Unless you enjoy circling the car park and dodging trolleys like it’s a contact sport, shopping centres might be best avoided at this time of year. Save yourself (and the planet) the stress by staying home and choosing gifts that are thoughtful, sustainable, and delightfully queue-free.
Here are eight eco-friendly Xmas gift ideas you can coordinate from the comfort of your own home:
Donate to charity
Make a donation in their name to something that matters to them. If they’re an animal lover like yourself, you could buy them a Pet Refuge Christmas e-card. To help bolster the habitats of our local birdlife, donate to Trees that Count and receive a personalised gift card for your recipient, letting them know where their native trees will be planted. Gift a donation to Sustainable Coastlines, and your gift will help remove plastic from our oceans, which is good news for all wildlife.
Sweeten them up
Fresh baking is a lifesaver after Christmas when everyone’s tired and over cooking. Whip up their favourite cookies, bliss balls, or a batch of old-school homemade fudge. The grandparents will adore a Christmas cake, while brandy snaps (with a bottle of cream, naturally) are bound to win over anyone. Wrapped in a repurposed tin, jar or box, home baking is always a thoughtful crowd-pleaser.
A growing gift
Sharing plants is one of the most charming and sustainable gift ideas. Take cuttings from your healthiest houseplants or separate pups from established plants, then pot them into small vessels – anything from a terracotta pot to an old mug works. Add a ribbon or paint the pot for personality. Include a handwritten care card with the plant’s name and light/water needs to help your leafy gift thrive long after Christmas.
Frame the fun
Photos make wonderfully personal gifts. Whether it’s your toddler paddling at the beach or your hound mid-zoomies, moments captured on camera feel extra special when printed and framed. Many online photo services can deliver prints or canvases within a week. No frame on hand? Try printing on canvas, or craft a DIY frame using these simple instructions.
Vouch for it
A time voucher can be more valuable than anything you buy. Offer your skills or a helping hand to clear gutters, do weeding, babysitting, dog-walking, lawn mowing – whatever your recipient could do with most. For older family members, this kind of support is incredibly meaningful. It’s practical, heartfelt, and guarantees more quality time together.
Pamper them
Homemade self-care gifts are affordable, sustainable, and genuinely lovely to receive. There are plenty of recipes online for delicious-smelling goodies. Packaged in a glass jar and decorated with your own label, this eco-friendly gift will add a little luxury to your recipient’s life.
Garden DIY
For something festive, this natural Christmas wreath made from foliage foraged in your backyard or local park is surprisingly simple to create. Seed bombs are super fun and easy to make, and kids love helping out with this one. You could also build a bug hotel or craft a DIY bird bath to support wildlife and bring more birds and beneficial insects into the garden.
“Christmas isn't a season. It's a feeling.”
- Edna Ferber
Eight: Leave it to them
With a gift card, your loved one can take their time to browse our online store, select something they love and have it delivered straight to the door. If they love watching wild birds, think chooks are choice or go mad for guinea pigs, we’ve got just the thing.
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