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Now that Christmas is around the corner, it's time to present to you the ultimate minimalist, eco-friendly, ethical Christmas present guide! Christmas and the surrounding months are for some people synonymous with shopping mania, to-do lists, and stress and for those who want to avoid that, we have some cool tips. What's better than giving gifts with meaning, that are great for the planet too?
1. Give a ticket to a cultural/social experiences
Buying tickets to a musical/theater/cinema/concert/stand-up comedy show/art gallery opening is our favorite thing to give. If you are looking to be more original, what about looking for outdoor movie screenings or a trip to the sauna with ice bathing? This will be a memory that lasts forever!
2. Plan a hiking trip
Our second tip is to give away an invitation to go for a hike together with the person you are gifting. You can also plan it as a weekend getaway, and perhaps stay the night at a cabin in the woods.
If you live in Norway, or want to visit, we recommend: Trolltungen, Gaustatoppen, Innerdalstårnet, Festvågtind or Kolsåstoppen.
3. Create a homemade gifts
Homemade gifts are always a winner (except maybe those you brought home from the ceramics class in 3rd grade?). What about giving away a jar of granola (we have a delicious suggestion here), sauerkraut (this is a great recipe) or crispbread? Give it in a big glass jar with a gift-band tied around, and you will be begged to make more.
4. Book a treatment at an organic spa
In Oslo, we suggest testing out a facial at Gimle Økologiske Parfymeri or Greel Peel at Beths Beauty.
In Lisboa, we love Organii
In Copenhagen and Bali, you can enjoy a luxurious, organic experience at Hotel Guldsmeden.
In LA Ole Henriksen had a pretty epic spa with amazing treatments.
5. Put together a minimalist/zero-waste kit
A kit with everything you need to reduce your waste. A perfect gift for the environmentalist! It should include:
a water bottle
a reusable coffee cup
cutlery
a metal straw
bees wrap
a food container like stasher bags and food huggers
It can also include a plastic-free soap and shampoo bar, a metal razor, a tote bag and reusable cotton pads! Also check out our favorite items at Tise basics store.
6. Avoid microplastics with the Guppybag
For the true environmentalists, a thoughtful gift is a washing bag that prevents microfibers from your clothes to enter the ocean. Radical!
Guppy bags are cool.
7. Give organic & natural makeup/cosmetics
Our absolute favorites are:
RMS Uncover up concealer. A creamy concealer that just covers the necessary and leaves a really smooth surface.
RMS Buriti Bronzer, a beautiful bronzer that blends so well into the skin.
RMS Beauty Skin & Lip balm, a glossy balm for the winter dry lips and cheeks.
ZAO nail polish with 84 % natural ingredients and none of the 10 most chemical ingredients you find in normal nail-polish.
8. Inspire with yoga classes, clothes or a yoga mat
If your mother/sister/father/boyfriend/friend is into yoga, we recommend that you have a look at these beautiful mats!
Another idea is to give away a gift card to a yoga studio for the new year. Or what about some eco-friendly yoga clothing?
9. Cozy up with eco-friendly candles
Eco-friendly candles are the best gifts!
We love love love the ones from P. F. Candle Co. You can find them all over the world, and online.
Scentered also have some great varieties. Like De-stress candle, Escape candle, Sleep well candle and Love candle.
Another of our favs is this Moon Batch Candle (sold at Millas Boutique in Oslo). The candles are hand-poured and infused with quartz crystals and the energy of the moon.
10. Books are always a good idea!
Books are such a great gift because you will have to show someone that you put in the effort to find out what they like. Or, you have the option to introduce them to a new topic that they didn’t even know they were interested in.
Some of our recommendations:
Jordnært: Enkle tips til en miljøvennlig hverdag. Our book is in Norwegian and is a guide to anyone who wants to start living more eco-friendly and needs easy and doable tips and tricks! Plus lots of motivation, facts, stories, and resources.
More Plants Less Waste by Max La Manna. A really cool book on how to waste less food, cook really delicious vegan food and do great things for the planet! If you don’t already, please follow this guy on Instagram - he is so inspiring!
Vegan 100 by Gaz Oakley. Have you heard of Avant-Garde Vegan? He made a really cool cookbook where the recipes are bold, vibrant and gorgeous! Such a cool guy, and such a cool book.
Plantebasert kosthold by Nina C. Johansen, Tanja Kalchenko and Mari Hult. Beginners guide to everything you need to know about a vegan diet! These women are really experts.
Fattig Student by Karen Eline Thorsen, learn how to make meals for less money and no waste! This is also a Norwegian book.
Dyrking på liten plass by Tommy Tønsberg. A book about growing veggies indoors and in limited space areas. This book is on our wish list!
Større enn meg - Aksel Lund Svindal. A book about Aksel and the principles he lived by during his epic ski career. A strong mindset is a key to achieving great things for the world!
11. Sustainable surf gear for the surfer!
If the person is into surfing, you should check out these sustainable surfing brands: Eco Fins surfboard fins made from recycled waste and EcoLeash from the Ecosurfshop. Also, make sure to check out The Eco Board Project!
12. Kitchen supplies
A super gift to anyone who is wanting to make more healthy food at home.
Magi Mix was one of the best investments we made 5 years ago, and it still works like a charm! Perfect to make soups, smoothies, nut butter, bliss balls and bread.
If someone is really into raw food, a dehydrator is a necessity in the kitchen.
Last but. not least, a Vitamix is every smoothie lovers best friends. High quality and very trustworthy.
13. Remove plastic waste as a gift
Contribute to Empower Plastic’s mission by buying a gift card that will remove plastic from our environments. By buying a gift card of for example 50 dollars, you will give someone a gift to be plastic positive for 6 month, by cleaning up 30 kg’s (66 lbs) of plastic waste from the oceans and beaches, while bringing jobs to people in need. This is really the perfect gift. They have different price ranges at their website.
14. Sustainable necessities to the wardrobe
In Norway and the northern part of the world, wool is a material that is both sustainable and keeps us warm. It’s also a really practical material because you don’t have to wash it all the time.
This wool singlet from Jenny Skavlan X Pierre Robert is the perfect addition to a basic wardrobe.
This beret hat in wool is also a perfect to feel chick and warm throughout the winter. It’s approved ny the Nordic Swan Ecolabel and definitely on my list!
14. Take care of the Ocean kit #TAVAHA
This kit from Nordic Ocean Watch and Be:Eco shop is the perfect gift that also gives back. By buying a tote bag from NOW and a Klean Kanteen water bottle, you will not only reduce your waste, but also give 40 % of the surplus to Nordic Ocean Watch.
15. New Movement eco-friendly sneakers
For the sneaker lover, the New Movement sneakers are the ultimate gift. Most sneakers soles are made with plastic materials, but New Movement use recycled and natural rubber instead, keeping the rubber circular and out of landfills — cutting greenhouse gas emissions. They also use recycled plastic in their laces. 2 bottles are renewed to make a pair — with less carbon emitted to make those components. Read more about all the cool things they do on their website!
PS. New Movements are completely sold out on their website. If you want the sneakers before Christmas check out F5 concept store in Prinsens gate, Oslo.
Other tips for an eco-friendly Christmas
Use newspaper as gift wrapping, and decorate the presents with thing you can find in nature, like pines
Recycle the wrapping
Swap a meat meal for a veggie meal every single day during Christmas
Make a plant-based hot chocolate with homemade hemp milk or almond milk instead of using cows milk
Give yourself a christmas gift for taking steps towards an eco-friendly lifestyle!
Have a lovely pre-christmas time!