Pull an eco seed cracker this Christmas!
Even the most expensive or luxurious of Christmas crackers are destined for landfill five minutes after you’ve pulled them, but not these beautiful Biome eco seed crackers. Simple and stylish, the crackers come in boxes of six and they have a secret – each cracker is made from handmade seed paper, so once you have pulled the crackers you can plant the exterior paper and you will be able to grow your own wildflowers – much better than just consigning a pile of shiny paper to the rubbish bin! Inside the crackers you’ll find the traditional motto, snapper and hat, with each gift hand-made by a small co-operative of disadvantaged women in Nepal. The Wonderful Women collective in Katmandu helps socially and economically disadvantaged women build up their skills and independence and earn money in a safe, healthy and supportive environment. The women are paid fair wages to make their own chemical-free felt from soap and water and hand sew the lovely decorations for the crackers. The eco seed crackers themselves are handmade in the UK. They are also simple and stylish to look at, so would be an attractive addition to any festive feast. So why not pull a Biome eco seed cracker this Christmas, and help socially disadvantaged women in Nepal build a better future for themselves at the same time?
Light up your Christmas with this charming fair trade Nativity tea light holder
The beautiful fair trade Nativity tea light holder is ceramic and depicts a lovely Nativity scene. Made in Manos Amigas in Peru, the Nativity tea light holder is made by Tearcraft, a company that specialises in beautifully handcrafted fair trade products. Their home wares, gifts and novelty items are sourced from around the world and all of the producers are paid a fair price. This means that those craftspeople – like the makers of this fair trade Nativity tea light holder – are able to invest in their own communities, and keep traditional crafts alive. Tearcraft also emphasises the importance of good working conditions, encouraging good practice amongst its suppliers. Tearcraft also believes in sustainability, so many of its products are made from recycled or eco-friendly materials, making them both planet and people friendly. The result is a range of fair trade goodies that are well made and lovely to look at, but also leave you with a clear conscience that the people who made such items are not being exploited. This fair trade Nativity tea light holder would make an ideal table centrepiece, adding rustic charm to your Christmas decor, and you know that by lighting up this tea light holder, you are investing in traditional crafts and better conditions for workers – and that really is in the spirit of Christmas!
Do you love recycling? So does Peter Blake!
This limited edition I Love Recycling tin plate art print by Sir Peter Blake allows you to indulge your love of modern art and illustrate your eco-credentials in one go. A true collectors’ item at an affordable price, I Love Recycling by Sir Peter Blake is a public declaration by this popular artist, featuring his iconic heart, target, star and rainbow motifs. Sir Peter Blake’s I Love Recycling is printed using a vibrant colour lithographic process onto 56% recycled tinplate. So it isn’t just stating a green intent, it is sticking to it in its production methods! The print is one of only 5,000 produced and is a real investment – and a great celebration of green culture. Sir Peter Blake is often referred to as ‘The Godfather of British Pop Art’ and his work bears clear connections to other greats in that field, while having his own unique style. Influenced by his own Babe Rainbow, which was produced in 1967 and sold in limited numbers (and is now worth up to 800 times its original £1 price!), Peter Blake’s I Love Recycling references the past but looks to the future. And, unbelievably, this limited edition piece actually retails for less than £50, making it a fantastic bargain. So why not wear your heart on your wall, and treat yourself to this beautiful Peter Blake I Love Recycling artwork.
