News - Goodtrippers

Cool! London opens doors on its first People’s Fridge

An innovative new scheme to fight food waste and food poverty is growing with a new London initiative launched this week…

Ben Longman, Olivia Haughton, Rebecca Trevalyan and Sebastian Wood launch the People's Fridge (photo Sebastian Wood) — Ben Longman, Olivia Haughton, Rebecca Trevalyan and Sebastian Wood launch the People’s Fridge (photo Sebastian Wood)

The People’s Fridge (similar to the community fridges championed by Jamie Oliver and Jimmy Doherty on their Friday Night Feast in January) has just moved into Pop Brixton in south London. Following a successful crowdfunding campaign, residents and local businesses are invited to stock it with edible goodies that would otherwise, needlessly, have to be thrown away.

A community fridge can be used by anyone for free – those who want to share food that would be otherwise go to waste, and those for whom access to fresh and free food is hard to come by. Like other community fridges dotted around the country, the Pop Brixton fridge, London’s first, will be helping to solve the pressing problems of food waste and food deprivation.

Did you know that restaurants throw away 900,000 tonnes of food a year, while UK households bin approximately 24 meals’ worth of edible food every month? When an estimated 8.4 million people are living in food insecurity, relying on food banks to feed themselves and their families, The People’s Fridge movement is such as essential, and smart, answer to this problem.

Similar fridges operate in Frome in Somerset and in Derbyshire, with Spain, Germany and India also running similar schemes. If you’d like to see a community fridge set-up in your area, get onto your local council and help drum-up some local support. Next time you’re going away for a few days, you could be putting that milk, cheese, salad or glut of homegrown courgettes into a People’s Fridge for anyone to have. Now that’s cool!

Follow London’s first community fridge via Twitter

Two new books to kick-start your gardening year

While your garden lies dormant, this is the perfect time of year to bury your nose in a gardening book to pick up some skills, tips and inspiration for the year ahead. Here are two brand new releases to get you started…

101 Organic Gardening Hacks: Eco-friendly solutions to improve any garden – by Shawna Coronado

The word ‘hack’ may seem a little, well, hackneyed nowadays but in this context it hints at some easy, clever and smart ways to improve your garden, eco-style. Shawna Coronado, one of America’s most creative gardeners, has compiled a phlethora of her own ingenious tricks – from practical time-savers to clever ways to upcycle everyday items in your garden. All are completely organic and environmentally-friendly.

There are pages of easy-to-follow steps, illustrations and photos, all divided into a dozen different categories for easy reference. Find out how to replicate Shawna’s own hacks – creating a garden bench from leftover wood posts, or creating your own blend of organic soil. It’s full of sustainable ideas that you’ll be itching to try this year.

‘101 Organic Gardening Hacks’ is out now in paperback, priced £12.99 (pub. Cool Springs Press).

Buy it here 101 Organic Gardening Hacks: Eco-friendly Solutions to Improve Any Garden

Build a Better Vegetable Garden: 30 DIY projects to improve your harvest – by Joyce Russell, photographs by Ben Russell

Following up from their well-received ‘The Polytunnel Book’, this new tome is full of practical ideas to get the most out of your vegetable plot. Joyce has over thirty years of practical fruit and vegetable growing experience, as well as contributing to several magazines. Her easy-to-follow projects are accompanied by Ben’s clear photographs, plus lists of materials and a relative skills rating.

These DIY projects aims to help you either improve your yields, extend the season, or protect your crops from pests. All will transform your garden into somewhere more productive, attractive and secure.

‘Build a Better Vegetable Garden’ is out now in paperback, priced £16.99 (pub. Frances Lincoln).

Buy it here Build a Better Vegetable Garden: 30 DIY Projects to Improve your Harvest

We have a copy of ‘Build a Better Vegetable Garden’ to giveaway. To be in with a chance of winning, simply share this post on Twitter or Facebook tagging @Goodtrippers and using the #competition – before midnight on 21st February 2017. One winner will be chosen at random by 28th Feb.

