How to Make Sustainable Gift Choices - Our Seasonal Guide!
It’s that time of year again isn’t it when we start to think about our Christmas shopping - depending on how organised we may be!
I always find it such a joy to treat our loved ones to gorgeous, unique gifts that they’ll treasure, but it can be minefield can’t it finding that special something, especially whilst being thoughtful of our planet and nature. Also, some people (men for us here at HBB!) are just more challenging to buy for aren’t they.
With this in mind, we thought we would offer you a helping hand by sharing our top tips as to what to look for when choosing a brand along with a guide to our favourite, eco -friendly, cruelty free, sustainable businesses that offer beautiful gifts ranging from treats for the palate, ornamentals, handmade crafts and jewellery through to ethically made clothing - a little something for everyone!
What to look for when choosing a brand?
Online shopping can be planet positive too – multiple studies have actually found that shopping online has a much lower environmental impact than brick-and-mortar- shopping due to the fact delivery companies are becoming more and more efficient at shifting vast amounts of parcels with minimum fuel/electric fleets and even more deliveries are being made by workers on foot. Consumers were also found to be more thoughtful and discerning when online shopping, thus reducing their carbon footprint from not going several times to a store, evaluating, and then often going back to return items.
So, Are You Ready to Read On?
Grab a cuppa, curl up on the sofa and delve into our sustainable festive shopping guide for gift inspiration aplenty. We hope you enjoy poring over it as much as we enjoyed compiling this show of support for our fellow online, independent businesses.
We know how much you care for our planet too, so first off, let’s talk about some considerations to take into account to purchase sustainably:
We know how much you care for our planet too, so first off, let’s talk about some considerations to take into account to purchase sustainably:
Where are the products made?
Avoid mass produced merchandise originating from large factories that impact negatively on the environment through air pollution, toxic waste disposal and water contamination. Pick companies who manufacture in their locality and whose energy consumption is as low as possible.
Who are they made by?
Look for brands with transparency and honesty, that are committed to integrity to their customers, surroundings and workforce and that do no exploit animals, people or nature.
Is the business socially responsible?
Do they promote the well-being of society and the environment?
Do they give back to the locality and/or to charity?
Are the products hardwearing/long lasting/purposeful/reusable rather than disposable and ‘throw away’?
What materials/ingredients do they use?
Opt for brands that use eco friendly, sustainably sourced raw materials or natural, chemical free ingredients that do not impact negatively on our planet.
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Are they Zero Waste?
Buy from businesses that support a zero waste policy- choose brands that use recyclable, recycled, reusable packaging/containers and shy away from single use plastics.
Our Top Online Brands for Sustainable Gifting
As so many of you lovely newsletter and email followers are not local to us we have focused the main part of this guide on our fellow Welsh and Welsh border businesses that sell predominately online, so are readily available for you all to enjoy wherever you may be in the country.
Est. Living Gifts
Meet Fi
‘My heaven is a home.’ Herein lies the philosophy born out of which countryside loving Fi founded her eco conscious Welsh online business. All her products are lovingly crafted from her own artistic hand and mind. A passion for trawling fairs and markets, finding forgotten and unloved materials and furnishings that just need a little tender love, care or repurposing, led to the creation of her entirely sustainable range. With her crafts she hopes to bring planet friendly happiness to people’s homes along with a dash of stylistic flair for good measure!
What’s on offer?
Here you will discover a beautiful, handmade, sustainable selection of homewares, accessories and retro home décor lovingly made in the Wye Valley.
Take a browse at the unique gifts available from this little online treasure trove – from vibrantly stylish handmade planters with contrasting terrazzo bands, coasters, candle holders, multicoloured hand marbled notebooks through to gold leaf resin earrings and hand printed Lino cut cards on recycled paper - you are sure to find some irresistible pieces!
Sustainability Credentials
Est Living’s whole range is produced using eco- friendly, sustainable materials such as recycled paper, eco resin and second hand materials.
