Bored with the same old gift ideas and presents? In this section you'll find links to eco-friendly, unique gifts and gadgets not available in the shops. So why not surprise your friends and relatives with something different, whilst supporting fair trade and helping to protect the environment?
"We have to shift our emphasis from economic efficiency and materialism towards a sustainable quality of life and to healing of our society, of our people and our ecological systems." - Janet Holmes à Court
Uncompromising standards, undeniable results, celebrate this Christmas with stunning new gifts and luxurious skincare designed for the distinctive needs of men and women to enjoy at home and during time away. The collections are formuated around mineral-rich water and plant extracts, vitamins, anti-oxidants and organic vegan ingredients. Thus increasing moisturisation and skin elasticity, reducing fine lines, and essential anti-oxidant protection of ageing skin. Skincare advice, gift vouchers and gift service available. Contact: Tel 0845 0037422 (local rate), email: sales@thenaturalspacompany.co.uk
The new gift range, ‘fou for you’ at Fou Furnishings ® features eco-luxurious, original gifts for all the family from organic and designer makers. Choose from their luxurious organic gifts sets or skin care for her or him for pure and natural pampering, handmade natural wax candles, lavender hearts filled with Cotswold lavender or beautiful, unique stationary. For girls, super-sized bobbles, recycled coloured pencils, or a beautifully embroidered jewellery wrap and bag make a perfect gift for all ages, crafted from palest pink recycled lambswool. So, for the perfectly different gift, visit www.foufurnishings.com/shop/categories/fou4you-gifts/
Environmentally Sound Products Recommended by an Imaginary Hamster. The idea of this website is to give choice to the consumer. It doesn't aim to save the world or to make you feel bad about not doing enough. They believe that there is always an alternative product that is either Natural, Ethically produced, not harmful or environmentally friendly. If you have the choice and it's easy and it doesn't cost more then why not go for a better alternative? http://ecohamster.co.uk/
Hubcap Creatures is a one-man operation that makes three-dimensional natural forms, usually marine and animal life, out of recycled, abandoned or donated items. As decorative sculptural objects, their intention in the world is to entertain, but more importantly it's to inform about the importance of recycling, the possibilities of re-using and hopefully the re-definition of what we think we know about the nature of value. http://hubcapcreatures.com/
Wondering what to get your grandparents, best friend, cousin or brother-in-law? By choosing a World Vision Alternative Gift, you can bring a smile to more than one person. Your friend or family member will have the fun of opening their personalised card and discovering their gift, and a family living in poverty in the developing world will receive their life-changing gift.
My Eco Store – http://www.myecostore.co.ukThe new eco store giving you the choice to go green, including recycled products, environmentally friendly products, and eco gifts. They stock Onya Bags, Eco Kettles, Heat Logs, Sun Jars and Eco Balls to name just a few of the eco gifts that are available to buy online now.
Monkey Drum’s mission is to develop and maintain trading partnerships with small, like-minded businesses all over the world. All of their products are handmade using sustainable materials. It is not just about avoiding plastic, factories and all of that stuff, but about positively creating a new kind of trade and keeping skills and techniques alive - because we are going to need them!! www.monkey-drum.com/products.php?cat=3
Planet Trash, the on-line shopping experience offering you a wide selection of beautiful, inspiring, high quality gifts and products made from recycled materials. They aim to show how the 'planet's trash' can be reinvented, recycled and reused to make practical, fresh and exciting new items that you would be proud to own. Planet Trash only offers products made from recycled materials. Their range may also have the benefit of being ethically produced and fairly traded, but if it's not made from recycled materials, it doesn't get into our shop! www.planettrash.co.uk
This Fair Earth believes that handmade, ethical products can be more desirable, more individual and higher quality than their mass-produced counterparts. This Fair Earth has a fantastic range of ethical homeware and ethical jewellery. The homeware includes striking, fair trade and environmentally-friendly photo albums, photo frames, journals and candles. The beautiful range of jewellery is either fairly traded from small producers in developing nations or hand made closer to home in the UK. www.thisfairearth.com
If you are looking for unusual gift ideas then quirky shop Daisy Daisy is just the place. The shop is bursting with fabulous fair trade goodies including handmade jewellery and accessories, hand painted ceramics, wooden toys, fair trade organic cotton kids clothes, handmade homewares and organic skin care. Daisy Daisy is proud to be a member of the British Association for Fair Trade Shops. All of their products are carefully chosen for their quirky style and must meet at least one of the following criteria:
The Little Feet Company offers fair trade handmade gifts and accessories from Vietnam including bamboo, lacquer ware and silk. The Little Feet Company works directly with the artisans to ensure they benefit from the sale of their products. The Little Feet Company donates 30% of their profits to orphanages and vocational centres in central Vietnam. www.thelittlefeetcompany.com
Chicken Bus sells unique fair-trade crafts from Guatemala in Central America. Many of their products are Chicken Bus exclusives including beautiful embroidered bags; beaded Christmas decorations and key rings that are miniature works of art. Particularly popular are their children’s toys and our vibrant cotton scarves, hats and T shirts.
