As much as it pains me, holiday season is rapidly approaching and with that comes the pressure of having to find thoughtful gifts for those we love. As someone who is by no means a minimalist but doesn’t believe in hoarding loads of stuff you don’t want or need either, both finding gifts for others and compiling my own wishlist can feel like a chore. However, over the past couple of years I have had great experiences in both directions: it’s perfectly possible to find awesome conscious gifts for those that still shop at conventional brands, and it’s equally possible to compile a sustainable wishlist for your in-laws without making it obvious that their son is dating a snobby do-gooder (or at least I hope I haven’t blown my cover just yet).

So whether you’re the one gifting or rather the one in search of some wishlist inspo, here are some sustainable gift ideas that work for me, and might work for you as well. I own many of these items and will mark those with an asterisk, so you’ll know which ones are tried and tested.

For the home

A category that always works well. These items will be used (or at least admired) very regularly, so they’re bound to spark shitloads of joy if perfectly tailored to the recipient’s tastes.

Yumeko offers GOTS and Fairtrade certified bedding and towels: beautiful things you use daily but might not feel like splurging on yourself. | LRNCE is a Marrakesh-based lifestyle brand focusing on interior and accessories. Their ceramics are a splurge, but incredibly fun and beautiful. | HAY’s Sowden insulated bottle* is a very cute starter for someone looking to dial down on disposable cups. | PF Candle Co. makes scented soy wax candles. The apothecary style jars look great in many interiors and the Cannabis* and Golden Coast* scents are amazing. | Sonnenglas* is doing great work in South-Africa, creating jobs for unemployed people in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Their Fairtrade solar-powered jars light up and can be personalised by placing some meaningful trinkets inside. | Nkuku creates home and lifestyle products and works with artisans around the world: ethical, eco-friendly & handmade. Their jewelry boxes* are a thing of beauty. | Bloomon’s dried bouquets* are undyed, don’t wilt and the company has been climate-neutral for the last 3 years. | Hadithi’s sisal baskets work great as cache-pots and catchalls. They provide a safe and fairly compensated source of income to women in third world countries. | Madriguera’s ceramic mugs are handmade by an artisan couple in Spain, and relatively affordable.

Style & beauty

Slightly more tricky, since someone’s personal style can be even more specific, elusive and fickle than their taste in interior design. Garment and shoes are wildly hit-or-miss, so if you really want to appeal to your loved one’s stylish side, accessories are where it’s at. Aim for a trusty sidekick rather than a loud protagonist.

Neinties is a sustainable jewelry brand that has something for everyone.| Omybag offers sustainably tanned and ethically constructed leather goods. Their cosmetic bag is a solid gift option.| Coisa’s scarves are made from recycled wool. An indispensable winter basic. | Crafty fashion lover? We Are Knitters’ Le Marais shawl* arrives on your doorstep in the form of yarn, needles and an instruction booklet. Rest assured, anyone with a bit of knitting experience should be able to figure this one out. | Cîme’s l’Huile is a dry blend of natural oils, perfect to tackle those dry winter shins.| Urban Decay is a conventional makeup brand, but they are cruelty free. Their Born To Run palette* should make anyone even remotely into beauty very very happy. | Qnoop puts the perfect spin on a Christmas staple: socks. Sustainably made yet surprisingly chic as far as socks go. | Secrid wallets are tiny, yet cleverly designed to fit all your cards and some bills if needed. They protect your cards against contactless theft and are ethically manufactured in the Netherlands.| Bufandy’s sustainable alpaca scarves* look and feel luxurious, but aren’t too big of a splurge. I own several.| If you live in a place with shitty weather, Maium’s Original rain coat might be a small consolation. Ethically manufactured out of plastic bottles, perfect for cycling and above all, not hard on the eyes. | HipKnitShop is another great option for those who might enjoy a little winter project. Their Favorite Hat* kit is beginner-friendly, quick, affordable and cute. | Gallivant is a sustainable niche perfume brand. I reviewed their sample kit before and the London* scent is an absolute favourite of mine.

