Christmas is on the way and you're probably beginning your hunt for the perfect gifts for your family and friends. Here at Conservation Chat UK, we believe in making the festive season as sustainable and environmentally-friendly as possible, all while keeping the magical elements! That’s why, in this post, you will find several examples of local, home-made and sustainable shops where you can buy one-of-a-kind, eco-friendly and waste-free products for your loved ones! What's more, the majority are online shops and deliver straight to your front door, reducing person-to-person contact during these testing times!
If you want beautiful, hand-made, gemstone and crystal-based jewellery, this is the place to get them!
Owner Leah makes everything from scratch using gems and wire which are purchased from Kernow Craft (an ethical Cornish company). All of her items have a witchy/boho feel and the detail in each piece is unique and beautiful. As a bonus, all her packaging is recyclable!
Do you have a friend obsessed with the ocean and all things marine? Or maybe a family member who loves beach-style Objet D'art?
K-Oceans Creative is another hand-made art store owned by Kiera. She creates a myriad of items including pendants, wine glass identifiers (perfect for Christmas day when you keep picking up the wrong glass!) and Christmas decorations.
Kiera makes her Christmas Decorations from polymer clay (a very durable material) mixed with sand and her jewellery from sterling silver wire and chain, crystals, and sea glass (foraged from local beaches). All items come with biodegradable cotton bags and packaging is all plastic free.
The All Sorts Company is owned by Sam and she creates unique, handcrafted gifts and accessories. All of her pieces are inspired by upcycling old fashion items and items found in nature. She repurposes buttons, clothing and fabric off-cuts into pretty jewellery and hair accessories including clips and headbands.
She also creates original artwork using natural materials and currently has a collection of hand-made Christmas cards for sale which are perfect for the festive season!
Lorraine at Bloomindye creates hand-made, plant-dyed and printed textile products including soft furnishings, hair accessories and protective face coverings. Lorraine uses fabrics by well-known and popular designers such as Cath Kidson and Orla Kiely and there are even cute, Christmas themed face masks available, so you or a loved one can look super cute and festive while protected others!
If you want beautifully, hand-drawn Christmas Cards, you need to check out Lizzy Hard Art on Etsy! Each design is hand-drawn with impeccable detail. She even commissions pet portraits so why not contact Lizzy and have your family pet drawn with precision!
Trace-Less is the first solo Zero Waste Shop in Torquay and offers a wide variety of plastic-packaging free products. This is a real-life, walk-in shop, however, they do have a website and can deliver to your door. You can buy toiletries, sweets (including vegan marzipan and chocolate), and even stock up your cupboards ready for Christmas cooking. If you’re looking for yummy, eco-friendly and natural stocking fillers, this is the place to be.
In 2018 an opportunity arose to purchase a few acres of local woodland in South Devon. Steve and Tamara jumped at the chance and are now proud custodians of 9 acres of woodland. The nature-loving couple purchased the woodland with the intention to give nature a helping hand and rewild the site.
During lockdown they started making crafts from the bi-product wood of their habitat management projects. They now sell their crafts at local markets in South Devon and on their website, all unique and nature-themed. Some of their items include Hazel and Gemstone necklaces, spalted pendants, hanging decorations, Christmas decorations, fairy houses (only available at markets) and pyrographed pendants. As an added bonus, postage and packing is free to UK addresses and you know you are supporting a real life rewilding project!
If the act of giving material gifts is not your thing and you want a totally packaging free and experience-based present for a loved one, you can purchase a guided tour around their site for individuals or for groups of up to six people. Laura and Stuart have personally visited the site and can vouch for the sites beauty and Steve's enthusiasm for the project really makes the experience special.
What kind of Christmas would it be without sweets?
The Conscious Candy Company sells 100% vegan pick & mix which can be delivered to your door. They have massive 1kg, 500g and 200g pouches in addition to vegan marshmallows, chocolate selection bags, chocolate buttons, and in the spirit of Christmas they offer gingerbread men, chocolate Santa Claus and colourful candy canes.
Psst. They even have gin and tonic and prosecco flavoured jellies!
There you have it! Seven shops offering sustainable, eco-friendly, hand-made, unique and beautiful products just waiting for you to grace them with your business this Christmas!
If you visit any of these shops, please make sure to let the owners know that we sent you there, and from all of us here at Conservation Chat UK...
