Ethical Gifting Guide I: Get Started and Do Good With These 12 Unique Presents


Saving your Christmas gift shopping to the last minute can often lead to subpar results. Plus, when your gifting includes the ethical quotient, finding the perfect present can be a daunting task. Gifting yet another aroma therapy candle or the next it-perfume will get you the job done, but will these items show how much you really care for them?

Curated by Shruti Jain of Style Destino

It’s the sentiment and thought that counts, but make it a memorable experience by picking gifts that anyone will appreciate and that will also help save the planet. Whether you're shopping for family, friends, or partners, you'll find what you need right here with these unique ethical holiday gift ideas for everyone on your list.

1. Studded Bicycle Tyre Dog Collar

For your stylish friend who loves her dog, the Laura Zabo studded dog collar with black and blue stripes makes perfect sense. Not only does it look super cool but each of these unique collars are crafted with recycled bicycle tyres. Every eco-conscious pet lover in your life would appreciate this thoughtful gift. It comes in an elegant white box too!

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2. Votch Pinatex Watch

Keep your best friend looking stylish and ensure she always arrives-on-time with this elegant timepiece that exuberates British sophistication and sought-after minimalism. Its crafted from the most innovative material of our time – Pinatex, that is literally a leather-like material made from pineapple leather. How cool and unique is that? In addition, gifting your friend with a Peli watch box will help ensure that her beautiful timepiece is safe when travelling.

Whether your friend is conscious about her impact on the planet or not, they would love flashing a pineapple leather watch on their wrist!

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3. Eden Garden Essential Oils Set

For the health-minded or beauty junkies in your life, this body oil set makes perfect sense. Packaged in a beautiful gift box, create your own 5-essential oil set allows you to curate the 5 oils you know they will enjoy and trust us it will be one present they’ll fall in love with. From rose and bergamot to earth and wood, these oils smell wonderful and will pamper them everyday with their beautiful scent and clean ingredients!

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4. Kim Clutch Cork Wallet

For the travel junkie or the lady who likes to stay organised, this cork wallet will certainly elicit a heartfelt smile. Not only is it a smart choice with its beautiful colour blocked style (outer black that opens to a gorgeous maroon interior) and so many card slots, removable pouch and pockets that would keep their finances organised, but it is also ethically crafted with eco-friendly cork. Did we mention that a portion of the sale goes towards helping an animal in need through ResQ?

For your couple friends, match it with a cork wallet for men, with smart coin pouch and a clever sim card slot, making it perfect for traveling, too!

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5. YuhMe Namaste Sugarcane Eco-Friendly Water Bottle

Nothing feels better than choosing a gift that helps others and also reduces your carbon footprint. This super cute water bottle is eco-friendly (it’s made from sugarcane, produces zero carbon footprint and will help you reduce plastic waste), gives back one-year of clean drinking water supply to one person in Central Africa against every bottle sold, is feather light (making it easy to carry in your tote) and looks stylish. It’s made in Sweden, and is a great present for those who love finer things in life, and wish to make a conscious choice at the same time.

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6. Econscious Black Hoodie

Want a fail-safe gift that’s light on the wallet, is kind to the planet and also gives back? This smart black hoodie from sustainable fashion brand Econscious is the perfect choice. Your friend will fall in love with its super soft organic cotton and when she reads that her gift also donated 1% to support the work of environmental non-profits organisations, she’ll treasure it even more. At $24, there cannot be a better gift choice than this.

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7. Reveal Solar Bamboo Speakers

For the music lovers in your life, this sleek and stylish Bluetooth speaker combines the sustainability of natural bamboo with the energy saving feature of solar panels is a great choice. This gorgeous eco-friendly speaker plays great sound quality, and can also be used to charge your smartphones or tablet with its charging dock in-built in the design. A beautiful mix of form and function.

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8. Colour-Blocked Bamboo Scarf

This beautiful scarf in gorgeous shade of lavender and dark blue with stylish fringed edges will keep your friend cozy and in-style in every season. There’s nothing like a beautiful scarf to pep-up any outfit, and its versatility makes it a great gift choice. You don’t have to worry about whether it will fit her, and its super soft eco-friendly bamboo friendly will also make it a stand-out choice.

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9. Inika Lip & Cheek Set

For the makeup obsessed lady in your life, this vegan beauty gift set makes perfect sense. If she’s vegan she’ll love it, because finding quality vegan lipsticks is hard. And if she isn’t vegan, it’s a great way to give her a taste of vegan and cruelty-free makeup to help her make conscious choice in the future.

It contains organic lipstick, organic primer, mineral puff pot and a lip brush. We love the fact that it comes with a beautiful makeup travel bag, making it a great present that just needs a ribbon to make it look merrier.

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10. Cult Ark Bamboo Bag

For the Instagrammer in your life, this gorgeous chic Ark half-moon bag is just the gift she must have been looking to unpack this Christmas. It has a cult following among everyone from celebs, like Rihanna and Beyonce, to most stylish ‘grammers, and will make your friend jump with joy. Did we mention it is also handcrafted and retails for just $39.99?

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11. Sex Dust

Want a naughty gift for your lover or your friend who is in a new relationship? Get them the infamous sex dust – that’s also a favourite of Gwyneth Paltrow is also sold on her drool-worthy Goop store. It’s a potent blend of all-natural herbs and superfoods, like cacao and maca root extract, and is a great formula to spice up the love life with its power to ignite and excite creative and sexy energy.

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12. Cork & Rubber Basket Set

For your friend who is obsessed with decorating her home, get this stylish and eco-friendly cork basket set. They are the perfect balance of natural texture, expert craftsmanship, and functional form. These versatile baskets can be used in any room to stash knick-knacks or use them as chic planters. Anyone will love this thoughtful gift.

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