Deck the halls…with real holly and ivy

There’s nothing like bringing the outdoors in, and the best dressed homes this Christmas will be festooned in real festive foliage. But taking your pick from the nearest woodland isn’t really the sustainable way to do it – here’s an easier way to get the look…

Cornwall-based Rocket Gardens sent us one of their Festive Foliage Boxes (£29.99 for a large box; £19.99 for small) to get our decorating started. The large box really is large (60cm x 45cm x 45cm) and full to the brim with real sprigs of holly, ivy, bay, fir, rosemary, mistletoe and pine cones. It instantly brings that lovely smell of greenery into the home, let alone the distinctive rosemary (pop a sprig or two on a radiator or stove hotplate for a fantastic natural fragrance).

Everything in the box is grown and harvested at Rocket Gardens, and dispatched the very same day so you receive fresh foliage ready for sprucing up your home (note: don’t let the box sit around as it can go brown in centrally-heated homes after a few days!).

Rocket Gardens suggest a few ideas for what to do with your festive foliage, including making table decorations, stocking trims, ‘rosemary snowflakes’, candle rings – visit www.rocketgardens.co.uk/make-natural-decorations – but you can also do a few quick Christmas spruce-ups by gathering together bunches and putting in vases on tables, in the fireplace, around mirrors or up bannisters. Be aware that the Festive Foliage Box only includes the greenery, you’ll need your own wire, string, tape and other choices of fastenings and fixings to actually deck your halls!

Festive Foliage Boxes will be dispatched until 21st December. For more details and ordering visit www.rocketgardens.co.uk.

To get you started, here is a step-by-step guide by Rocket Gardens to making your own natural table settings:

Natural Table Settings

You will need:

Stem of Bay, stem of Holly and a couple of sprigs of Rosemary
Floristry Wire
Gardening Twine
Scissors

Step by step:

Select a stem of Bay, a stem of holly and a couple sprigs of Rosemary
Cut them to size.
Arrange them how you want them to look when bunched together. Keep the foliage facing forwards. You don’t want any getting squashed when placed on the table.
With floristry wire bind the bunch of foliage together.
Go over this wire by wrapping the twine over the top and forming a pretty bow at the front. You can completely cover the stems with the twine or leave some showing, it’s up to you.

Why not also attach a personalised tag to each one and use them as place settings for your Christmas dinner table.

Eco and Ethical Christmas Gift Guide – For Her

For mums, grandmas, aunts, sisters and friends…our pick of the best eco and ethical Christmas gifts for her.

Hygge gift set – £59 from Aerende, www.aerende.co.uk

It became one of the words of 2016, now you can spread a bit of Danish cosiness to the Scandi-lover in your life with this ‘hygge’ gift set. Featuring handmade cup and saucer for warming hot chocolates, a handmade organic cotton cushion to snuggle up to, and a (Danish essential) soy wax scented candle. All products are handmade by social enterprises and charities – the cup and saucer has been made by residents with learning disabilities at The Grange in Glocestershire; the cushion is handmade by refugees in Hertfordshire as part of a Refugee Council project; and the candle is made by staff with a range of additional needs at Beacons Creative in Wales. Browse the rest of the Aerende range for more brilliant handcrafted gifts from people facing a range of social challenges.

‘Samphire’ eau de toilette (100ml) – £60 from Laboratory Perfumes, www.laboratoryperfumes.com

This inventive British brand makes perfume the ‘old fashioned way’, taking inspiration from natural botanicals and using natural oils. We love this cool, fresh, coastal fragrance of verbena, juniper, lavender, citrus oils, basil and rosemary with base notes of oak moss and amber. Other fragrances in the range include Atlas, Amber, Gorse and Tonka – all unisex, they develop into something unique on every individual. All perfumes come in a stylish, minimalist cardboard tube. Matching scented candles are also available.

