Green gift tips: sustainable, healthy and conscious
Since we are all already reasonably equipped with things, the bar is raised every year when buying presents. We – of course – only want gifts with a nice story. Because let's face it: that makes giving away even more fun, doesn't it? See here a growing list throughout the year sustainable, healthy and conscious gift tips. So be sure to include this list when you are diligently searching.
Specifically looking for the best gift for your three-year-old offspring? We have too.
A gift you give to a loved one here can have an impact elsewhere in the world where the need is greatest. These Dutch brands work with the giving back principle. And that's what makes a truly Happy Christmas.
• Four Leaves makes sustainable bed and bath linen and supports girls in Kenya from vulnerable situations and ensures that they can receive an education.
• SUITSUIT makes durable suitcases and suitcase covers. They also donate 10% of their profits to projects that promote female empowerment and gender equality in the travel and tourism industry.
• WakaWaka makes handy power banks en solar-power to take with you when you travel. In addition, they have a foundation with which they work to ensure that the more than 1 billion people who off-grid life be supplied with renewable energy.
When we talk about sustainability, we can of course start with the not materialistic of non-new gifts. Give the person you care about a moment or an adventure together. Give your loved one the gift of a beautiful walk in a nature reserve you've both never been to. Promise your grandmother to have lunch together every month. Give your sister with young children a gift card for five babysitting sessions for a self-care moment or date night. And agree with your friends to all give each other something you already have at home. The free but oh so valuable giftsThis is the sustainable gift idea at its best.
Vintage shopping Gifts are also a great idea! These are the most unique and special items, each with its own story. Think funky tableware, a classic LP record, a vintage piece of jewelry, or a timeless book. Plus, it's the sustainable choice.
There are skincare brands that clean using ingredients: better for your health and the planet.
• The wonderfully smelling Love Letter to the Mother gift set from the Dutch KENKÔ €44
• The slow skincare Organic Miracle Oil from the Dutch Abloom €23
• The deliciously soft Everyday Face Cream from the Danish Honey €62
• The mega nourishing Açai Facial Oil from the also Danish Rudolph Care €112
• The eye cream that really works Eye Recipe from Skin Office €158
B Corporations are certified companies whose mission is to make profits as well as profit the impact on people, the environment and society to make it a priority. The top of the line when it comes to sustainable business and there are 400+ Dutch companies that do it super sustainable and fair keep. Do they have nice gifts? Yes, just look at this list of beautiful B-corps items:
- Beauty of Amsterdam 10 days like the oversized sweater
- Create a double bottle with a handy carrier
- A sustainable bag from O My Bag
- Wonderful skincare for young and old Naïve
- A piece of clothing from Mud Jeans
- Creams of Food for Skin made from leftover vegetables
- Everything of Dill & Chamomile
Cap makes the most beautiful, timeless beanies and scarves you'll want to wear again next year, and even five years from now. Ethically responsible and handmade in Scotland; 75% wool and 25% Caregora.
Rain again, then another one Postal Code Upside down. 10DAYS can fix that for you too. Baseball cap €39,90
The essential accessory if you live in the Netherlands: a good raincoat. The rain poncho from Amsterdam-based Maium is made from recycled PET bottles and will keep you dry for years to come. Maium Raincoat €154
Clothing is of course very personal, but every year it is a bull's eye to give and receive. We've got you covered!
• Absolute Cashmere and produces fairly and cleanly in Mongolia. The wool is obtained using a comb, which is used to carefully and manually comb the wool from the fleece. Soeli sweater €305
• The Dutch Alchemist produces cleanly and fairly in Europe. Star high waist loose fit jeans €149,95
• 10 days from Amsterdam became a B-Corp this year and makes comfortable, sustainable clothing. This technical parka is everything you need in winter. €449,90
• For the men there is New Amsterdam Surf Association. Logo hoodie €140
With Kinfill Transform your cleaning routine into a celebration for both your home and the planet. No more single-use plastic bottles, but stylish refillable containers. You can leave them lying around your room.
Also Ayen Works with refills. The botanical formulas smell wonderful, and the sturdy glass bottle is refillable. Wilderloof Hand Wash €35
You get wonderfully warm feet from SOXS. The animal-friendly wool from New Zealand sheep is processed in Europe into warm socks. There are socks in all heights and sizes. The socks with the Sleep well label is wonderful for in bed.
A perfect gift for the nature-loving gardener is ORO Wool Pellet. They make plant food from waste wool. A lot of Dutch wool can't be used for textiles and is thrown away. ORO Wool Pellet makes it sustainable plant food Good for your garden and for nature.
The Dutch designer Foekje Fleur creates beautiful, colorful and sustainable itemsShe designed and makes soap and soap dishes that reduce plastic use, beautiful kitchen towels made from leftover fabrics, and Wimpy's wool repair kit. So many great ideas in a beautiful design!
For that awful shithead Just kidding, of course. In your family, you give toilet paper as a gift. The Good Roll makes cheerfully packaged toilet paper with an impact. A whopping 50% of the profits are used to build sanitary facilities in Ghana. A nice gift, for example, is the Bamboo Home Kit, with toilet paper, kitchen paper and tissues.
Since coffee is essential in (almost) every household, a subscription is recommended. It may seem a bit exaggerated, but secretly it is very nice to always have a supply at home. It is always possible to adjust your order, pause or cancel your subscription, so you can keep the reins (cups) in your own hands.
Not only people love coffee, plants love it too. At least on the coffee cups The Coffee Boys, because they are made from and for plants. Because they are 100% biodegradable, you can throw them on your compost heap or in the organic waste bin after use. Is that sustainable coffee also drinkable? Sure. Tried, tested and approved by Team Bart.
With Treedom You can give a tree as a gift. Your coffee, cocoa, banana, or avocado tree will be planted somewhere in the world by a sustainable farmer. And then you can continue to monitor how much oxygen your own tree emits and absorbs in CO2. Now that's a truly magnificent gift.
Adopt a wild animal. Not for your home of course but thanks to WWF Simply in the natural habitat of the tortoise, elephant, orangutan, or tiger. For a one-time donation of €35, you support the protection of these animals. The adoption package includes a set of facts and stories about the animal, updates on its current status, and, if you'd like, a cuddle.
Another non-materialistic tip. Knowledge, self-improvement and development do not have to be vague. On the contrary, it can also be very practical and applicable. A course or masterclass is great fun to give (to yourself). Bee Reductions they offer a whole bunch of them. From AI, new design, stop motion, to Web3, TikTok and storytelling. Consider a PR Retreat, a Voice Actor course, Directing, Copywriting or Graphic Design. That's not all; the range of master classes and training courses is enormous and varied.
