Here Are 12 Christmas Gifts You Can Feel Good About Buying
What's good for the environment is good for all of us.
We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
It’s Christmas time! And that means lots of shopping – and bloody awful crowds. Fortunately for you, we’ll be flooding our pages with gift guides this month, so keep an eye out for more here.
1. These Etnies Jameson 2 Eco skateboarding shoes that are made from recycled plastic and rubber.
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This is the shoe Etnies' best-selling silhouette and it's not hard to see why. Cut in a versatile navy with tan brown details, it's improved still with the use of a recycled rubber outer sole and recycled polyurethane insole.
Buy from $57.94 from Amazon Australia.
2. This blush Porter Ceramic Mug that won't hurt the environment, despite your mate's three-a-day addiction.
We all know now there is a convenient alternative to single-use, disposable paper coffee cups. Depending on where you get your fix of caffeine, you can even get discounts for your eco-friendliness! If someone you love has yet to make the change, consider this for their Christmas present. Clad in a gorgeous pale blush hue, it is features a smooth ceramic body and protective silicone cover.
Buy for $49.95 from THE ICONIC.
3. These beautiful, reusable food wraps that will minimise the amount of single use plastic your mate uses daily.
These beautiful food wraps are made entirely of natural materials, including cotton, beeswax, tree resin and jocoba oil. As such, they allow food to breathe — and at the end of their lives (12 months!), are compostable and biodegradable.
Buy a pack of four for $24.95 from Amazon Australia.
4. This, a donation as little as $10 towards Make-A-Wish Australia, to make possible the wishes of Aussie kids facing life-threatening illnesses.
Life-changing and environmentally conscious — how many gifts can claim that? Wishes vary from, “princess wishes”, “superhero wishes”, “best friend wishes” to “sports wishes”. Purchase a gift on behalf of a loved one this Christmas and they’ll receive a video or certificate letting them know about the specific wish or dream they helped make come true.
Buy from $10 from Make-A-Wish Australia.
5. These ESSENTLS The Cross slides by INDOSOLE that are partially made from recycled tires.
These are the minimalist slides of my dreams. Featuring a leather-look upper and soles constructed from 100% recycled tires, it's both high in the style stakes and kind to the environment.
Buy for $69.99 from THE ICONIC.
6. This Studio Oh! Tiger Jungle Insulated Water Bottle that is much more attractive and better for Mother Nature than single use plastic.
Made from stainless steel, this beautiful watercolour-printed bottle uses double-walled construction and a vacuum seal to keep liquids hot for 12 hours or cold for up to twice that time. Whoever receives your gift won't want to drink out of a single-use plastic bottle again.
Buy for $36.87 from Amazon Australia.
7. This vegan fragrance, Indian Night Jasmine Eau de Toilette from The Body Shop — one of the most successful businesses for the welfare of animals.
The Body Shop has been at the forefront of anti-animal testing since its conception and their influence so widespread that founder, Anita Roddick, has been made a dame. Indian Night Jasmine is described by the company as a "warm opulent floral scent", with notes of jasmine, violet leaf and reich sandalwood — perfect for summer.
Buy 50ml for $29 from The Body Shop.
8. This vegan, cork messenger bag that even comes packaged in recycled materials.
This versatile crossbody bag is fashioned from cork, taken from oak trees that are regenerating and biodegradable. It features an internal zippered pocket with a divider, a pocket for your smart phone and two pen compartments — so you need nothing more to get you from A to B.
Buy for $19.99 from Amazon Australia.
9. These classic Toms canvas shoes, for which a pair is donated to communities in need, every time one is purchased.
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TOMS are time and time again referred to as one of the most sustainable and philanthropic brands in the world. In addition to donating one pair of shoes for each purchase, TOMS has initiatives that restore sight, gives access to clean water and safe births for mothers. Featuring a canvas upper, suede insole and elastic gore for easy wear, gifting these shoes are a no-brainer.
Buy from $16.13 from Amazon Australia.
10. This vegan fragrance, Santal 33 Eau de Parfum, which you've definitely seen on every influencer's feed ever.
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A fragrance hand-blend for you, upon order. Le Labo follows the chain of its production from source to creation, so you can be assured of the minimal environmental impact of your purchase. This particular fragrance features Australian sandalwood, cedarwood, leather, cardamon, iris and musk – a warm unisex scent suitable for the every day. Plus, your name comes custom printed on the bottle!
Buy 100ml for $421 from Mecca.
11. This vegan recipe book that has been endorsed by PETA.
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Perhaps your mate has recently gone pescatarian or vegan and is at a loss at what to make for every meal. This book is full of delicious, flavoursome recipes from 50 chefs across Australia, all promoting cruelty-free cooking. If that weren't enough, all royalties from the sale of this book go to Edgar's Mission, a not-for-profit that provides sanctuary for over 450 rescued farm animals.
Buy the paperback edition for $29.26 from Amazon Australia.
12. And finally, this reusable shopping bag that, quite literally, is a piece of art.
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This shopping bag features one of Klimt's famous Faculty Paintings, for the ceiling of the University of Vienna's Great Hall. It is made to hold up to 20kg and features an easy-to-reach handy flap to the interior for your daily essentials. With a bag this cute, your gift-receiver won't think twice about using a plastic bag again.
Buy for $16.76 from Amazon Australia.
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