8 sustainable last-minute gift ideas for Christmas

Sustainable last minute gift ideas for Christmas

Can you believe that it's almost Christmas again? Me neither. The last few years have been special on many levels. We have been out and about less, seen and hugged each other less often, and at the same time had moments to reflect on many things. How do we want to shape our present and future? Which topics are relevant? While we have been told for years that buying and consuming makes us happy, we have had to painfully realize that our behavior is only damaging the planet in the long run.

At this point I don't want to demonize the consumption itself. In a healthy and sustainable framework, consumption can also be enjoyable and even environmentally friendly. It's just this worrying development of the last few years, along the lines of "higher, faster, further and more" that bothers me. And the question: How can we contribute to producing less waste?

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Giving with meaning - 8 sustainable last-minute gift ideas for Christmas

There is a lot of rubbish, especially around Christmas time. Because it feels like not only the Christmas presents are getting bigger and bigger, but also the advent calendars. A bit of chocolate until Christmas Eve was yesterday. Nowadays there are all possible and impossible advent calendars: from cosmetics to handbags to expensive watches and decorations, the possibilities for advent calendar content seem to be endless. The packaging waste that is produced is gigantic. And that's just the garbage that's already being produced before Christmas.

In this article, I would like to introduce you to 8 sustainable Christmas gift ideas that are fun, cause little waste and are quick to get hold of. Not all of them fit under the Christmas tree and one of the presents might spit on you, but hey: You're not here because you're looking for unimaginative and useless Christmas presents, are you? Lasting surprises can sometimes show character.

8 sustainable last-minute gift ideas for Christmas

1. Homemade Soaps & Candles

With a few simple ingredients you can create many different soaps yourself. All you need is a simple recipe and natural ingredients. There are no limits to your creativity with colors, shapes and scents - and you alone determine the components. My personal favorite is this DIY silicone mold from fair gifts. By the way, you can not only use them for soaps, but also for solid body lotions or for homemade candles.

2. Plastic-free & sustainable cutlery sets

On our travels we often have the situation that we have to eat something quickly on the way and don't have the time for longer stops. On one of our vacations in Tenerife we ​​found great cutlery sets for on the go, made of 100% bamboo and therefore completely plastic-free. Bamboo is also a material that is naturally antibacterial and sustainable because it grows back extremely quickly and uses little water. A great gift for all environmentally conscious globetrotters or campers. Here is ours Cutlery Sets on Etsy (in beige) and with pattern.

3. Your personal world map – the highlight for globetrotters

How about a sustainable world map? Either made of cork, wood or to paint yourself, for example with watercolor. Let your imagination run free. A world map with LED lighting makes a cozy and modern atmosphere. You can find out how easy it is to make your own lightbox here.

4. Alpaca hike – animal fluffy

Fluffy, fluffier, alpacas! Alpacas are currently considered the absolute trend animals in social networks and are now even more popular than flamingos, owls and unicorns. Wait a minute, more popular than unicorns? Becoming more popular than a white horse with a horn is an impressive "achievement". However, when it comes to real life, I don't condone trending certain animals. No animal should ever be reduced to just a trend! Nevertheless, it is easy for me to understand why alpacas are so popular. Alpacas are not only fun and magical creatures, their presence has also been shown to be calming, therapeutic and can reduce stress. No wonder, then, that there are now many alpaca farms in Germany.

At a Alpaca hike you can experience the gentle animals up close and in a manner appropriate to their species. If you're worried about being spat on, I can warn you: Alpacas don't usually spit on people, they only spit on each other to determine the hierarchy. If you should get something, you can take it as a compliment: You are now part of the herd, you wild alpaca.

5. Sustainable drinking bottle

On average, 33.800 plastic bottles end up in the Mediterranean every minute. If this continues, by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the sea. Ever since my husband completed his training as a water sommelier, he has also made me aware that I should no longer drink from plastic bottles, or at least avoid it as much as possible. A simple and at the same time effective way to curb plastic consumption are reusable drinking bottles. A sustainable drinking bottle is not only the ideal gift for travelers, but also a practical everyday companion. There is now a wide range of different sustainably produced and reusable drinking bottles. You can find beautiful and minimalist designs on Unwastify, for example. In the shop you have the choice between stainless steel and glass bottles. The products are also shipped in a climate-neutral and plastic-free manner.

6. Homemade pralines made from Fairtrade chocolate

"Life is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you're going to get," said Forrest Gump in the film of the same name. Most likely he had been snacking on homemade pralines at the time, because the back of the praline boxes in the supermarket meticulously states which pralines are in the box. Surprise? None! You can easily make chocolates yourself. On the one hand, this is more personal, on the other hand, you have an overview of which ingredients you want to use and can adjust them to the taste of the person you want to give as a gift. You don't even need any special equipment to make your own chocolates. For the couverture, I like to use organic & fair trade chocolate (e.g. from Rapunzel). You can find the right recipes in abundance on the Internet, such as here.

7. Diary with self-made bookmark

We live in a world where we can buy almost anything we want if we need to (if the wallet allows it...) and are surrounded by constant sensory overload. Homemade gifts with a personal meaning are all the more valuable. How about a signed diary or even a travel diary with a self-made bookmark? I used to keep a journal as a kid and started again two years ago. Writing down your thoughts on paper is not only incredibly calming, but also helps to reflect on things in everyday life. For the bookmark you can let your imagination run wild. It could be a photo or a picture you have painted yourself. But natural materials such as flowers and leaves can also be easily pressed and laminated.  

8. Time instead of stuff

The most valuable thing we can give someone is our time. The older I get, the more I realize that shared beautiful experiences are the best gift of all. because time is life. In a world of material abundance, more and more people crave gifts with meaning and meaning. How about a hike? Or a trip together? How about a theme cooking evening or rather a neck massage? There are no limits to your imagination with these beautiful gifts! Visit for more ideas and inspiration time instead of stuff.

What are your experiences with sustainable gifts? Have you ever made sustainable gifts yourself? Or have you been given a lasting gift? Write me your ideas in the comments. I look forward to it!