‘So Sleepy’ limited edition collection – £10 from Tropic Skin Care, www.tropicskincare.com

This brand new set from Tropic Skin Care is a perfect stocking filler. Including a travel-sized pillow mist and temple roll-on to help you nod off into a deep sleep. It smells gorgeous thanks to the essential oils rosewood, vanilla and lavender.

Artisan Sparkling Elderflower Wine Maker’s Kit – £40.99 from Yumbles, www.yumbles.com

This fun DIY kit includes everything you need to make your own sparkling elderflower wine (3 litres of it!). The ingredients are organic, vegetarian and gluten free, and the equipment is suitably ‘chemistry set’ fun and easy to use. Time for some bubbles!

Smoke & Musk travel candle – £16 from Museum of London shop, www.museumoflondonshop.co.uk

Handpoured in east London using eco-friendly soy wax, this scented candle smells like being in a cosy cabin in the woods. A bespoke blend of essential oils including green balsam fir, wood smoke and musky patchouli. This handy travel size makes a great stocking gift; it’s also available in a 3-wick 500ml size (for £50).

Butterfly Collection ‘Revive’ and ‘Indulge’ gift sets – £19.95 and £8.50 from Green People, www.greenpeople.co.uk

The new Butterfly Collection organic skincare and bodycare travel sets from Green People make good stocking fillers or tree presents. Beautifully packaged, a donation from each sale goes to Butterfly Conservation to help protect butterflies, moths and the environment. The ‘Revive’ body wash and lotion set is scented with uplifting lemongrass and ginger, while ‘Indulge’ is a special night-time facial treat.

‘Bird’ brass earrings – £15 from Danaqa, www.danaqa.com

We love these cute brass earrings from online boutique Danaqa. Handcrafted by a husband and wife team at their studio in Iran, these earrings also come in a variety of bird and tree designs – and at this price make lovely stocking fillers or tree presents. Browse more gift ideas on the Danaqa site – their homewares, jewellery and accessories are all ethically and fairly sourced, and support women-led businesses in developing countries.Aphrodite facial oil (30ml) – £20 from MOA (Magic Organic Apothecary), www.moa.london

This organic and vegan-friendly super-luxe facial oil rejuvenates and rehydrates party-worn and stressed-out skin. The delicately scented balm is packed full of organic yarrow essential oil, rosehip and damask rose oil (organic ‘hero herb’ yarrow, which is native to British hedgerows, and has been used for centuries to heal, repair and leave skin naturally glowing). It smells delicious and is non-greasy – just apply overnight and wake up with a glowing complexion!

Foxhole Gin – £40 from Foxhole Spirits, www.foxholespirits.com

This is a first, a gin distilled from unused English wine grapes picked in Sussex vineyards. In a typical harvest around 30-40% of grape material is unused and has to be thrown away – so this gin helps reduce waste and encourage sustainability. Velvet-textured with floral coriander and orris flavours, and balanced with grapefruit and lemon zests, this gin has a long finish of subtle bitter orange notes. Grab one of the 960 first-batch limited edition bottles.

Puressential Gentle Heat Diffuser – £18.67 from Cocoon Center, www.cocooncenter.co.uk

Aromatheraphy the clean, safe way – with no candle or flame, this essential oil ceramic diffuser can be placed on any surface as heat is only located at the top. Available in navy or white.

Dr Organic Lavender Oil Moisturising Gel Socks – £15 from Holland & Barrett, www.hollandandbarrett.com

Socks for Christmas? Yes, but these are no ordinary socks… Pop these on and create silky smooth feet after just 20 minutes of pampering a day. The socks are infused with lavender oil with a balanced blend of moisturising jojoba oil, olive oil and vitamin E, and an organic cocktail of essential oils including jasmine, patchouli, bergamot, ylang-ylang, sandalwood, vetiver root, cedarwood and emerald cypress oils.