Chicken Bus buy direct from artisans at their preferred rate and they pay up-front so that the producers can purchase the relevant materials and employ staff without having to worry about the expense. www.chickenbus.co.uk
Miki sources stylish and contemporary design that is sustainably and responsibly made. They sell a range of beautiful clothing for men and women, jewellery, gifts and homewares. They have a range of beautiful gifts including fair trade photoframes and albums, recycled glass dinner and glassware - perfect for wedding gifts. They also have beautiful underwear sets and jewellery for girls and funky belts, t-shirts and hoodies for boys. www.miki.uk.com
Late Late Gifts helps last minute gift-givers find perfect presents and get them delivered pronto - including eco & green gifts. They cover 270+ online shops that offer next day delivery,same day delivery and instant delivery gifts. http://latelategifts.co.uk/next-day-delivery/ethical/
Ethical Superstore offers access to all the major fair trade and green brands including Cafedirect, Traidcraft, People Tree, Green & Blacks, Divine, Ecover, Freeplay, EcoZone, Solio and many more. The full range includes gadgets, gifts, cosmetics, foods, beverages, CDs, books, DVDs plus handmade lifestyle and fashion products.
Wishcraft has carefully selected the most unusual and beautifully handcrafted gift ideas from around the world. Every striking piece in Wishcraft’s collection is ethically sourced and individually created by master artisans. They offer a huge range of beautiful handcrafts and fashion accessories created under fair trade conditions. Their collection includes contemporary silk bags, traditional hand embroidered soft furnishings and colourful children’s items. See their full range of fabulous Fair Trade handcraft at www.wishcraft.eu
Karma Gifts New Age and Spiritual Gifts online. They have a selection of Fair Trade gifts and jewellery and natural and eco friendly products. They have a beautiful selection of natural, hand rolled incenseand Fragranced Gift Sets. Karma Gifts also sell paraffin free, soy and vegetable wax natural candles, Fair Trade Buddhas and mala beads and a range of eco friendly jute bags. www.karmagifts.co.uk
Nkuku specialise in eco friendly, fair trade gifts and home accessories. They combine contemporary designs with age old techniques, natural materials and sustainable methods of production. Nkuku is socially responsible and is built on the principles of fair trade and equal opportunity. They are a member of WFTO (World Fair Trade Organisation) and BAFTS. www.nkuku.com
The Oxfam Online Shop (OOS) was launched in September 2008. The online shop has brought together Oxfam's key products into a single coherent proposition – a shop within the oxfam.org.uk website with a single basket and checkout, consistent customer service, and consolidated fulfilment systems.
