Top 10: Ethical Gift Guide 2022

By Penny Craswell

Finding gifts for friends and family that won’t go straight to landfill can be a challenge, and this year I have some great suggestions, from items made from sustainable materials to second-hand options, to things from First Nations-owned businesses.

This is also a great time of year to give to charities helping those who are less fortunate. You can sponsor It’s in the Bag, an initiative of Share the Dignity, gifting bags full of essentials like shampoo, toothpaste and period products to women who are waking up in a domestic violence refuge or homeless shelter on Christmas. Or consider giving to OzHarvest or Foodbank to help those who are struggling to buy food this Christmas.

1. Did you know that Marimekko has a sustainable range out called Marimade? The Oiva bottle is made with part recycled glass and uses cork and bamboo, the Oiva takeaway mug is made from a compostable bio-based material and the Mini Unikko A5 Pouch is made from a cellulose material. marimekko.com

2. Ethique recently won a Good Design Award for their new lipstick range. These plastic-free, vegan, cruelty-free, non-drying lipsticks are made from nutrient-rich emollients and mineral pigments like mica, manganese violet, and iron oxide. Even the tubes are compostable at home so you can plant them afterwards. ethique.com

3. Bellroy is an Australian brand and certified BCorp and, as well as selling gorgeous bags and wallets, also has great iPhone cases, including their new range Bio. Made from a bio-based polymer, this slimline case is leather free and fully compostable. bellroy.com

4. This lovely children’s book by Coral Vass with illustrations by Christina Huynh features a variety of shoes that dance across its pages, and also a particular pair of shoes that tell the story of migration. Books are a great gift idea for children, or anyone, and this one, called Grandma’s Treasured Shoes, is published by the National Library of Australia and available via their bookshop. bookshop.nla.gov.au

5. Totally plastic-free, the Swag bag is the best way to keep your veggies fresh in the fridge for more than two weeks. Made from non-toxic, unbleached and unseeded cotton, its patented multi-layer fabric design not only keeps veggies from going off, it actually keeps them crisp and fresh as well, helping to reduce food waste. theswag.com.au

6. Just because it’s second hand doesn’t mean it’s not quality. Ritrovato sells incredible second-hand glass, including mid-century Finnish, Swedish and Italian glass, plus ceramics too. Each piece is individually selected by Natasha, and pieces include Strömbergshyttan glass (price around $300/400 per piece), pictured. ritrovato.com.au

7. The SUGA water bottle is made from sugar cane stalks that usually are discarded, with a handle and ring made from silicon. Sold by Hip, a company fighting single-use plastic through product innovation. be-hip.com

8. Get some festive (and reusable) napkins, runners and more at Ink & Spindle, a team hand-printing designs on ethically-sourced textiles in Melbourne. These Red Bottlebrush Napkins come in a set of four and are part of their Festive Napery range. shop.inkandspindle.com

9. Upcycled Glassware turns old glass bottles into useable items. Their Upcycled Glassware Sprouter is a great gift idea, with a glass base and a custom designed top and grid produced from PLA – a plant based filament which does not contain petroleum. upcycledglassware.com.au

10. Why not buy from a First Nations-owned business this year? These earrings are available from Nagula Jarndu (Saltwater Woman), a not for profit incorporated body with a membership of 120 Indigenous women and governed by 7 Yawuru women Directors. Pictured is Gidgidi, coral, earrings by Yawuru artist Amanda Rose Lee (left), Nganarr, dugong, earrings designed by Yawuru artist Nikita Drummond (middle) and Birndany, the Yawuru word for stingray, designed by Yawuru-Karajarri artist Martha Lee (right), all available from QAGOMA.