Writing supplies

Granted, a bit of a niche category, but if you know fountain pen geeks or journaling enthusiasts, these items are probably the easiest way to their inky black heart.

Ferris Wheel Press* has a huge range of unique fountain pen inks. Their branding is a feast for the eyes: extremely giftable. | Galen Leather* makes leather cases that hold fountain pens and a tiny notebook. Why not have it personalised with your loved one’s initials? | Kaweco is my go-to fountain pen brand. The Liliput* is my weapon of choice (small pen for small hands), but the Sport* is a great allrounder. | About:Blanks* takes old books and replaces the pages with fresh blank FSC-certified sheets. Ideal for sketches and scribbles, and they look great on your bookshelf. | J. Herbin has been a manufacturer of fountain pen inks since 1670. Emerald of Chivor* and Rouge Hematite are quite magical to behold: they shimmer, sheen and shade in different colours, provided you use the right pen and paper. | Dingbats Pro notebooks* have paper that brings out these fussy inks beautifully. If your giftee is into journaling, dot grid is bound to make them happy.

Books

For readers, books are of course a no-brainer. As a gift, you could pick a nice hardcover, special edition (Everyman’s Library and Vintage Classics are always greatly appreciated here) or just a beautiful cover design. If you want to go sustainable, there’s nothing wrong with second hand books and AbeBooks should be able to provide you with anything you might be looking for. But if you prefer the gift of sustainable ideas, these books are it.

This is a Good Guide* by Marieke Eyskoot: an insightful yet fun read that sheds light on sustainable alternatives in all areas of life. | We are the Weather* by Jonathan Safran Foer: a digestible book about the impact we make with our diets. | De Verborgen Impact* (Dutch only) by Babette Porcelijn meticulously dissects the hidden impact we have on the environment through every aspect of our lives, such as travel, transport and diet, and backs it up with the numbers. Ecopositief in Vijf Stappen is the companion workbook to this, inviting you to take personal action. | Een beter milieu begint niet bij jezelf* (Dutch only) by Jaap Tielbeke investigates the other side of the coin: why we as consumers are not the main cause of the environmental crisis. Not a light read, but incredibly informative for those wondering where the real crimes are committed, and how we as consumers can use this information to be part of the real change. | Eating Animals*, again by Jonathan Safran Foer. A book that looks at the abominable ethics of animal husbandry and the (sometimes very positive) relationship we have with eating animals. This is a great one: it informs yet never judges. | A Sustainable Wardrobe* (Dutch only) by Stephanie van den Sigtenhorst explores all aspects of sustainability in fashion. | The Curated Closet* (and optional workbook*) are the perfect reading material for those wanting to (re)define their style and compile their dream wardrobe. | To Die For by Lucy Siegle was already exposing the fashion industry back when blogs were still a thing. I haven’t read this one yet, but the blurb makes it sound well researched and incredibly relevant still.

An experience

Ah yes, the ultimate minimalist/PC answer to what one should gift someone else. This could be a brilliant move if you stumble upon the absolutely mindblowingly perfect activity for your giftee - and follow through on that promise, of course. This option is so wholly dependent on your budget and your giftee’s interests that I can’t really make any recommendations, but I’m happy to share some options I personally would be delighted with.

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of cabin experiences in my own little country of Belgium. I can cross off Nutchel and Slow cabins already (review of the latter coming soon), but Cabiner and Ici are still very high on the list.
There’s a museum for everything, but entry fees can be somewhat steep for smaller collections. Belgium’s Museum Pass is a great solution to this, but I’m sure other countries and cities have equivalents.
A 10-film ticket at an arthouse (Cartoon’s would be my cinema of choice).
A ceramics course. I recently took part in a try-out at Sukoon studio and am hungry for more.
This might just be me, but at the top of my list is a volunteering experience at a seal hospital. Adopting a seal in my name and releasing said seal after its rehabilitation? My inner 10 year old would be forever grateful.

Gift guide for idealists

For the home

Style & beauty

Writing supplies

Books

An experience

Further reading