Affordable Ethical & Sustainable Gifts To Make Your Friend Smile

Giving small, inexpensive ethical gifts to friends is something I’m trying to get into the habit of. Mainly because I think they’re a powerful way of showing love and worth to another person, which quite frankly can never be a bad thing. The other day, I got a ping on my phone instructing me to “look behind the bins” as there was a “little something to help get through today” and low and behold when I did look, there was a bunch of tulips and some hot cross buns. I was so touched and that gesture brought tears to my eyes. Now, I didn’t need a gift. But, it did make me feel loved and remembered amongst a messy house, bickering children and isolating from the dreaded virus.

Now usually I shop locally for small, ethical and eco-friendly gifts. But sometimes I need to send something to a distance away. So these are my go to places for buying ethical and sustainable gifts online for friends to make them smile. And with Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day plus numerous birthday’s round the corner, this might give you some gift inspiration too.

I really hope this list helps you find some that little something to make a friend smile. And I should add, you don’t need to buy anything, a hand written note/card can be just as effective 🙂

My Favourite Places to Shop Sustainable & Ethical Gifts Online

Flowers to Brighten Someone’s Day

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CC Dried Flowers

Catherine makes the most beautiful bouquets of dried flowers that crucially are designed to be sent through a letter box. They come in two sizes mini for £7 & middi for £12.50, both prices include postage which is brilliant. She quick, responsive and will even pop in a little note for you. Plus she has a wonderful array of colours and styles. You can buy from her Etsy shop or message her on instagram @catherinecowanflorist. I’ve bought so many bunches of dried flowers from her that her bank details are saved on my phone!

Shop CC Dried Flowers*

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Ethical Florists

Ethical and sustainable florists is probably an area that deserves a whole blog post (one day!) But for now I’ll keep it simple and tell you who I use and why. Arena flowers are one of the most ethical and sustainable florists out there. They work solely with Fairtrade-certifed farms and all their staff are paid a living wage. Plus they don’t use any single use plastics in their packaging. It’s not surprising that they were given a perfect score by the Ethical Company Index.

I’ve worked with Appleyard Flowers for many years on instagram and they are second to none for luxury, beautiful bouquets. They also source their flowers from Fairtrade-certified farms and a % of what they pay is put back into the local community for things like schooling. They’re not 100% there when it comes to sustainable packaging, but they aim for as little waste as possible whilst keeping the flowers looking at their best. This is an area they are currently working on.

Bloom and Wild* are my favourite for their contemporary and affordable blooms. They don’t market themselves as an eco brand, but they’ve been working hard to map their emissions across the business and reduce/offset their carbon footprint. Significant steps have also been made to reduce their plastic dependence. Things like using kraft paper instead of cellophane, paper food sachets and ribbons made from recycled plastic bottles. As for their workers, they don’t use Fairtrade certified farms, but are clearly very aware of potential issues within their supply chain and clearly go above and beyond to support those they work with.

Shop Arena Flowers*, Appleyard Flowers* & Bloom & Wild*

Eco & Ethical Gift Boxes

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Mood

If you want to send a pamper package then check out Mood. They have a whole selection of giftboxes filled with wonderful treats, there’s the rejuvenating vegan mini spa, the body scrub pamper box or even the beard pamper box for men. Each item within the box has been chosen for being vegan, cruelty free, ethical and eco.

Shop Mood, prices from £18

Little Box Of Love GB

Continuing the eco gift box theme, also have a look at Little Box of Love on Etsy. With everything from a period box through to a bridesmaids eco friendly pamper hamper there’s a gift for everyone. I recently bought my aunt a gift here and shop owner Cathy was really friendly and efficient at getting my order out. I do find Etsy a great place to find that little gift that is unique.

Shop Littleboxoflovegb*, prices from £15

Social Supermarket

If you’re stuck for inspiration then why not send a letterbox gift from the Social Supermarket. Filled with snacks and socks from brands who want to make a big waves in our world. There’s chocolate brownies that help marginalised women find employment and socks that give a homeless a pair too, as well as Vegan eats and Fairtrade goodies.

Shop, The Social Supermarket*

A Little Something to Eat

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Cook

Sometimes the best way to cheer someone up is with a meal. Particularly if they’re having a tough time, the basic things off life, like eating, might just feel too much. Cook make the most delicious home cooked meals for 1, 2, 4, 8 people. They all come frozen so can be used at a suitable time. As a business they are certified by The Living Wage Foundation, which means they pay a living wage. They deliver all across the UK. I’ve used them for when friends’ have had babies and or have just been in need of some TLC.

Norah’s Brownies

If you’re friend has a sweet tooth then do head to Norah’s Brownies for the most heavenly tasting treats. Winner of not one by TWO Great taste awards, these are not to be missed. All Norah’s brownies are free from gluten, dairy and refined sugar and instead use unrefined coconut sugar and organic coconut milk. A London living wage is paid to all employees and quite frankly I’d recommend buying some for yourself!

Shop Norah’s Brownies, from £15

Hidden Sea Wine

A glass of vino is always a treat and one that helps save our planet has double the feel good factor. Hidden Sea Wine are on a mission to remove plastic from our oceans. For every bottle bought, they remove the equivalent of 10x 500ml plastic bottles from the ocean and recycle them. Their absolutely delicious South Australian Sauvignon Blanc is available from Co-op, Asda and Sainsburys.

Shop, Hidden Sea Wine, from £8

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Be Chocolat

For delicious handmade chocolate treats have a look at Be Chocolat. Run by Maître Chocolatier Michel Clement and artisan chocolatier James Sutton, they handmake all their chocolate in their workshop in Duke Street, Brighton. All the cocoa beans they use are 100% Fairtrade and come from farming communities that are committed to sustainable cultivation, plus they are palm oil free. The chocolate boxes are made by Balinese women recycling Bali’s waste paper and is completely recyclable. The suggestion for adding this brand to my list came from reader Jenny, and I can’t wait to try them.

If you’ve got any other suggestions for sustainable and ethical gifts then do comment below and share the love.

Please note this blog post contains affiliate links, marked by a *. This just means if you make a purchase I receive a small amount of commission. Just think of it as buying me a cup of (pink) tea x