Avalon Organics Intense Defense skincare collection – RRP £34.99 from www.avalonorganics.com (for stockists)

Perfect for keeping winter skin in tip-top condition, this set includes organic Cleansing Gel with pure botanical cleansers, Renewal Cream to encourage collagen production, and Antioxidant Oil to reinforce the skin’s natural lipid barrier. Enriched with vitamin C, lemon and white tea it’s got plenty of zing, and an attractive make-up bag to boot.

Coconut Collection beauty range – from £1.75 by Urtekram, www.urtekram.com (for stockists)

Coconut and Danish – not a yummy pastry but two of the trends of 2016, so what better gift than something from the new Coconut Collection by Danish organic beauty brand Urtekram? Featuring vegan and cruelty-free shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and body lotion, each product is infused with organic virgin coconut oil and organic coconut nectar from palm trees in the South Seas.

Eco and Ethical Christmas Gift Guide – For Kids

For babies, toddlers and little ones, here are some eco and ethical gift ideas to light-up little faces on Christmas morning…

Campervan walker toys – £62.50 from Jo & Co, www.joandcohome.com

These funky campervan walkers are made of wood from natural rubber trees that no longer produce latex. The lovely design means it’s a piece of kit that you don’t mind taking up space in the living room! Suitable for 12 months+, the walkers encourage early movement, but confident toddlers will also love pushing them around like trollies and using them as toy storage. Available in blue or pink.

Racoon Pyjamas Set – £20 from Rockin’ Baby, www.rockinbaby.com

We love the Rockin’ Baby brand – they’ve partnered with ChildFund for their one-for-one, mother-for-mother scheme: for every piece purchased, the scheme provides slings and clothing to children living in poverty worldwide. To support a great programme, these cute Raccoon PJs are great for lazy Sundays as well as bedtime. Available in sizes from 18mths to 10yrs.

Jungle Safari Wooden Skittles (large) – £30 from ZSL Shop, www.shop.zsl.org

You can’t beat a wooden game, and these large hand-painted skittles are a quirky and cute twist on the traditional version. Featuring two balls and six skittles (hippo, elephant, zebra, lion, monkey, giraffe). Everything bought from the ZSL (Zoological Society of London) shop helps support their ongoing conservation work around the world.

Toy Dinosaur – £30 from Zaliwana Accessories, www.zaliwanaaccessories.co.uk

Zaliwana Accessories specialise in sourcing handcrafted, ethically-sourced gifts from around the world. This felt dinosaur has been lovingly handmade in Nepal. Suitable from newborns upwards, no-one will be able to resist a cuddle!

Bamboo 3-piece dining set – £14.50 from Yours Sustainably, www.yourssustainably.com

This cute and colourful children’s dining set is made from natural organic bamboo fibre, so is a great eco alternative to plastic. Each set includes a decorated divider plate with matching bowl and handled cup. Comes in two designs – fun ‘Robots’ and cute ‘Animals’.

Baby clothing by From Babies With Love – from £15.90, Big Issue Shop, www.bigissueshop.com

This award-winning baby clothing line donates 100% of its profits to orphaned and abandoned children around the world, supporting organisations that help break the cycle of poverty and ensure children grow up in loving family homes. We love the frog, duck robot, rabbit and penguin designs on the babygrows (£21.90), T-shirts (£15.90) and reversible baby blankets (£26.90) in this ethically-sourced range.

Elephant Craft Kit – £12 from ZSL Shop, www.shop.zsl.org

This easy-peasy crafting kit is perfect for little fingers. With no cutting required, this kit includes everything you need (including pre-cut felt, plastic non-sharp needles, thread, stuffing and googley eyes) to make your own elephant toy. Everything bought from the ZSL (Zoological Society of London) shop helps support their ongoing conservation work around the world.

