Sustainable Gift Ideas
Reviews by Laura Cadman, Alice Ellerby, Saffia Farr, Jess Hazel, Rosalind Kingston-Jones, and Sophie May
Fabric Bunting Experience Box
We really enjoyed printing this bunting. We tried it with a group of children, which worked surprisingly well. The result was lovely as each flag had its own style. As well as using the blocks to print designs, the children were also keen to freestyle, and using a sponge or paint brush to apply the fabric paints is effective too. Beautifully made with sustainable white cotton, the double-sided bunting feels really durable, which is essential as bunting, when hung, is often pulled around a lot and exposed to the elements. The colours are vibrant and the paints mix well. Detailed and clear instructions show you how to get the best prints from the blocks and how to fix the design, and there is a spare piece of fabric to practise on. A lovely activity that creates a beautiful result. AE
From £26.50 rachelfearnleydesigns.co.uk
2026 Children’s Almanac
The 2026 Children’s Almanac is a lovely book to dip into throughout the year. It’s full of fascinating facts, ideas, and stories about what’s happening each month in nature, space, science and around the world. I love how it connects with the seasons – spotting wildlife, growing things and looking up at the night sky. There’s a great mix of stories, and celebrations from different cultures, plus fun updates on sports and new inventions. It’s colourful, engaging and easy to pick up whenever curiosity strikes and to spark conversation. Children and adults will enjoy exploring it together. A perfect gift for any young nature lover or curious fact-finder who wants to discover the magic of our world throughout the turning of the year. JH
£12.99 harpercollins.co.uk
Cinnamon Natural Soap
As regular readers will know, I love bars of soap so I’m always happy to try them out! This is a wonderful bar. It has a comforting cinnamon scent that is soft and not overwhelming. The soap lathers wonderfully and feels cleansing and moisturising, not drying. It can be hard to choose a scent from the wonderful Friendly Soap range. Cinnamon is a natural antiseptic and its antibacterial qualities have been said to help maintain a healthy complexion and leave your skin feeling refreshed. I really like that all Friendly Soap bars are made in the UK and are cruelty-free and suitable for vegans. The packaging is also plastic-free and the prices are very accessible. SF
£3.25 friendlysoap.co.uk
Sustainable Electric Toothbrush
This is a beautiful toothbrush so it’s very appealing to use! It also has lots of useful innovations that make it really practical: I like the long-lasting battery. You can take it away without worrying about it running out of charge. All the accessories are sleek, like the toothbrush itself. The sonic vibrations do take some getting used to – they are quite ticklish at first! – but my teeth feel really clean and tingly afterwards. The two-minute timer is especially helpful, and it buzzes every 30 seconds to remind me to move locations in my mouth. My dentist has been talking to me about brushing times and now I have no excuse not to brush for two minutes! The heads are made from plant-based materials and are recyclable. SURI is a B Corp company, which gives confidence that it is taking steps to reduce its environmental impact. SF
£75 trysuri.com
Cast Iron Baked Potato Cooker
I bought one of these a couple of years ago as a gift for my parents, and it’s been such a great way to make the most of having a fire in the winter. They are designed to be used with multi-fuel stoves, woodburners and open fires and make use of the surface heat. The pod gets hot and cooks your potatoes – much more evenly than when you cook them on an open fire in foil, if you’ve ever done this! It’s not very quick (several hours on our tiny stove), and varies depending on how hot the fire is, but it’s fun and economical if you have the fire going anyway. You can also experiment with cooking other things in it; we used it last year to roast chestnuts. This size fits two regular jacket spuds but other sizes are available. Don’t forget to season before use – full instructions provided. JH
£32.99 naturalheating.co.uk
Saskia’s Flower Essences
This is a beautiful gift set of nine essence blends. The 5ml bottles are laid out in a high-quality deep green box, which they can be kept in so you can easily see the one you might need. The nine blends are Breathe Deep, Seek Peace, for winding down and letting go; Calm and Confident, for challenging situations; Emotional Relief, for when life is just too much; Focus, Energise, Create, for when you want to just get on with it; Living Life Lightly, for when life feels dreary and you need a lift; Sexy and Gorgeous, for when you want to sparkle; Shock Release, for relief from panic and trauma; Speaking with Confidence, for improving communication; and Strength and Support, for when you need hope. I have been experimenting with using them and I like the holistic nature of what this gift box offers. SF
