The problem of unwanted gifts during the Christmas season
Christmas is a time of joy and giving, but it’s also a time of waste generation. Each holiday season, countless single-use items, wrapping paper, and even unused Christmas presents end up in the trash. According to ING, up to 30% of gifts are never used, which significantly contributes to overflowing landfills. This growing problem has encouraged many of us to rethink our holiday shopping and seek out sustainable Christmas present ideas. In the UK alone, 33 million adults (62%) receive at least one unwanted gift at Christmas, with the total spend on such items estimated to be £1.2 billion.
How can we make Christmas more sustainable?
If you're looking for unique, eco-friendly Christmas gifts that are long-lasting and support sustainable practices, this guide offers a variety of options available on UpHavin, a sustainable marketplace based in Berlin. From thoughtful Christmas gift ideas for a coworker to eco-friendly options for your parents, here’s how to give christmas presents that stay true to your values.
UpHavin Picks: Sustainable Gifts for the Christmas Season
UpHavin has curated a festive selection of sustainable presents for Christmas for everyone on your list. From cozy treats for family and playful surprises for kids to thoughtful presents for friends and that special someone, UpHavin’s holiday picks make it easy to give presents that feel good and do good. Each item is carefully chosen to bring joy and minimize waste, so you can celebrate with a lighter footprint.
Sustainable Tech Accessories
Tech accessories make fantastic work gift ideas because they’re practical and universally appreciated. From phone cases to chargers, these items add convenience to daily tasks and are useful for everyone, making them a thoughtful and functional choice for Christmas gifts for colleagues or clients.
MMORE CASES
MMORE is a Slovenian company specializing in eco-friendly and sustainable smartphone cases. They bring nature into your hands, their products are crafted from natural materials such as wood, organic elements, and biodegradable substances.
The bring the world's first organic phone cases that incorporate real, handpicked materials like coffee beans, alpine hay, jasmine flowers, skeleton leaves, and lavender. These materials are preserved with a sugar-based resin, providing a unique tactile and aromatic experience.
In addition to their organic line, MMORE provides a range of biodegradable cases made from flax, wheat, and bioplastic, ensuring full compostability. They also offer wooden cases crafted from sustainably harvested, FSC-certified wood, hand-oiled with natural substances. To further their commitment to sustainability, MMORE plants a tree for every case sold and has implemented a recycling program for used cases.
Their product collections include:
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Wood Collection: Features cases made from various types of wood.
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Organika Collection: Showcases cases with natural scents and textures from organic materials, like coffee beans, alpine hay, jasmine flowers, or lavender.
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Biodegradable Collection: Offers fully compostable cases.
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Wireless Charger: Crafted from organic materials, this wireless charger adds elegance to any desk or nightstand. With over 20 designs, these chargers make a thoughtful choice for tech enthusiasts.
Self-care sets that are sustainable and meaningful
For a gift that nurtures while caring for the planet, explore sustainable self-care sets. These eco-friendly Christmas presents are perfect for friends and family. They’re also an ideal Christmas gift for teachers, helpers, or anyone you want to show appreciation to, offering a warm way to show you care.
SOLIDU
Founded in Lithuania, Solidu creates high-quality, low-waste beauty products for a sustainable lifestyle. Inspired by founder Vaiva’s travels through Asia with just a backpack, Solidu began as handmade solid shampoos gifted to friends and family. Today, it’s a leading European brand known for innovative, eco-conscious products crafted by a small, dedicated team. Solidu’s Christmas sets blend sustainability with self-care, featuring beautifully crafted solid products that bring a touch of eco-friendly luxury to any routine.
Winter Essentials Gift Set
This incredible set includes eco-friendly winter skincare essentials, perfect for keeping skin soft and hydrated. A fantastic Christmas gift for a mum that combines freshness with environmental care.
Grandma's Treats Gift Set
Inspired by timeless comforts, this soothing set is perfect for anyone who deserves a little relaxation, making it a delightful Christmas gift.
Beard & Hair Gift Set
A perfect gift for those who enjoy grooming, this natural set makes a great Christmas gift for dads or a Christmas gift for a boyfriend who loves taking care of themselves and wants to do it in a more sustainable way.
Moreva Care
Moreva’s handmade, vegan soaps make the perfect Christmas gift for anyone who appreciates natural beauty and sustainable living. Crafted with care in Germany, these soaps use natural dyes and are made through a cold-process method that preserves the quality of ingredients, including nourishing natural oils. The result is a collection of beautifully crafted, visually appealing soaps that are gentle on the skin. With scents derived from pure essential oils, each soap offers a fresh, inviting aroma that brings an added sense of relaxation and luxury to daily routines. Beautifully presented and full of thoughtful ingredients, make them perfect for someone who enjoys turning simple routines into moments of indulgence. Moreva soaps make a delightful and mindful gift choice this holiday season.
Zero Waste Kits
For anyone ready to take their first step toward a sustainable lifestyle, Beewise is an ideal starting point. This brand makes eco-friendly choices simple, offering products crafted from natural, non-toxic materials safe for you and the planet. Beewise’s starter packs are an affordable way to reduce waste in daily routines, making them a great Christmas gift for friends, family, or anyone aiming for a greener lifestyle.