Eco and Ethical Christmas Gift Guide – For Him

For fathers, grandads, brothers, uncles, friends…here are some fabulous eco and ethical Christmas gift ideas for men

‘cor affection’ iPad cover – £50 from ono creations, www.onocreations.com

We love the super-stylish organic and ethical bags and cases from ono creations – all are made by artisans under fair conditions, using eco materials such as organic cotton, natural bamboo and reclaimed teak. This iPad cover (which measures 20.5 x 25cm and fits the iPad 1, 2, 3 and other tablets) is made from beautifully soft and tactile cork (we couldn’t stop stroking it!) with naturally-dyed bamboo lining. View the whole range for some uber-covetable clutch, shoulder and tote bags, wallets, cases and more.

Elephant Gin – £41.99 from Selfridges, www.sefridges.com

For gin conoisseurs, this special botanical blend of apple, elderflower, ginger and African wormwood and baobab (rarely used in gin making), is more than just a lovely tipple. 15% of proceeds from every bottle sold goes towards two elephant conservation charities; Big Life Foundation’s Ranger Club and the Space for Elephants Foundation. Both charities work to preserve Africa’s unique wildlife, help crack down on poaching, encourage wildlife tourism and create local employment opportunities in Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. Available in London Dry and Sloe Gin varieties (the latter a limited edition of 1,500 bottles), these beautiful bottles with hand-written labels and natural cork stoppers make this a perfect gift.

Wood-Packer backpack – £268.50 from Fabriano Boutique, www.fabrianoboutique.co.uk

This rucksack may look like it’s made of high-quality leather, but it’s actually made from FSC-certified wood! The material is thin carved wooden sheets with micro laser engravings, coupled to a tissue with the usage of water-based adhesives. The result is a soft material, almost like leather. The bag is large enough to carry a 13″ laptop and heaps of other kit. Fabriano have teamed-up with Tree-Nation to ensure they plant 350% more trees than they consume.

Jollie socks – £15 a pair from The Big Issue Shop, www.bigissueshop.co.uk

Christmas isn’t Christmas without someone getting a pair of socks – and it’s hard to beat these ‘Jollie’ ones! Available in eight colourful designs – with names like ‘The Prankster’, ‘The Speckled Punster’, ‘The Jester’ – each pair comes in a very jolly can. Jollie Goods, the brand behind the socks, describe themselves as a ‘more-than-profit’ enterprise which supports homeless charities and those caring for the homeless. For every pair sold, a pair of sturdy hiking boots is given to a local homeless charity.

Ombar chocolate bars – £1.99 each (35g) from www.ombar.co.uk

Raw chocolate Ombar bars are just too moorish! Raw chocolate can often be a bit gritty or bitter but these are lovely and smooth. Using 100% organic cocoa, unrefined coconut sugar, live cultures and real fruit, you can almost call these a heath food (raw cocoa really does have health benefits!) Available in a variety of interesting flavours including Lemon & Green Tea, Blueberry & Acai, and Cranberry & Mandarin, alongside standard milk and dark varieties, these 35g bars make excellent stocking fillers.

Upcycled canvas cufflinks – £22.50 from Yours Sustainably, www.yourssustainably.com

These smart cufflinks have been made from artists’ canvas rescued from charity shops, mounted on wood salvaged from building sites, then splattered with paint Jackson Pollock style! Various colours available, each design is unique.

Stainless Steel Growlers by Klean Kanteen – RRP £35.95, visit www.whitbyandco.co.uk for stockists

These lightweight, reusable stainless steel bottles by Klean Kanteen are a safe and healthy alternative to plastic and lined aluminium bottles. The classic ‘Growler’ is perfect for carrying around cool beer, win, juice or iced tea. The brushed steel is particularly stylish – also comes in a fancy dark amber.

RAW WINE box – £149 from www.rawwine.com

The wine lover in your life with be delighted to receive this special box direct to their door. The RAW WINE box (from the founder of the RAW WINE fair) features six rare artisan wines that are all from organic or biodynamic grapes, grown using low-intervention techniques and avoiding any nasties at production stage. With tasting notes to accompany each bottle, this is a great way to enjoy hard-to-get, fabulous wines.