Imagine Modular Mud Kitchen
The idea behind these modular mud kitchens is that children and families can create and add to their set-up as time goes on. Each item is designed to be open-ended, robust and portable, enabling children to use the resources in different ways. The supports are sturdy trestles made from treated timber, and the planks are made from UK-grown larch. We set up our kitchen as pictured and our two girls really enjoyed playing with it. I love the simple design on two levels, which is attractive, as well as accessible and practical for play for different ages. My youngest just loved placing things on and off the lower shelf. Open-ended resources are great for creativity and I think this has just the right balance of structure. Being modular, it’s easy to move around and can adapt into whatever play might be inspired next. SM
£155.99 muddyfaces.co.uk
Pore Cleansing Charcoal Face Mask
I have been enjoying using this face mask to help clean and rejuvenate my skin as we move into winter. I really like face masks that you mix at home – you add water or your choice of liquid to create a paste, so the jar of powder lasts for ages. The instructions are to leave it on for 5–10 minutes, but I’m not keen on my skin getting too tight, so I tend to use it more as an exfoliating mask. The charcoal and clay absorb toxins, dirt and excess oil, and the willow bark and nutmeg encourage exfoliation and skin renewal. My skin feels deeply cleaned and refreshed afterwards and it’s very easy to wash off. I really like the zero-waste element of Lyonsleaf products as I can always reuse the jars, and I like that they are handmade in small batches in the UK. SF
£12.99 lyonsleaf.co.uk
RNLI Inshore Lifeboat Playset
These Playpress sets are such a good idea. It’s lovely to have a construction toy made from sturdy cardboard, rather than plastic, and they really capture the imagination. The sets are sustainable, recyclable and biodegradable, designed and made in the UK, and printed with plant-based inks. I love this 49-piece RNLI-themed set, which has some lovely details. It’s satisfying to make and fun to play with once assembled. We recently visited a lifeboat station in Devon, with a boat just like this, and the set was a great way to think more about the work the RNLI does. Visual, easy-to-follow building instructions are available on the company’s website, so if you find a loose piece, you can easily track down where it’s meant to go! AE
£12.00 playpresstoys.com
Mini Micro Foldable scooter
My 2-year-old has enjoyed getting to grips with the Mini Micro Foldable scooter. He loves the motion-powered LED wheels and shimmering constellation pattern on the stem. Reassuringly, this also makes him more visible to other pavement users. The scooter is super light and it’s easy to use and master. I was surprised how quickly he managed to scoot independently. It folds with one click, which is useful as it can be stowed in the bottom of the buggy, and this helps me when we’re out at the park and I’m also juggling the 2-year-old’s baby brother. Storing it at home is easy as it fits nicely in the under-the-stairs cupboard. The scooter is really well made and knowing that every part is replaceable makes me confident it will last and that it can eventually be passed on to his brother. RKJ
£99.95 micro-scooters.co.uk
Realm of Middle-earth Ink Bairn Baby Carrier
I use some form of carrier every day, but the one I reach for most is my Bairn Baby Carrier as it works for both my children. It’s small when folded and can be tucked under the pram – great for when your tiny baby needs to be close to you unexpectedly when you’re out and about. The structure of the carrier with easy-to-reach clips means that I feel confident carrying my newborn. It’s also highly adjustable, so if my toddler feels like he needs a rest from running here, there and everywhere, there’s a place for him snuggled close to me. The carrier means I can slow down and have a supported contact nap with my babies, or do something with my hands while keeping them close. It’ll take you from newborn to toddler effortlessly and is worth its weight in gold! LC
£163 oschaslings.com
Winter Train Wooden Music Box
My 4-year-old is utterly charmed by this wooden music box. It’s a sleek and classic winter scene, with snow-topped houses, Christmas trees, and a toy train that circles the town on an invisible magnetic track. This is the really enchanting part: the train isn’t attached to anything and moves as if by magic. The battery-free music box is operated by a wind-up mechanism – which requires an adult or older child – and then there is a simple on–off toggle switch at the front that a younger child can control. This would make a special present for a baby or small child, which they could bring out each year for the festive season as a treasured Christmas tradition. AE
£79.99 musicbox.co.uk