Ethical and sustainable gift ideas for Aussie shoppers this Christmas

Supporting small local businesses, charities and causes is a great way to give a thoughtful gift that’s also doing good in the world.

Here is a quick round up of some of the best ethical, eco-friendly and sustainable brands in Australia that will inspire you to look into more businesses that are making a difference.

1. Clothing the Gap—support indigenous communities

If you’re looking to give back to the indigenous community and support our local artists, you’ll want to check out Clothing the Gap.

Clothing The Gap is a Victorian Aboriginal owned and led social enterprise, committed to celebrating Aboriginal people and culture. The name is a play on words for ‘closing the gap’ which is an Australian government initiative that aims to improve health outcomes and close the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

From jumpers to face masks and tote bags, there are many options to choose from and all for a great cause. Profits from Clothing the Gap fund and support the work of Clothing The Gap Foundation (formally Spark Health).

2. The Dharma Door—Fair Trade treasures

The Dharma Door has been commissioning the incredible skills of female artisans in remote, rural communities since 2004. They work with fair trade artisans around the world to curate some of the finest products, including homewares and other accessories.

Simply browsing the site provides plenty of inspiration for home décor and there are so many unique pieces you won’t find at major retailers—like this Puspa Wall Hanging, gorgeous jute rugs or any one of these beautiful tote bags.

Supporting Fair Trade means you are supporting ethical work practices and fairer working conditions as well as promoting better environmental practices.

3. Boody—for the fashion-conscious

Buying clothing as a gift can be a little tricky—afterall, not everyone wants to receive socks and t-shirts for Christmas. Style varies from person to person and getting the sizing right? Forget it!

But if you’re committed to the idea of buying clothing there is an easier way to go about it…

Over the years, I have simplified my wardrobe as much as possible to include the basics. With basics, you never struggle to put together an outfit and you can essentially wear the same things over and over again. That’s why I’ve included Boody in this list.

Boody are an Australian sustainable fashion brand that make clothing basics for men, women and kids. Each piece is superb quality and made with soft, premium bamboo fabric. It’s the perfect way to begin a basics collection, or to supplement your existing wardrobe with high quality basic pieces that will last years and years. Goodbye fast fashion!

Boody is also part of the 1% for the Planet movement and donates 1% of all online sales to nonprofits that work to protect the environment.

4. Biome—the ‘I’m not sure what to buy’ option

Buying eco-friendly products can be daunting, and it often seems like there’s no one place we can go to find nice things that we can trust are actually good for the environment (and our bodies).

Biome is a great option for those who want to buy more sustainably, but don’t know where to start. There is a wide range of stock available on their website, from skin care to reusable cups, slow fashion and even baby care. There’s practically something for everyone!

They also have an entire gift section with beautifully wrapped goodies in almost every category—for your vegan friends, the foodies in your life, gifts for dad, nature lovers and even luxe, eco-friendly subscription boxes for those recipients you’re not sure about.

For Zero Waste gift givers...

Let's face it, gift giving at Christmas produces a lot of waste. From wrapping paper to plastic packaging and sadly, even the throwing out of unwanted gifts—all contribute to the growing waste problem.

The Zero Waste movement aims to reduce waste as much as possible, ensuring less trash is sent to landfill and ending up in our oceans. If you want to give a zero waste gift this Christmas, consider things like digital gifts or e-gift cards, entertainment subscriptions, homemade treats, a voucher for a zero waste store, compost bin or worm farm, an experience/ time together (such as taking a dancing or pottery class together) or even just buying something second-hand!

Still undecided about what to buy this year? Check out the B Corp gift guide for more options and businesses you can support, or this guide from HuffPost on Aussie-made gifts.

Happy shopping!