Book review: Moon Gardening by John Harris

Is it ‘lunacy’? This new book promises to reveal the secrets to lunar gardening for plots of all sizes…

John Harris, author of ‘Moon Gardening‘, is head gardener at Tresillian House and Gardens, one of Cornwall’s most attractive and visited estates. Many years ago Harris took on the job of restoring Tresillian’s kitchen garden under the condition that he be allowed to apply the principles of moon or lunar gardening – and today the results speak for themselves.

Throughout the book, Harris shares credible horticultural knowledge that will surely dispel any fears that lunar gardening is simply “hocus pocus or hippy nonsense” – Harris himself has appeared on BBC Gardener’s World and been featured in several national newspaper gardening columns. This technique is all about planting to the cycles of the moon, taking advantage of optimum soil conditions and moisture levels. It’s about helping you grow more and better for less effort and less cost – sounds like a good plan!

Lunar gardening is an ancient technique (the book refers to how New Zealand’s Maoris have used moon gardening for thousands of years) and Harris encourages us to respect ancient knowledge and use it to our advantage today. Colour photographs of some of the abundant produce grown by this method at Tesillian (including some enormous, and we’re assured flavoursome, garlic bulbs) provide compelling evidence.

It goes without saying that by practicing moon gardening, you’ll almost certainly be gardening organically, or at least with minimal chemicals – Harris also covers more commonly known wildlife gardening methods such as compatable planting.

Gardener’s sketches, charts and calendar plans throughout the book ensure it remains a handy and practical guide, rather than simply an interesting read about ancient lore. John Harris is a trustworthy author and peppers the narrative with charming tales of his own childhood, his first forays into gardening, his family influences and his motivations today.

All in all, a comforting gardener’s handbook full of fascinating (almost magical) techniques that we can’t wait to experiment with!

‘Moon Gardening’ by John Harris (with Jim Rickards) is available in hardback, priced £12.99, from 20th October 2016 (published by John Blake Publishing).

Buy at: Moon Gardening: Ancient and Natural Ways to Grow Healthier, Tastier Food

Bloomon beautiful! Get seasonal blooms to your door

A new way to enjoy fresh flowers has arrived from the Netherlands to the UK – Goodtrippers experiences Bloomon…

We received a beautiful pick-me-up at Goodtrippers HQ this week – a beautiful fresh floral bouquet from Bloomon. This is a florist with a difference – a company that wants to reconnect us to nature, shake-up the floristry industry, innovate with style and imagination, and bring a smile to everyone’s face via the simple pleasure of receiving pretty flowers straight to your door.

Bloomon, founded by industry “rebels” (their words) Patrick, Bart and Koen, cut out the middle man by dealing direct with growers. They source their flowers from expert growers, only selecting seasonal blooms and ensuring they are picked at the best time. This ensures extra days of freshness.

Enter Anton, their floral artisan, to help design some of the most original bouquets you’ll find via a delivery service. Taking inspiration from the Scandinavian school, Bloomon bouquets make the most of individual flower and leaf shapes, colours, movement and scent. The ‘New Bohemian’ bouquet of the week that Goodtrippers received was loose and romantic, full of blues, purples and pinks including peony, rose and brodea.

We love the ‘cheeky’ branding – the recycled wrapping (extra points there) is covered with positive phrases and cute reminders about how science says that flowers trigger happy emotions. The accompanying card also waxed lyrical about ‘the butterfly effect’ which inspired the bouquet design – a reminder of how small acts of kindness, words or gestures can have a wonderful knock-on effect. This really is a ‘feel good’ florist!

Bring fresh flowers to your home – how it works

Bloomon works on a subscription model – select your preferred size (small, medium or large), choose how often (weekly, fortnightly, monthly – you can pause if you’re on holiday), select a convenient delivery time (morning, afternoon, evening), then receive your new seasonal bouquets direct to your door. Prices range from £20.95 to £31.95 and you can also request the matching hand-blown glass vase.