Special care is taken to ensure all packaging is recycled, recyclable and/or reusable whilst remaining attractive and eye catching for gifting.
Here at HBB we particularly fell in love with the eco-friendly jesmonite planters and desk tidies - you may have spotted some in our office during visits or on our social feeds!
Did you know that jesmonite, derived from natural mineral, constitutes an environmentally friendly (being water based not solvent based) safe, durable and recyclable alternative to plaster, plastic and concrete?
Oh, and of course as fellow pet lovers how can we resist their cute festive cards!?
Just spotted these bee ones too.....
Find Est Living at…..
Subversive Threads
Meet Bee
Bee is the one woman team behind Subversive Threads – courageously switching between the design process, pattern making, garment construction, fabric sourcing, marketing and packing……..the list goes on! Nature and fashion lover Bee, a keen purposeful, cathartic and meditative sewer, started her business from her spare room in South Wales with only one sewing machine. Now she has a shop, studio and thriving online store! Bee draws her unique inspirations from all things art, vintage and music, but, most of all, it’s in her lucid dreams that her unique ‘threadies’ start their journey to fruition!
What is on offer?
Browse through a quirky, fun loving sustainable, ethical collection of garments completely handmade from start to finish in Wales using reclaimed fabrics. Choose from cwtchy joggers, fluffy jumpers, her unique ‘Long Janes’ (a feminine twist on ‘Long Johns’ that we love!), dresses, dungarees, kimonos or hats, bags and accessories for the perfect gift!
Sustainability Credentials
Never lacklustre, these subversive ‘threads’ are bold, brave and beautiful and designed to challengingly ‘subvert’ the devastating social and environmental impacts of ‘fast fashion.’
Did you know that a recent survey by Google found that the fashion industry accounts for 20% of waste water and 10% of carbon emissions globally!
Did you know that a recent survey by Google found that the fashion industry accounts for 20% of waste water and 10% of carbon emissions globally!
Subversive Threads boasts an impressive eco ethos by striving to be as genuinely environmentally conscious as possible. All fabrics are up-cycled or dead stock, all packaging is recyclable and grown from a sustainable source, the electricity Bee uses is renewable, garments are designed to be as versatile and hardwearing as possible to promote longevity and zero waste techniques are used during production. You can rest assured no ‘green washing’ is going on at subversive threads and each piece is lovingly made to be worn to shreds!
Oh, and the aptly named Bee, shares the love for our amazing bees too! As you can see above you will find them featuring frequently in her handiwork.
Find Subversive Threads at…
Somerset Brush
Meet Jo
The lovely Joanna is a very busy bee indeed! A self taught painter, artist and founder of Somerset brush, which sells in local emporiums and online, she manages every aspect of her business whilst caring for three young boys! My goodness! Joanna delights in the beauty of the natural world and nature; originally from London but now relocated to the Somerset-Wiltshire border, she relishes in the artistic influences offered on her doorstep, in particular drawing inspiration from the bees in her garden. A versatile talent, Joanna also has a keen enthusiasm for painting seascapes and absolutely loves the challenge of a commission!
What’s on offer?
Shop Somersetbrush and you’ll find a wealth of sustainable, handmade gifting options for suitable for the whole family. Opt for exquisite watercolour bee paintings, hand embroidered bee scarfs and cosy hats -perfect for the winter months –or mugs, reusable cloths and tote bags.
Or how about a hand painted bee iridescent glass bauble for some ‘bee-utiful’ festive decoration?
Maybe a hand crafted bee serving board would make the ideal pressie for the bee loving cook in the family? With so much choice this store is a must-browse for bee and art lovers alike. Somersetbrush even stock hand embroidered baby suits for the little ones in the family, and, for all you fur baby parents, why not contact Joanna for a bespoke pet portrait or accessory featuring your four legged best friend!