Relax this Christmas with a domestic goddess aromatherapy candle
We’re all so busy these days that there never seems to be time to relax, but this gorgeous domestic goddess aromatherapy candle aims to help you unwind. This scented soy wax candle contains essence of sweet orange, which helps maintain calm, and essence of frankincense to keep the mind elevated – so whether you are having people round to dinner or just trying to get all of your Christmas chores sorted, lighting this domestic goddess aromatherapy candle will help you remain unflustered. The candle is 100% natural and is eco-friendly, as soy wax is non-toxic, non-carcinogenic and burns cleaner than paraffin wax, being virtually soot free. The candle’s soy wax is made from soybeans, which are a renewable and sustainable resource, as well as being biodegradable. Even the wicks are made of soy! Containing natural essential oils and fragrances and hand poured in the UK, each candle offers about 50 hours burn time, so they are excellent value for money. As well as the domestic goddess aromatherapy candle, the range includes a love potion candle – perfect for Valentine’s Day! - which contains jasmine, a proven aphrodisiac. Or if you feel you never have enough hours in the day, can choose the 25/7 aromatherapy candle, which contains stimulating essences of basil, sweet lemon and grapefruit. So unleash your inner domestic goddess today with an aromatherapy candle – and you can be a green goddess at the same time!
Cruelty-free silk scarves
Fair trade cruelty-free silk scarves allow you to enjoy the beauty of silk without any of the guilt that accompanies traditionally manufactured silk. In commercial silk production, silkworms are killed during the production process, either by the cocoons being submerged in boiling water or pierced with a needle, so that the silk can be unravelled in one long continuous thread, but no such methods are involved in creating these beautiful fair trade cruelty-free silk scarves. The cruelty-free, traditional production method allows the worms to chew their way out of the cocoons, and results in a gorgeous, tactile texture that is caused by the broken threads. As well as being kind to the worms, these cruelty-free silk scarves are kind to people, too. Available in Prussian Blue and Cassis, they are handmade in India using traditional methods of hand spinning and weaving that have passed down from generation to generation. Because the manufacturers are paid a fair wage for their talents, buying one of these stylish cruelty-free silk scarves helps you protect the livelihoods of traditional artisans, helping them build and maintain their communities. So as well as making an elegant gift (for yourself or someone else!), these cruelty-free, fair trade silk scarves enable small producers to thrive and prosper. So why not treat yourself to one of each colour?
Pants to Poverty Santa Pants – making Christmas sexy and fun
Pants to Poverty Santa pants are the latest style from ethical underwear manufacturer Pants to Poverty. Pants to Poverty was set up as an evolution from the Make Poverty History initiative and proves that fundraising can be both fun and serious at the same time. The Pants to Poverty Santa pants, like all Pants to Poverty ethical underwear, are made from organic cotton (so reducing their environmental impact, as standard cotton is a chemical intensive fabric) and are Fair trade, ensuring that producers are paid a fair wage for their goods and not exploited. On top of this, £1 profit from the sale of every pair of Pants to Poverty Santa pants is reinvested into campaigning for Trade Justice. The red and white Pants to Poverty Santa pants are available in male and female styles, and small, medium and large sizes. These sexy, snuggly eco-pants make a fun, festive and cheeky gift for the man or woman in your life – and at less than £10 per pair, they are an ideal stocking filler. Or you can wear them with stockings, the choice is yours! However you want to wear them, and whether you have been naughty or nice, why not put a pair of Pants to Poverty Santa pants on your Christmas list?
Experience days make eco-friendly Christmas gifts
Christmas might be one of the best times of the year for us, but it can be a nightmare for the planet. Year on year people buy more food than they need (do you really need three different types of trifle?) so a huge amount of organic waste is binned, and that’s before you even start on the presents. Every Boxing Day, vast piles of discarded packaging and gift wrap are thrown away – much of it non-recyclable – and, when it comes down to it, many of us are left with a big stash of presents that, if we’re honest, we don’t really need. So why not do something different this year and buy someone an experience instead? It’s easy to do: you simply pay in advance for a voucher they can redeem at a time that suits them. It’s fast and straightforward (no trailing around the shops!) and as you are buying experiences, not things, you are cutting down on wasteful packaging (although most vouchers do come in a presentation box, so it’s not entirely waste free) and it means your gift doesn’t end up stuck in a cupboard unused or, even worse, dumped in landfil. Sample gifts include restaurant experiences for two, or wine tastings, or a meal and a trip on the London Eye. Gourmets might enjoy the chocolate making workshop, while braver souls will thrill to the ‘Go Ape’ high wire experience. Each gift makes a big impact on the recipient, but a small impact on the planet.
