The holiday season is upon us, and with it the frantic rush to find the perfect gifts. With a deluge of sales, offers, adverts and deals, it can be difficult to see through the retail frenzy to root out presents for your loved ones that are not only great to receive, but leave you with a clear conscience when purchasing. 

With more people keen to consciously consume, and while it is becoming easier to shop purposefully, it still takes some leg work. That’s why our editorial team has hunted far and wide to put together a guide of some of the best sustainable, ethical and purposeful gifts on the market this year – for all the different people in your life. 

These are our top picks:

For the chef: One Pot, Pan, Planet: A Greener Way to Cook for You, Your Family and the Planet

The perfect gift for someone who loves to cook, enjoys being healthy, and wants to protect the planet. Award-winning writer Anna Jones presents over 200 delicious vegan and vegetarian recipes from cuisines across the world – all designed to minimise waste and maximise taste. It’s cooking for the planet-conscious. 

For the plant-lover: Wildflower Seeds

Growing wildflowers is one of the easiest ways to protect bee populations, local ecosystems and other wildlife that relies on flowers. UK non-profit Seedball wants to do exactly that, and they’ve packaged the seeds up in handy, plantable balls to make it even easier. Simply scatter the seedballs on soil, water and wait. Founders Emily and Ana used clay to encase the seeds and protect them from predators, and added chilli powder to deter slugs and snails from eating the shoots when they emerge. Growing a beautiful patch of wildflowers has never been easier. 

For the wine connoisseur: The Hidden Sea

Australian winery The Hidden Sea grows its grapes on the dramatic Limestone Coast that was once submerged by a vast ocean and informs their mission today. For every bottle of wine sold, they remove and recycle 10 plastic bottles from the ocean. Their goal is to remove 1 billion single-use plastic bottles from the ocean by 2030 – so you’d better get drinking. 

For the coffee-lover: Pact Coffee 

Pact Coffee is on a mission to make coffee better for people and planet. Started in 2012 by Stephen Rapoport in his kitchen, Pact quickly gained a dedicated following of coffee-lovers and acquired a roastery. Now one of the UK’s largest independent roasteries, they source specialty coffee from 9+ origins, remove the costly supply chain and put the profit back in the hands of the coffee farmers – paying on average 65% higher than the Fair Trade baseline. With special Christmas blends, gift packages and recyclable Nespresso pods, Pact is the perfect gift for any coffee enthusiast. 

For the kid: Lanka Kade

Fair trade wooden toy company Lanka Kade was started in 1994 after founders Diane and Upul witnessed ex-factory workers in Sri Lanka struggling to chase up months of owed wages. They decided to found a company that remained committed to good rates of pay, equal opportunities, a safe working environment and employee satisfaction and more – all adhering to the 10 Principles of Fair Trade. Their educational, colourful and vibrant toys are a perfect way to entertain children while supporting fair trade principles across the world. 

For the traveller: Krochet Kids Duffel Bag 

The Krochet Kids brand is founded on the idea that gifts can give back. They employ hundreds of people in Uganda and Peru, all of whom they teach how to crochet in order to provide them with the skills to support their families. Beginning with simple crocheted hats, the brand has now evolved to sell t-shirts, gloves, bags and more, making them perfect for anyone who values fair trade. 

For the gin-drinker: Mermaid Gin

Hand-crafted in the Isle of Wight, Mermaid Gin is a truly beautiful present – their bottle is specifically designed to be re-used and cherished. The gin incorporates ten ethically sourced botanicals to give it a complex and fresh taste grounded in it’s locally foraged rock samphire. It’s packaging is 100% plastic free, with recyclable glass and compostable tamper-proof seal. They’re committed to becoming net-zero and are involved in conservation projects around the island to protect the landscape around them, so this gin makes the perfect gift for anyone who appreciates sustainability – and a good G&T. 

And finally, for the person who has everything: Kiva Loans