BEEWISE
If you know your friend has in it's New Year's Resolution to be more sustainable, these are the perfect gift set. Their plastic-free, recycled packaging ensures every detail supports a zero waste lifestyle. Plus, each gift box includes tip cards for sustainable living and a customizable gift card for a personal touch.
Mini Essentials Gift Box
Perfect for beginners, the Mini Essentials Gift Box has everything needed to start a sustainable journey. This kit offers an easy way to take the first steps toward a more eco-conscious lifestyle.
Untangle Me Gift Box
For an easy plastic-free bathroom switch, this gift box provides a zero-waste hair routine. Handmade in the Netherlands, each product is crafted from natural ingredients, ensuring a toxin-free experience for your hair and skin while reducing environmental impact.
Up Your Kitchen Gift Box
This box is an eco-friendly upgrade for any kitchen. This set includes, reusable plastic-free essentials like reusable food wraps, a loofah dish sponge, organic cotton produce bags.
Sustainable accessories for a cozy Christmas
Practical accessories like beanies and socks make wonderful Christmas gifts that are both charming and eco-friendly. Here’s a selection that shows your loved ones you care about their warmth and comfort while being mindful of the planet.
Fashion Accessories
Fashion accessories make the perfect Christmas gift because they're versatile, stylish, and practical for everyone on your list. Adding a touch of personal style, these gifts bring joy and functionality that lasts well beyond the holiday season. For those who prioritize sustainability, brands like The Knotty Ones, Qumpi, and Off with Nature offer eco-friendly accessories that make thoughtful choices. The Knotty Ones specializes in ethically made knitwear, combining modern design with sustainable practices. Qumpi provides handmade, cozy pieces that are as soft on the planet as they are to wear. Off With Nature, an Italian brand, focuses on organic cotton clothing, ensuring every piece is made from eco-friendly and ethically sourced materials. This holiday, give gifts that show you care about both style and the planet with these thoughtful brands.v
Cozy Beanies
Crafted from 100% organic cotton, by Off With Nature. This italian brand focuses on quality, responsibly-made cotton apparel. Their products are both GOTS and OEKO-TEX certified, ensuring environmental and social standards.
These beanies come in a range of colors, making them the perfect winter accessory. Whether for a girlfriend, parents, or friends, these beanies offer both warmth and eco-friendly style.
Eco-friendly Socks
Socks are a classic Christmas gift and an easy way to bring sustainability into everyday wear. UpHavin offers eco-friendly socks made from sustainable materials like alpaca wool, organic cotton, and bamboo, making them a great gift for teachers or a thoughtful addition for parents.
Practical and fun sustainable Christmas gifts for families with kids and babies
If you’re looking for the perfect gift for friends with kids, UpHavin offers a wonderful selection of sustainable products for children. These eco-friendly gifts are not only exciting for kids but also gentle on the planet, inspiring creativity and learning that both parents and little ones will enjoy. We have selected a classic from Lakaluk and another one for those just stepping into the world.
LAKALUK
LAKALUK offers imaginative products crafted from sustainable materials, like their adventure rug, perfect for little explorers. An eco-friendly gift that encourages creative play without the waste of disposable toys.
Lakaluk Foldable Learning Tower
The LAKALUK foldable learning tower is a must-have for little explorers, designed with Montessori principles to promote independence and involvement in daily activities. Made from durable, melamine-coated Baltic birch plywood, it’s easy to clean and resistant to moisture, abrasion, and fungi, staying as good as new over time. This space-saving helper tower quickly folds away when not in use and comes in fun animal shapes, making it both practical and delightful for kids and parents alike.
The Adventure Rug brings imaginative play to life with its roads and scenery, perfect for little ones to drive their cars or take dolls for a stroll through the vibrant scenes of bicycles, skaters, and excavators. Handmade with care, each rug is unique, with slight variations in color and shape, adding to its charm. Crafted from 100% cotton and hand-woven with hand-screen printing, this rug offers a cozy, engaging play area that’s as durable as it is delightful.
INFANTIUM VICTORIA
Founded by Dinie and Julia in 2014, Infantium Victoria is a German brand dedicated to crafting sustainable children’s clothing. With ethical manufacturing at its core, each 100% organic, PETA-approved garment minimizes waste and reduces CO2 emissions. Join Infantium Victoria in making a positive impact, one piece of clothing at a time.
Organic Cotton Newborn Baby Blanket
This soft, organic cotton baby blanket is perfect for new parents, offering cozy warmth free from harmful chemicals. It’s an ideal gift for newborns and their families.
Sustainable kids’ gifts help instill early eco-consciousness, showing that quality, long-lasting toys are better for the planet than short-lived plastic ones.
This holiday season, consider giving Christmas gifts that make a positive impact on the environment. By choosing sustainable Christmas presents from Uphavin, you can celebrate the joy of giving while supporting eco-conscious brands. Whether you're looking for a Christmas gift for your girlfriend, a present for your boyfriend or even a teacher's Christmas gift, or something special for parents, these sustainable options make thoughtful, meaningful, and environmentally friendly gifts.
For those wondering where to buy Christmas gifts that align with eco-friendly values, Uphavin offers a curated selection of high-quality, planet-friendly items. Make this Christmas one that’s not only joyful but also kind to our planet.
