rapanui
Rapanui is a popular ethical fashion brand when it comes to Christmas gifts because they offer money-saving multipacks.
Rapanui is a vegan sustainable fashion brand based on the Isle of Wight. They use renewable energy throughout the supply chain to lower their carbon footprint (their factory in India owns two wind farms!) Rapanui t-shirts are made to order and printed on the Isle of Wight. They only use sustainable materials, like organic cotton that is responsibly grown in India. Rapanui has also designed its clothing to be circular - at the end of its life, it takes it back to make new clothing.
Thought
Based in the UK with international shipping
Thought is an ethical clothing brand in the UK. It reduces its climate footprint through its use of sea freight for shipping its products and reuses most of its offcuts to minimise textile waste.
Its underwear is made from organic cotton or recycled nylon if you prefer no VPL.
Girlfriend Collective
Based in the USA (ships to Canada, the UK, and Australia)
With underwear and leggings going up to 6XL, Girlfriend Collective was one of the first ethical fashion brands to offer inclusive sizing.
Its underwear and leggings are made from recycled materials like post-consumer water bottles, fishing nets retrieved from the seas, fabric scraps, and other waste. They also score well for labour rights.
Etiko
Based in Australia, with international shipping
Etiko were the first brand in the Southern Hemisphere to become Fairtrade certified. Since launching their business in 2005, they have made human rights a priority.
They wanted to be 100% sure no child or adult was being exploited in their supply chain. They have also got high environmental standards, using eco-friendly, vegan materials in all their products.
Bam
Based in the UK with international shipping
Bam, which creates super-soft, high-quality clothing from bamboo viscose, has gone above and beyond to leave a positive impact on the environment while ensuring its supply chain is safe and transparent.
You may recognise their name from the well-known bamboo socks and luxuriously soft underwear they produce but they also sell a good range of activewear and basics for all different activities.
View men's underwear*
View women’s underwear
Men’s bamboo jersey briefs
*Get 5% off with my code BAMBAM5
Pact
Based in the USA with international shipping
Ethical underwear doesn’t have to be boring.
Pact creates PFA-free underwear from certified organic cotton so you can be sure they are committed to reducing their environmental impact.
They are partnered with Fairtrade and pay living wages.
Seasalt
Based in the UK with international shipping
Seasalt brought ethical clothing to the high street. They were the very first fashion brand to achieve Soil Association certification back in 2005.
They sell GOTS organic cotton leggings at various prices and have inclusive sizing.
7. perfumes + Candles
Perfume - a popular product at Christmas, despite the fact nobody knows what they’re breathing in.
Whether you’re spraying it on your neck or your toilet, all fragrances are allowed to be a “trade secret.” When you see the word “parfum” on a product, it could contain hundreds of chemicals including animal derivatives, petroleum and phthalates (hormone-disrupting chemicals linked to infertility and cancers).
Here are some naturally derived organic perfumes and candles using natural ingredients:
Haoma
Based in the UK
Haoma has a range of perfumes made from essential oils. They are handmade in small batches and are vegan, cruelty-free and 96% organic.
Sandalwood incense set
Based in the USA
The Sandalwood Incense Set is a handmade self‐care gift set made in the Silence workshop in India—an artisan group where people with disabilities learn craft skills and are offered employment.
The set includes tea lights, a terrycloth scrubber, a bar of soap, sandalwood incense and a terracotta incense holder plate.
Dindi Natural
Based in Australia
Dindi Natural produce small batches of organic perfume by hand. It is made in a solar-powered factory in Australia from native plant extracts.
Fragrances are available for men and women.
Botanical Roll on
This handy essential oil body scent fits conveniently in your bag or pocket. It is phthalate-free and made from 100% therapeutic grade essential oils.
Green Tulip Candles
UK-based with international shipping
Green Tulip, an ethical Christmas gift retailer, makes their candles by hand in Wiltshire from clean-burning, plant wax and fragranced with essential oils. The wax, which is made from soya and rapeseed oil, is palm oil-free, vegan, and contains no petrochemicals.
Green Tulip have also used recycled glass in their candle pots to reduce the impact.
P.F Candle Co.
USA-based
If you want to gift an ethical candle that is free from toxic ingredients, then P.F Candle Co. is for you. Their goal is to uplift your mood with the powers of a burning candle without the harmful chemicals from paraffin waxes.
Each candle is handmade from locally sourced soy wax, with phthalate-free fragrances and reusable jars.
*10% off with sustainablylazy
Viam Organics
Viam Organics’ naturally scented candles are made from pure soy wax and sit in an elegant black glass jar that will suit any decor. They are packed full of Australian essential oils to create an ambient fragrance without toxic chemicals.
8. Sustainable technology
Buying ethically made electronics is so important at Christmas because technology is one of the worst industries for exploitation and pollution.
In areas of conflict, people, including children, are forced to mine the minerals used in electronics and then the profits go to the army which prolongs the conflict.
This Christmas, instead of buying new, it’s worth considering buying preloved or refurbished. I have been using second-hand phones for years with no issues (although there is always a risk so you have to be smart about it).
Refurbished products tend to come with a warranty for peace of mind. When my toddler smashed our television three years ago, we opted for a refurbished replacement which saved us a lot of money.
Stone Refurb
UK only
Stone refurb sells a range of professionally refurbished desktop computers, laptops, tablets and accessories.
To make it simpler to browse, you can search by brand or by a specific need, for example, laptops for students or desktop gaming computers.
Products come with a 6-month warranty and you can extend that if you would like to.
Pela Case
Based in Canada but has worldwide retailers
Pela Case sells eco-friendly phone cases, AirPod cases, SmartWatch bands and other accessories all made from recycled materials.
Checkout Pelacase website (remember to click the flag icon and change your location)
Personalised bamboo charging dock
All of Mirrorin’s keepsakes and personalised products are handmade to order in their studio in North Yorkshire. They have a variety of gifts like sketchbooks, frames and magnets, mostly made from wood or bamboo and engraved using a laser.
Mass production has devasting consequences on the planet so it’s far more ethical to choose small UK businesses that pay their workers and their taxes.
EarthHero tech
US only
EarthHero sells a range of sustainable audio and tech products made from upcycled, recycled or responsibly sourced materials, for example:
bamboo and recycled plastic Bluetooth speakers
wooden phone and watch charging docks
plant-based, bio-plastic headphones
*use SUSTAINABLYLAZY for 10% off
Grade Mobile
If you want to buy ethical gifts this year, you need to be extra cautious when buying electronics. It’s no secret that Apple has a long history of human rights exploration and child labour it’s in supply chains.
Grade Mobile is making it easy to buy refurbished and unlocked phones, tablets and Apple watches. Not only is it more affordable, it’s also environmentally friendly.
All Grade Mobile products come with a 12-month warranty with free returns and replacements if there is a fault during this time.
I hope you found this useful enough that you don’t need to shop at Amazon this year. There are so many small companies that value the lives of people in their supply chain and want to protect the earth and give back more than they take.
Don’t forget to share with your friends so they can avoid Amazon too.
What ethics are most important to you when shopping for gifts? Let me know in the comments below.
