Christmas can be a time of wasteful excess, but your organisation’s sustainability efforts don’t have to stop at the sound of merry bells.
Avoid the dreaded Secret Santa panic buying and unthoughtful corporate gifts, and give your colleagues and clients a meaningful gift that doesn’t cost the earth.
A sustainable gift will send three messages:
To help make the gift buying process a little easier, we’ve put together a list of some of 2021’s sustainable gift ideas including locally made products and innovations developed within the Plus X community.
Reusable facemask: If you didn’t send these out last year, it’s still a great option for 2021. With 53 million facemasks discarded last year, by giving the gift of a reusable facemask your colleagues and clients know you care about both their health and the planet.
A stylish and handy hand sanitiser dispenser: Eynaball are a social enterprise that has created Soapstone through the help of the Plus X CRL Accelerator. A sustainable way to sanitise your hands, the pocket-sized dispenser is refillable so it eliminates the need for single-use plastic bottles. It is a joy to use – rub it in your hands like a bar of soap to clean the device AND your hands – so it can be safely used with friends.
Give the gift of laughter with Gamely Games. Having come through the Plus X BRITE project, they develop their games in the most environmentally and people-friendly way possible. This is the gift that keeps on giving with 10 trees being planted for each game created. The company also offsets their carbon by supporting eco projects in the developing world.
Reusable cups are a classic option for sustainable corporate gifting, especially if you’re after a branded gift. The reusable cup Keep Cup has great options!
Disrupting the umbrella industry, Blunt has created a rain protector that will last you a lifetime, even in the UK rain! Another one to put your logo on, this is a quality umbrella that employees will never have to throw out.
Handmade in Brighton from plastic waste that was deemed non-recyclable by UK councils, Plus X and BRITE project member Gomi has created a portable charger that is compatible with iPhone and Android devices. Keep this company on your radar for other sustainably-made electronic products.
Coffee that goes above and beyond Fairtrade: Placing top of the class in sustainable coffee comes Cafédirect. Investing 50% of its profits into Producers Direct, their charity works directly with the farmers to improve their livelihoods. And, that’s on top of the Fairtrade premiums they pay.
Or, perhaps a caffeine-free coffee alternative from Bare Cacao? An ethically sourced, nutrient rich drink made from cacao. This gift says " We care about your wellbeing, as well as the planet's".
Planet-friendly wines: This year, the UK released its first certified sustainable wines, following the establishment of the Sustainable Wines of Great Britain (SWGB) scheme last year recognising the industry's responsibility to minimise its impact on the environment. Among the first to qualify for this certification is Gusbourne Wines. Building on its sustainable credentials, this product is locally grown and produced, a fantastic option if your gift of choice is of the alcoholic variety.
Make your corporate gifting this year one for your clients, customers and colleagues to remember with sustainable, innovative and exciting gifts.
If you are a corporate looking to move the needle on your sustainability agenda, find out how the Better World Collective can help connect your business with sustainability innovators.
We create impactful innovation programmes and inspiring work spaces that unlock potential; driving business growth and innovation, community collaboration and positive social impact.