Exclusive workshops – how to design your own

This summer (July-August) Bloomon are also running a series of exclusive flower arranging workshops in London. For £25 you can learn a new skill, enjoy complimentary refreshments and take home your very own bouquet and vase. However, be quick, at time of writing workshops were almost all sold out – keep your eyes peeled for possible future dates.

For more information on Bloomon and to order your own bouquets (or buy a one-off gift), visit www.bloomon.co.uk.

Shop palm oil-free with Rainforest Foundation UK

From biscuits to bread, cleaning products to cosmetics – palm oil is everywhere. Now a handy new guide can help you shop palm oil-free…

Currently, around 50 per cent of products in UK supermarkets contain palm oil, including soaps, shampoos and many kinds of food, making it hard to be sure your shop is palm-oil free. But the Rainforest Foundation UK (RFUK), an environmental charity that supports people living in and around the world’s rainforests, has launched its new annual Palm Oil guide – designed to help shoppers make informed, ethical choices about everyday items on their shopping lists.

Forest elephants at risk from new palm oil developments in Africa

Large-scale palm oil developments in the rainforest cause deforestation and habitat loss for the wildlife and people who call the forest home. The global demand for palm oil has already devastated millions of acres of rainforest in South East Asia and now companies are turning to Africa.

Despite the devasting impact, demand for palm oil continues to grow. With this product guide, compiled with Ethical Consumer magazine, RFUK provides consumers with the information needed to make informed choices about the products they buy – helping them opt for more sustainable products and avoid those that are destroying rainforests.

Manatees at risk from African palm oil production

Consumers can receive their copy of the guide by downloading via the link or texting the word PRODUCT to 70300 and have it to hand for their next trip to the shops.

For more information about RFUK’s Palm Oil Guide and their work to help indigenous and local forest communities, visit: www.rainforestfoundationuk.org/palmoilguide

Christmas gift guide 2015

Stuck for what to give your nearest and dearest this Christmas? The Goodtrippers Christmas gift guide is full of bright ideas for those looking for eco-friendly, sustainable or charity gifts….now, it’s time to start shopping!

For kids…

Plantable Christmas trees – £5

Printed on seeded paper, these hanging decorations can be used over the festive season, then after Twelfth Night, plant them and help create more trees for the future. Buy from www.sciencemuseumshop.co.uk

Rockin’ Baby Penguin PJs – £26

These cute PJs are just a part of the excellent Rockin’ Baby range for boys and girls. We love the fact that for every item bought, Rockin’ Baby donate an item of clothing to children in over 30 countries, in partnership with ChildFund International. Buy from www.rockinbaby.com

Eco-friendly wax colouring crayons – £11.99

This set of cute dinosaurs will brighten up the post-Christmas thank you cards. Made of non-toxic wax, they come in a set of 24 assorted colours. Buy from www.yourssustainably.com

For foodies…

Pomora olive oil subscription gift – £29 or £39 per quarter

Support small, local growers in Italy by adopting or fostering an olive tree for a loved one through the Pomora subscription service. Each quarter they’ll receive three 250ml tins of premium extra virgin olive oil direct from the producers, including rosemary, lemon and white truffle oils. Buy from www.pomora.com

Karma Cola – £1.59

This delicious craft cola is made with real cola nut and the best organic and Fairtrade ingredients, also available in Gingeralla and Lemony Lemon. Named ‘The World’s Fairest Trader’ in 2014 by Fairtrade International, Karma Cola not only tastes good, it’s doing good, making a big difference for a small village in Sierra Leone, rebuilding itself in the aftermath of war and benefitting the farmers of the sacred cola nut directly. Buy from www.waitrose.com

Reusable food wraps – £6.99 each

Leave that dull clingfilm at home, these gorgeous fabric sandwich wraps will add style to any lunch al fresco or ‘al desko’. With waterproof lining these reusable, washable wraps can help you cut down on wasteful food packaging. Buy from www.yourssustainably.com

