What are the best eco-friendly Christmas gifts?

1. Water bottles

First up on our list of eco-friendly Christmas gifts are water bottles. If your recipient is forever buying bottles of water, then this is the perfect gift for them. All the plastic bottles they throw away are slowly ruining the environment. A reusable water bottle is a much more sustainable method. There are so many reusable water bottles to choose from. You could even get the bottle personalised with their name on it.

If they prefer coffee, you can also buy them a reusable coffee cup. Ditch those plastic cups for this sustainable option. Plus, there are some pretty designs to choose from, so they’ll enjoy drinking their coffee in style.

2. Bamboo pot

This next eco-friendly Christmas gift is perfect for those who love storage pots. This bamboo wooden pot is a great substitute for plastics pots. The item is purely made from bamboo and is varnished to protect it against water. It’s a great gift idea for those who like to keep things organised. It can be used to hold cutlery, or even as a pen holder for a desk. Practical and sustainable.

3. Handmade soaps

We all love receiving fresh smelling toiletries at Christmas. But just think about how many of them come in plastics bottles and tubs. All of which ends back out into the environment and can cause harm to animals. So, this year, when buying your loved one’s toiletries, choose more sustainable ideas.

You can buy handmade products such as soap wrapped in paper. This is also a great way of supporting local businesses whilst protecting the environment. Your loved ones will appreciate a hand-made gift too.

Which scented soap will you choose?

4. Reusable make up pads

If you still need more eco-friendly Christmas gifts, then keep reading this blog. There are so many things that can be reused. Many of us just buy the product again for the sake of convenience. The truth is we should all be doing more to save the planet and reuse products where possible.

This idea is great for people who use a lot of face wipes, as they too can cause harm to the environment. Swap face wipes for reusable make-up pads. Not only will you be protecting the planet, but your recipient will also save money not constantly buying face wipes.

5. Reusable shopping bags

If you’re buying Christmas presents for a shopaholic, this next item is a must for them. Ditch the carrier bags and buy them some reusable shopping bags for their shopping trips. There are so many designs to choose from. You could even create some personalised bags to suit them. They’ll love going shopping even more with their personalised bags.

6. Recycled bookmarks

The next item on our list of eco-friendly Christmas gifts is perfect for those avid book readers in your life. Help save the planet by gifting recycled bookmarks. They are made from totally recycled products that would have previously caused harm to the environment.

7. Eco-friendly hamper

Hampers are always a great gifting idea for loved ones at Christmas. But how can you make the hamper eco-friendly? For the food lovers in your life, we have some ideas for you:

• Stainless steel lunchbox
• Bamboo cutlery
• Reusable coffee cup
• Telescopic drinking straws
• Reusable bamboo fibre towels
• Organic cotton bread bag
• Reusable food wraps and produce bags.

The entire hamper should be free from plastic to make it environmentally friendly. What sustainable products will you put in your hamper?

8. Eco-friendly cleaning set

Don’t worry, we still have a handful of ideas lefts for eco-friendly Christmas gifts. If the person you’re buying for is an obsessive cleaner, this is the gift for them. Most cleaning products come in plastics wrapping or containers, which isn’t ideal for the environment. Whilst cleaning is an essential part of our lives, there are more sustainable ways to do it. All cleaning products should be eco-friendly and toxin-free to allow us to clean our homes more efficiently. Suggestions for items to make your eco-friendly cleaning set include:

• Natural dishing washing sponges
• Bamboo cleaning cloths (large and small)
• Plastic-free cleaning sachets
• Reusable heavy-duty cleaner spray bottles.

What sustainable items would you place in the cleaning set?

9. Sustainable pamper set

After the stress of Christmas, we all need to unwind and relax with a pamper set. However, if you care about the environment, look for sustainable options that use no plastic, or sets with reusable products. Choose gifts that have been produced locally, this way you are supporting small businesses and reducing your carbon footprint. Not only will the products make you feel good, but you’ll feel better for doing your bit for the planet. Sustainable items include:

• Bamboo soap dish
• Organic bath salts
• Artisan soap
• Plastic-free bath bombs.

10. Plantable notebook

We’ve never heard of this idea before, but it sounds great for our planet. If you’re buying a gift for someone who loves writing, naturally, you’d buy them a notebook. However, have you thought about buying a plantable notebook. Yes, you heard us right!

Plantable paper is a biodegradable eco-paper that is made with post-consumer materials and embedded with seeds. Meaning no trees were harmed in the making of this paper. When the paper is planted in a pot of soil, the seeds grow and the paper composts away. All that is left behind are flowers, herbs or vegetables.

We love the sound of this idea, and we are sure whoever receives the gift will too. The best part of all is there is no waste.

11. Bamboo socks

We are down to our last few ideas for eco-friendly Christmas gifts. Every Christmas, you can guarantee you’ll receive some socks. However, you can find even more sustainable ways of buying socks. The answer is bamboo socks! We didn’t think it was possible to turn bamboo into socks, but it is. It’s a great way of making use of natural resources in a practical manner.

Bamboo socks can be washed and dried just like normal socks and are ideal for everyday use. With so many patterns to choose from, your recipients will be asking for more.

12. Eco-friendly pencils

If you’re looking for eco-friendly Christmas gifts for the keen artists in your life, we have a suggestion for you. Sustainable pencils are a great idea for those budding drawers you know. Reduce environmental waste by choosing mechanical pencils or ones made from recycled newspaper or bamboo.

13. Cork yoga mat

Don’t forget those exercise enthusiasts in your life. You may be thinking there are not sustainable products for them. However, there are! A cork yoga mat is perfect for those who love to keep fit. Unlike regular yoga mats, cork mats are made from oak. This grows back when harvested sustainably – making it a great gift for eco-minded people.

We hope you’ve found this guide to eco-friendly Christmas gifts useful. By now, you should have plenty of suggestions that will save the planet whilst pleasing your loved ones.

Keep up with Santa Academy!

You can find new stories every day on the Lacus Herald from December 1^st. Your little one(s) can stay up to date with all their favourite characters, as well as the latest news. Lacus Island features 70+ characters, 50+ buildings, 19 unique shops and its own TV and radio stations.

The Santa Academy app – coming 2022!

Are you ready for more festive fun? Get ready for the Santa Academy app!

Christmas is coming and Santa needs your little one’s help. Throughout December your child can help Santa prepare for Christmas Eve. They can choose to enrol into Elf Ed, Reindeer Recruit or Fairy Fellow and immerse themselves in Santa’s world.

From December 1^st to Christmas Day, your child will unlock new areas, buildings, and characters on Lacus Island. Enter a magical island that is filled with fantastic activities for your little ones to enjoy.

Download the app from November 1^st, 2022. School starts December 1^st, 2022.

Santa Academy – the novel!

And there’s more! Get ready to read about Christmas on Lacus Island! In 2022, the Santa Academy Novel will hit the shelves.

Our creator, chief storyteller and author, Jill Newey, will tell the story of Christmas on Lacus Island. Your little one can join their favourite characters as they help Santa prepare for Christmas Eve.

What does it take for a huge operation like Christmas to run, year on year? Find out in the Santa Academy Novel. Coming Christmas 2022!

Find more fun, festive tips and ideas, such as:

• Easy Christmas crafts for kids
• Christmas printables
• Things to do near you for Christmas
• Christmas activity book ideas
• Christmas art ideas
• Christmas party ideas for kids
• Tips for helping kids to read
• Christmas baking for kids
• Christmas countdown ideas for your family
• Christmas writing ideas
• And many more!