UNSCENTED, VEGAN, CLEAN-BURNING 100% NATURAL SOY WAX CANDLES. Hapi Bean Soy Candles is a small ethical business based in Hertfordshire hand-pouring candles for wholesalers and individuals alike. Whether you are planning a celebration, looking for an alternative handmade gift, or enjoy burning candles at home, unscented 100% soy is the way to go. Unlike paraffin candles, Hapi Bean Soy Candles don’t release soot or chemicals into your environment…or into your lungs! These beautiful handmade candles are free from GM products, herbicides and pesticides. The soy wax comes from sustainable sources and not from rainforest land. A sample tealight can be posted out upon request. www.hapibean.co.uk
Ecomundi sources products designed to help you live a greener lifestyle. From solar gadgets to biodegradable partyware and from natural toothpaste to energy saving devices, ecomundi has a huge range of the latest and greatest eco-friendly products that make going green that much easier. www.ecomundi.co.uk/eco/index.php
Fabulous Fairtrade is an online store selling high quality fair trade gifts and accessories from around the world. Their products are all sourced from wholesalers and importers who are members of the British Association of Fair Trade Shops, to ensure that they are genuinely produced in accordance with fair trade principles. All toys featured on their site meet British and European Toy Safety Standards. www.fabulousfairtrade.co.uk
TreeTwist exists to make it easy and fun for you to plant a tree and make a positive contribution towards our environment. If you give the gift of a tree, they will plant it in collaboration with Trees for Life in the Caledonian Forest in the North West Highlands of Scotland. It will grow for the rest of your life. To acknowledge your commitment, they will send you a TreeTwist. www.treetwist.co.uk
More Than Gifts specialises in quality handcrafted gifts sourced from Fair Trade producers and small village communities. www.morethangifts.co.uk
Butterfly Treasures. Goods of quality & beauty in personal accessories, jewellery, home ware and children's items. The goods, art and crafts come from all over the world and represent small co-operatives, art workshops, individual craft workers and artisans from Vietnam, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Kenya, Zambia, Mongolia, Philippines and and others. These goods are fairly traded. www.btgiftsandaccessories.co.uk
Only Fair want to make fair trade accessible to everyone. They offer a range of fairly traded goods from around the world. www.onlyfair.co.uk
Revolution – Fair Trade that doesn’t cost the earth. A wide range of fair trade gifts. They also stock Remarkable recycled stationery and Ecover cleaning products. www.revolutiontrade.co.uk
Stylish cushions, throws, decorative and fashion accessories that are not only of the highest quality but also unique and ethically made. All Saathay products are individually hand crafted by highly skilled artisans. Saathay is a Fair Trade company and works only with Co-operatives and small producer groups. www.saathay.com/
Jacaranda Blue is an online gift shop specialising in contemporary and stylish fair trade gifts and decorative items from around the world, many of them exclusive to jacarandablue.co.uk. The range includes unique homeware, recycled products, organic bath products, handcrafted jewellery and many more gifts for both men and women. All their products are sourced either from IFAT or BAFTS recognised organisations or directly from the craftspeople themselves in order to ensure that they have been fairly traded.
Other useful gift providers
Fairwind is about gifts and fair trade. They pride themselves on great customer service and on being kind to the planet. They offer a high quality range of the most desirable fair trade gifts from across the globe, safe in the knowledge that nobody in the third world is being disadvantaged, and the environment is not being harmed.
Greener Style aims to help people have a stylish and sophisticated home while also being in balance with the environment.
Green Apple stock a wide and varied range of eco-friendly and ethically sourced products, from chicken doorstops made from vintage fabric and jewellery made from recycled biscuit tins to organic clothing and toiletries and plenty more besides!
Orchid Trading Supporting fair trade across the globe by offering high quality musical instruments, arts and crafts at affordable prices. All of their products are produced from natural materials and sourced in an ethical manner. Registered BAFTS importers.
Siesta Global Fairtrade Crafts Recognised Fair Trade suppliers of ethnic Gifts, Musical Instruments, Buddhist Items and Clothes from around the world. Retail and Wholesale welcome.
The Organic Hamper Company Specialists in luxury organic food and gift hampers. Beautiful hand-packed gift hampers filled with the best organic and fair-trade products.
