We don’t want to be the grinch, but it is evident that as well as being the time of festive fun and good cheer, the holiday season is also synonymous with waste. Cheap and disposable plastic gifts are far too common, with kiwis producing around 30% more waste over the Christmas period than we do over the rest of the year. Eeeeeek! That equates to 50,000 tonnes of rubbish, which is not something Santa (or us) should be proud of.

In an effort to combat this monumental waste, we as consumers need to buy less, recycle more and choose gifts that have an ethical and sustainable focus. With environmental awareness at an all time high, consumers have become more conscious of the whole life cycle of the products we buy, and Christmas is a great opportunity to support ethical businesses that are working to make a difference.

We thought it might be useful to share some of our favourite gift ideas for you this festive season, with a focus on small kiwi businesses that make good quality, beautiful and ethical products. Ho ho ho hope you enjoy this list, and have a very Merry Christmas!

TAHI SKINCARE

Tahi skincare craft beautiful, high quality skincare products in New Zealand from natural ingredients. Each oil uses carefully selected plant extracts that have been . chosen to nurture your skin and wellbeing. We love supporting a New Zealand brand that cares for the environment as well as producing an amazing product. You can buy the oils in the Tahi online shop here, or if you are in Wellington we get it from our favourite shop Ena on Ghuznee Street. The oils start at $32 and are honestly worth every penny.

TRADE AID ROUND BASKETS (SET OF THREE)

Trade Aid do some very amazing things and support artisans through global trade. They have lots of amazing handmade gift options in their online shop, or have a look through one of their beautiful stores if you have the time. For your friend who loves trinkets, these baskets make great storage for the bedroom, bathroom, or they can even be used as pretty fruit bowls. This beautiful set of three round baskets are our favourite. They have been hand woven from kaisa grass with date palm wrapped around it. Three baskets come for $38.99, and you can find them online here.

THE OAT TOTE

It is old news that we have said goodbye to single use plastic bags, and this is our heavy duty shopping and beach bag of choice. The Oatery is a Wellington-based business doing amazing things, and if you haven’t sampled their goods already we recommend you stop by their food truck for an incredible bowl of oaty goodness, or buy their delicious homemade granola online. We love this bag because it is big, strong and can hold all your goodies without breaking. Importantly, it is also ethically made in a certified SEDEX Indian factory. At only $20, this is the perfect gift for a sustainably minded friend (bonus points if you fill it with a few cheeky bags of granola). You can find these t-oat-ally great bags here.

SOAK + SPROUT DIY SPROUTING PACK

We love supporting the kiwi website Plant Based for all our health and wellness needs. This clever little sprouting kit contains everything you need to grow your own sprouts. It comes in very cute packaging including enough organic seeds for your first sprout. You can find it on the plant based website here for a humble $25.

GIVE A TREE

Giving a friend or family member a plant or a tree is one of our absolute favourite gifts to give. Indoor plants are always a great option, with cacti the perfect low-maintenance alternative. If you are around Arrowtown, give our favourite Rosie Flowers a visit. As well as the gift of a physical plant, we love the ‘Give Trees’ initiative by Million Metres. Million Metres is an amazing organisation that is on a mission to restore Aotearoa’s rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands. Their goal is to help communities plant one million metres of waterways with native plants and trees, and you can help by giving away the gift of four - 100 native trees planted. You can have a look at the different options here, with prices ranging between $24 - $600, depending on the number of trees you choose to give.

DAILY GARDENER LINEN HAT

Ok, this may be a shameless self-plug, but did you know Sunday Projects garments are all ethically made in Wellington by a happy and well paid team? Or that we only use sustainably dyed natural materials for all their garments? Fight fast fashion, support small local business and protect a loved one’s face from the sun this summer by giving them a limited edition Sunday Projects linen hat. These little guys are reversible, unisex, washable and come in one size so you can be sure it will be well received. They come gift-wrapped for free in sustainable packaging, and are a bargain at $80. Find them in our online shop here (they come in white, oatmeal or navy).

Hope you enjoy this list and let us know if you have any other recommendations!