and protect the planet this Christmas
Zero-Waste Christmas Gifts You Will Never Have Thought Of
Zero waste Christmas gifts can be more exciting than coffee cups and tupperware (although these things are also important)! Here are a few creative zero-waste gift ideas that you’ve probably never considered, that will help you and yours have a conscious Christmas.
1. Gallery or Museum Membership
There’s nothing like a brilliant exhibition to engage, provoke, and inspire; and the best part? Gallery and museum memberships are totally waste-free. Whether it’s annual membership at the Tate or Southbank Centre, or unlimited entry to the UK’s many National Trust or English Heritage properties, there are hundreds of great memberships out there that don’t cost the earth.
Costs vary.
2. Jewellery Making experience
Encourage family and friends to get creative, whilst learning a valuable skill which could help them create upcycled and zero-waste gifts to share in future.
From £493. Vintage clothing
The environmental impact of the textile industry is huge, and has been widely publicised. This Christmas, buy loved ones something preloved and second hand; and contribute to the circular economy instead of the profits of unsustainable fast fashion brands.
Check out Depop, Rokit and ASOS Marketplace.
Costs vary.
4. Eco glamping
Stay in a solar powered cabin or yurt in the woods, and kick back in a wood fired hot tub, for a truly relaxing (and renewable!) eco break. Be sure to leave the campsite exactly as you found it when your glamping holiday is over; and for a truly sustainable break, why not use only reusable products, and even go meat-free for the weekend?
From £45
5. A day out at an Open Garden
Explore the outdoors, breathe some fresh air and reconnect with our beautiful planet, with a trip to one of the UK’s stunning open gardens. This is a great gift which will also remind loved ones why going zero-waste is so important.
Try Kew Gardens, Lee Valley Park or the Eden Project
From £37
6. A vegan cookery class
Nothing is more waste-free than a class where you eat what you make! Especially when the focus of the class is to make delicious plant-based food. This school offers a vegan Mediterranean cookery class in which you can learn how to make five scrumptious dishes using local and seasonal ingredients. After you have created the dishes, you can sit down with the rest of the group to tuck into a mouth-watering lunch.
From £497. A second-hand or refurbished Kindle
E-readers might not be quite the same as physical books; but they save a huge amount of paper waste if you’re a big reader. Crucially though, enough e-waste is created every year to fill Wembley Stadium six times over; and only 20% of us recycle our e-waste, making it even more environmentally damaging than paper waste.
So, buy a second-hand or refurbished Kindle model to be even more eco-friendly, whilst still encouraging book worms to enjoy all their favourite reads.
From £458. A pottery workshop
Who wouldn’t love the opportunity to get behind the spinning wheel and create some beautiful ceramics for their home? A zero-waste gift with zero-waste results that will (hopefully) be used and re-used for years to come.
From £39
9. Dinner at a waste-free restaurant
Why not invite friends and family who aren’t vegan or vegetarian to a zero-waste eatery? You might convince them that a reduced meat diet can still pack a punch, whilst doing wonders for our planet. And, thanks to the popularity of Veganuary, perhaps a New Years’ resolution will be on the cards.
Try Farmacy in London, Poco Tapas in Bristol, Arbor in Bournemouth or Sat Bains in Nottingham.
Costs vary.
10. A perfume-making masterclass
Learn about the history of perfume and the process of creating an amazing scent from an experienced consultant, before trying the process yourself and creating a unique scent to take home and wear. New skills, a new signature scent, and no plastic in sight? Sounds good to us.
From £59