Keep everyone happy this Christmas with a Fair Trade hamper
With Christmas fast approaching, many people are wondering how they can celebrate the holidays without damaging their green credentials. Traditionally Christmas is a season that creates huge amounts of waste, much of it going straight to landfill. One way to avoid buying heavily packaged, gimmicky gifts that people don’t need (does anyone really ever use a foot spa?), is to buy a gift hamper. An ideal Christmas present or, if you’re visiting the relatives over the festive season, a perfect hospitality gift, a basket of foodie goodies will be enjoyed over the holiday. Buying practical gifts such as food cuts down on waste and, in these money-conscious days, is particularly welcome. The Fair Trade Hamper from Natural Collection is sure to put anyone in the Christmas spirit. Filled with tasty treats from Traidcraft and Divine, the hamper includes a selection of cake, puddings and chocolate (including chocolate coins, Christmas pudding and Christmas cake). The whole package comes in a Fair Trade woven basket that can be reused afterwards. It even includes a Christmas card! And because it is completely Fair Trade, you can be sure that your generosity won’t only be appreciated by the recipients, but also by the producers, who are guaranteed a fair wage for their crafts and produce. This enables them to support and help educate their own families, creating a stable livelihood and a better standard of living for them and their communities. And that, surely, sums up the spirit of Christmas?
Electrickery and Revolve turn old circuit boards into great gifts
We live in a world where we are constantly encourage to upgrade our electronic equipment to something newer, smaller, shinier – and that can have a terrible impact on the environment. Waste from electronic and electrical equipment is growing year on year as we replace items faster and faster – an estimated 50,000 tonnes of printed circuit boards alone are scrapped every year. One company is helping reduce landfill by using old circuit boards and recycling them into unusual and stylish gifts. Electrickery are based in Fulham, London – so no air miles to worry about! – and have been recycling circuit boards since 1999. They produce a range of fun products including recycled circuit board cuff links, recycled circuit board lamps and recycled circuit board business card holders, and because they use such a range of boards, no two items are the same – ensuring completely unique gifts. Meanwhile, on a similar theme, Revolve takes items destined for landfill and turns them into fun and contemporary gifts. These include recycled circuit board coasters, recycled circuit board notebooks, and recycled circuit board mousemats. Like Electickery, Revolve is a UK company – they are based in Huddersfield – so as well as ensuring that you are saving items from landfill, you can also be assured that your products don’t clock up the air miles. Also like Electrickery, Revolve create products based on their supply of destined-for-landfill circuit boards, so every product is different, giving each its own unique charm.
Quality ethical products from Nkuku
For high-quality, eco-friendly fair trade gifts and homewares, look no further than Nkuku. The name comes from a village in Zambia and was inspired by the travels of the founder of this Devon-based company, which aims to promote fair trade and reward traditional artisans in Africa and India by selling their work in the UK. Examples of this include the stylish Savannah leather case, perfect as an alternative to a briefcase. The Savannah is handmade from leather and is dyed using vegetable extract and tree bark by a co-operative in Rajasthan, so you can be assured that not only is the bag eco-friendly, the workers are paid a fair wage for their work. Nkuku also sells classic leather-bound journals and photo albums, made with naturally tanned leather and recycled paper. If you’d rather use vegetarian friendly materials, Nkuku offers stylish journals and photo albums bound in hand-printed cotton paper, which come in recycled cotton boxes, or books made from recycled saris, making each one different depending on the fabric used. If you are looking for eco-friendly homewares, Nkuku produces a range of handmade cotton bed linen, printed by hand using traditional methods and wooden block printing, as well as high quality woollen throws, made from recycled wool. So you can enjoy original, beautiful things for your home while knowing you are supporting a fair trade, environmentally responsible company and helping traditional artisans profit from their skills.
