The best eco-friendly Christmas gifts

We all want to shop more consciously. And the Christmas season is no different. With more and more of your favourite big brands upping their eco efforts in 2019, it’s easier than ever to shop for gifts that are a little greener this festive season. Whether you’re buying for the sustainable-striving fashionista or the natural beauty lover, Christmas shopping at Victoria Leeds just got that little more planet friendly.

Sustainable fashion

While there’s still plenty more that needs to be done, an increasing number of high street fashion brands are declaring their commitment to do better by the environment by using sustainable fabrics.

These fabrics eliminate the need for pesticides, reducing water waste and removing harmful dyes and processing chemicals. Look for Tencel™ (which is made from eucalyptus trees), organic cotton and Modal (made from spinning cellulose from beechwood). Then there’s brands that are up-cycling used materials (such as plastic bottles) that were heading for landfill.

This eco-friendly gilet from The North Face is made from 100% recycled nylon and polyester. Our pick: men’s ThermoBall™ eco packable gilet, £140, The North Face

People Tree are renowned for their eco credentials – we love this 100% organic cotton striped tee. Our pick: People Tree Happy embroidered stripe T-shirt, £27.30, John Lewis & Partners

These cool yet sustainable Converse trainers are made from used plastic bottles. Our pick: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star 70 Ox Renew trainers, £70, Size?

Eco-friendly beauty

If you are treating someone to a beauty gift, take the eco route. Many brands in the beauty world are making a real effort to care for our planet in 2019. From sourcing sustainable and natural ingredients, which are organic and free from parabens and sulphates, to finding ways to reduce the impact of their packaging.

We’ve found plastic-free and natural beauty products at Victoria Leeds that’ll make great Secret Santa gifts, stocking fillers or low-cost pampering treats – and they’re kinder for the earth, too.

This lightweight body lotion is blended with sustainably sourced and Fairly-Traded Argan Oil. Our pick: Kiehl’s Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion, £28, Kiehl’s

With a selection of organically produced oils, this aromatic gift set will help relax even the most stressed-out friends! Our pick: Balance Body & Mind Relaxing Ritual, £35, Neal’s Yard Remedies

Sustainable living

There are lots of little changes we can make to help live more sustainably. We’ve scoured the shops at Victoria Leeds to find a few products that are great for everyday and make the perfect gift.

If they’ve already invested in a reusable water bottle, then help them cut back on single-use plastic at lunchtime, too, by treating them to a reusable lunch box.

And we hate to break it to you, but the humble cuppa isn’t always great for the environment. Some tea bags use a type of plastic to prevent it from falling apart. It’s not recyclable or biodegradable. So, for all the tea drinkers in your life, convince them to go for loose leaf tea instead. It makes for a brew that’s so much better for the environment.

This stylish lunchbox is made from biodegradable, sustainable bamboo. Our pick: LEON rectangle bamboo lunch pot, £13, John Lewis & Partners

Great for having on display in the kitchen, this cheery teapot, cup and saucer set has a removable infuser. Our pick: Eleganza Tea for One Canary, £46, T2

For eco-minded book lovers, give them something that will help them up their own eco efforts through 2020. Our pick: Live Green: 52 steps for a more sustainable life, £8.99, Anthropologie

Wooden toys

We haven’t forgotten the kids! Forgo all the plastic toys and go greener this year with wooden toys that are better for the planet (and look better strewn across the living room floor, too)…

Calling all budding baristas! Perfect for play time, this wooden coffee machine is made from FSC-certified wood. Our pick: wooden coffee machine, £10, John Lewis & Partners

Eco crackers

Gifts done. Now for the big day! If you’re struggling to imagine the big feast without the classic crackers, but want to go eco this year, then you’re in luck…

These Fill Your Own crackers are sustainably sourced and made from recycled materials (no plastic or glitter in sight!). Our pick: Holly & Pine Fill Your Own Christmas Crackers, £8 for 6, John Lewis & Partners

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