On the go…

St Mary’s X-10 Sailcloth Laptop Bag – £60

Just one of the bags from the Quba Sails range of laptop bags, weekend bags and washbags, all vegan-friendly and made from reworked sail cloth. Buy from www.quba.com

The incognito luxury travel combo – £45

Perfect for treks in the tropics or camping on the Scottish coast, this set for ‘bite-free’ holidays is 100% natural, biodegradable, chemical-free, achieves an overall recycling rate of 95% and won the Queen’s award this year for its efforts in sustainability. Buy from www.lessmosquito.com

BRITA Fill&Go bottle – £14.99

Help save on plastic bottle waste with the Fill&Go. This sleek bottle is BPA-free and each filter disk can filter 20 litres of water, saving 40 plastic (500ml) water bottles. The Fill&Go has an straw enclosed in the bottle, making it easy to drink from when running. Buy from www.brita.co.uk

wee PAL rechargeable power bank – £25

This portable charger powers up any device that is compatible with a USB (phones, Bluetooth speakers, cameras, games controllers) and can fully charge an iPhone 6 in just 1.5 hours. For each wee PAL purchased, social enterprise Power a Life delivers a solar light, free of charge, to a child living without electricity in Africa to help them do their homework at night. Buy from www.poweralife.com

Yogabellies luxury eco yoga mat – £59

Don’t leave this beautiful eco-friendly yoga mat at home! It’s made from 100% natural tree rubber and uses water based inks. It’s free from latex, silicone, toxic glue and phthalates and contains no PVC or chlorine. This means that it’s safe to use for pregnancy and practice with your baby. Buy from www.yogabellies.co.uk

For fashion and style lovers…

Mela scarf – £40

This lightweight and vibrant cotton scarf has been handmade in Ethiopia by dedicated craftswomen of a small, women-led business. Buy from www.danaqa.com

Dragonfly pewter brooch – £22

Handmade using lead-free pewter and inspired by the wildlife of Norfolk, this dragonfly brooch will add an original touch to any outfit. Buy from www.folksy.com/shops/yljewellery

Neroli necklace by Liz Earle Jewellery – £180

This beautiful necklace is part of a botanics collection made entirely of fairtrade and ethically-sourced materials. The Neroli necklace is available in 24ct rose or yellow gold vermeil and 100% certified Fairtrade. Buy from www.credjewellery.com

Don’t forget the charity gifts…

Christmas really is the time to give back and help those less fortunate. There are so many charity gifts available but some of our favourite ones include Good Gifts (so much choice, great categories and we love the cartoon gift cards); animal adoption schemes such as snow leopard adoption from WWF; Oxfam Unwrapped gifts helping those in poorer countries; or buy a gift for someone you’ll never meet (even though you will be making them feel special this Christmas) via the Salvation Army’s Christmas Present Appeal (check the website for details of local appeals in your area – hurry, ends soon!).

And relax…

After all of that shopping for everyone else, how about a little something for your Christmas wish list? We’ve picked a stocking filler and a ‘star gift’ that are both guaranteed to help you relax after the festive season.

Olverum bath oil – from £23.50

This gorgeous natural bath oil will relax you even before you slip into the bath! Releasing a gorgeous aroma under running water, its scent will instantly turn your bathroom into a luxury spa. It’s packed full of natural essential oils including lemon peel, geranium flower, rosemary, lavendar, lime, ecualyptus and verbena to leave you uplifted (and with silky smooth skin to boot!). Buy from www.olverum.com

Tiipii Bed – £199

We love this innovative take on the traditional hammock. Just hang from a tree or secure a hanging position indoors, and create your very own chill-out zone. With enough room for 1-2 adults or 4-5 children, add a few cushions and you’ll be battling to keep the swing bed to yourself! It also packs down into a tidy, lightweight carry bag so you can take it with you on holiday too. Available in natural white, natural green or natural taupe. Buy from www.tiipiibed.co.uk