With Christmas just around the corner, it’s easy to fall prey to the lure of consumerism. With material gift-giving as the norm, it can be challenging to break free from that tradition without feeling guilty or letting others down. Fortunately, there are ways to continue celebrating the festive season without compromising on your values. So here are 105 gifts ideas for any time of year that aren’t necessarily physical goods yet serve the same purpose of the holidays: spending time and spreading joy with loved ones.
I tried to highlight as many Hong Kong-based brands as much as possible, but many of the suggestions in the latter sections can also be applied anywhere in the world!
food
christmas SETS
vegan deliveries (surprise your loved ones!)
11. KIRR Christmas recipe kits
12. Local produce from Eat Fresh HK (discount code: EUG10FRESH for 10% off)
food that gives back
13. Cookie Smiles
14. Rice Inc
VEGAN CHEESE PLATTERS
16. Chef Tina Barrat
17. Garden Hill
18. La Taula
19. Nuteese
homemade food
20. A sourdough starter
21. Homemade bread
22. Kombucha
23. Nut butter
BEVERAGES
24. Compostable coffee capsules
25. Breer
others
26. Invite non-vegan friends to try Impossible meat!
fashion
shoes
27. My Lacess
28. All Birds
29. Vegan VEJAs
Recycled plastic sports bras from Good Days Activewear
athleisure
30. Good Days
31. Wolven—use discount code ‘EUGREENIA’ for 15% off!
32. Girlfriend
GIFT CARDS TO second-hand [clothing] stores
33. Green ladies
34. 1 of a Kind
35. HULA: pre-owned designer womenswear
Bags
37. Samara
washing bags
38. GUPPYFRIEND
39. Slowood
40. Good Days
reusable masks
41. feat.MASK
accessories
outerwear/tops
43. Wear Earthero
44. Heiko Clothing
45. Hand knit a sweater!
regenerative
~inspired by Holly Rose Eco
plant a tree
46. Treedom Trees
47. Ark Eden
48. propogate plants
49. replantable stationery (notebook, pencils, gift tags)
climate beneficial™ wool
50. Socks
51. Scarf
donate to a cause on their behalf
52. Impact HK
gift for a cause
55. Adopt an animal through WWF
adopt a coral on their behalf
56. Reef Reforestation foundation
57. Coral Gardeners
(environment-related) second-hand books
58. Use reBooked
59. Project Drawdown
experiences
(vegan) cooking classes
61. The mixing bowl
62. Olive Leaf
63. Bien Caramelise
64. Bake Your Own
adventures
65. Plan a surprise day trip around the city/island
66. Get a voucher to go skydiving in the future
67. Rent a kayak
68. Book a travel ticket for the future
green fingers
69. Plant a tree together at Ark Eden
70. Attend an urban farming workshop together at Rooftop Republic
learn a skill together
71. Learn to crochet at Yarn in the Works
72. Book a yoga session at Five Elements Habitat
miscellaneous
Honest period gift set by luüna X ELLIE SUH
menstrual products
73. Honest period gift set by LUÜNA X ELLIE SUH (use code ‘EUGENIALUUNA’ for 15% off!)
74. LUÜNA DIY box (use discount code ‘EUGENIALUUNA’ for 15% off!)
76. THINX
77. Modi Bodi
78. BamPads!
courses
79. Rooftop Republic Grow Your Own Food: Online Academy,
80. Kiss The Ground Soil Advocacy Training
81. eCornell, Plant-Based Nutrition
SUBSCRIPTIONS
82. Spotify
83. Patreon subscription
Kamea Chayne (Green Dreamer podcast)
84. CANVA
85. Netflix
86. Buzzsprout
87. Gym membership/Class Pass
environmental prints
88. Intersectional Environmentalist posters
89. Dianalea on redbubble
Zero waste, vegan cook books:
90. More Plants Less Waste by Max LaManna
91. Green Queen Zero Waste Vegan
92. tickets to a webinar about climate justice
educational movies/documentaries
93. Gathered film
DIY gifts
95. A handwritten card
96. An annotated book
coupons to zero-waste stores
97. Slowood
98. Live Zero
99. Edgar
acts of service
100. Be their assistant for the day/volunteer your time
Help them complete their shopping list
Help them complete their to-do list
cups
101. Please Drink Sustainably reusable cup
ZERO-WASTE BEAUTY
103. Coconut Matter
104. Zero Yet 100
105. Elate Cosmetics
And that’s 105 Christmas gift ideas that don’t cost the earth!
A point to remember for all of these suggestions: make sure these are things they need before you buy; asking for someone’s wish list might ruin the surprise, but at least it won’t contribute to needless consumption and further environmental damage.