Sustainability Credentials
At Somersetbrush care is taken to be gentle on our planet. As well as promoting the awareness of bees and nature, the brand hand paint, hand embroider and pack their range from home, reducing their carbon footprint - no factory production here!
The products are designed to last and be reused time and time again – their chopping and serving boards are made from bamboo, a highly sustainable, natural renewable resource, and all orders are shipped via Royal Mail - the delivery company considered to be the most environmentally friendly, to boast the lowest carbon footprint and recognised as being the ‘industry leader’ in championing sustainable delivery.
Joanna also employs mainly watercolour paints to produce her gorgeous works. Watercolours are considered to be the most environmentally friendly painting medium given that the brushes and materials can be cleaned using warm water, whereas oil based paint, being non water soluble, requires the use of harsh chemicals and toxic paint thinners for cleaning up brushes and utensils.
Joanna also employs mainly watercolour paints to produce her gorgeous works. Watercolours are considered to be the most environmentally friendly painting medium given that the brushes and materials can be cleaned using warm water, whereas oil based paint, being non water soluble, requires the use of harsh chemicals and toxic paint thinners for cleaning up brushes and utensils.
Find Somerset Brush at…..
Jewellery by Annamarie
Meet Annamarie
Delve into the imaginative world of nature loving Annamarie and discover an enchanting array of creative, ethical jewellery - handmade just for you. Annamarie’s passion for jewellery was sparked inside her from a young age when she lovingly would string homemade clay beads together. This natural flair teamed with an enthusiasm for learning about folklore and myths, led to the creation of her unique nature-meets- fantasy jewellery range. From her workshop based in the wonderful countryside of Monmouthshire, South Wales she enjoys watching the wonder of nature through the changing seasons, the reflection of which shines through in her pieces. Creating bespoke engagement and wedding rings to be cherished is something Annamarie finds particularly rewarding.
What’s on offer?
Jewellery by Annamarie use traditional silversmithing techniques in conjunction with the comparatively new medium of silver clay, showcasing the exciting symbiotic potential of joining both mediums to create unique, detailed works of art in precious metal.
Perhaps you or someone you love revel in the magic of nature, everything enchanting and otherworldly? Then Jewellery by Annamarie fits the gifting bill! Exquisite earrings, charms, bracelets and necklaces await your perusal. Designed rich with influences from creative artists such as Tolkien, CS Lewis and Lewis Carroll, you’ll be sure to find an exciting fusion of nature meets fantasy running through the collections.
Sustainability Credentials
In contrast to her imagined worlds, Annamarie is ever conscious of our planet, fully understanding the necessity of protecting our environment. This informs the choices of her small business. Jewellery by Annamarie always opts for eco silver, works with fair trade or recycled precious metals and ethically sourced gemstones. All her packaging and boxes are recycled and biodegradable, even the tape she uses is fully recyclable rendering her brand as zero waste as possible.
Ah and look… and her latest pieces include a ‘bee-utiful’ bee range – right up our street of course!
Find Jewellery by Annamarie at….
HoneyBeeBeautiful!
Meet Cath
Most of you lovelies will be familiar with our sustainability ethos – we run a plastic free, animal, bee and planet friendly sustainable small brand, use natural, ethically sourced ingredients and offer a free return and reuse scheme. For further info on our eco credentials CLICK HERE
So, if you are looking for eco-friendly gifting options for the whole family, have a peak at our gift collection HERE.
Final Note………….
Are your shopping carts now brimming?! We do hope you have found this sustainable shopping guide useful in providing some gifting inspo for your Christmas shopping and in showcasing some ‘bee-utiful’ sustainable brands, both local and online, that may be new to you.
If you know of any gorgeous, sustainable small businesses worthy of a mention then please drop us a line and let us know – let’s share the support and love together for the amazing independents out there!
Oh, and did you notice how many of our featured ‘top picks’ are female led businesses? Here’s to happy shopping and to all our fellow enterprising, strong, thoughtful women!
Much love,
Cath & Bec xx
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