Mindful Christmas: Best Eco-Friendly Gifts for all the Family

Have a Merry Mindful Christmas

Shopping with a conscience is hard at the best of times but Tinsteltastic Christmas is particularly hard to navigate. We've put together a selection of ethically made, biodegradable and heirloom pieces that won't languish in landfill and will be passed on through family and friends . Here's our guide to shopping responsibly, ethically and thoughtfully with an extra dose of Christmas magic...

(Opening Image: Meri Meri)

For little Eco Warriors - these gifts will start baby on the right track

1. We love this ethically made vintage style suitcase made from ethically sourced materials. Perfect for storing baby's essentials or keepsakes. >> Toaty Trunk, £55.93, Oli Ella
2. They'll be over the moon to receive this gorgeous ethically made 100% eco cotton knit. >>Tummel Blue Moon Knit, £38, The Bonnie Mob
3. Made from Bio Plastic derived from Sugar Cane, these toys are ecolabel certified and fun certified too. >> Dantoy Bioplastic Truck, £23, Smallable
4. This all wool Bambi bonnet will have everyone cooing... >>Deer Bonnet, £185, Oeuf NYC
5. These super soft slip on shoes will promote healthy foot growth, comfort and snappy style. >> Snap Soft sole in olive, £22, Bobux
6. The softest bristles for taming those curls. >> Asistidis Wooden hairbrush, £25, Marie-Chantal
7. Set them off on the right path with this eco-friendly first toy. >> Wood and organic cotton Teether, from £14, Cam Cam
8. The ultimate indulgence for baby soft skin with all natural ingredients. >> Little Aurelia Sleep Time Top to Toe Wash and Cream £44, Aurelia

For Little Ones - these eco-conscious fashion, interior and toy choices will delight both kids and the planet

1. Bonton meets Banwood? Swoon! >> Bonton x Banwood First Go Balance Bike, £159, Banwood
2. You'll need a matching helmet of course. >> Bonton x Banwood Helmet £45, Banwood
3. A gorgeous work of art for the bedroom wall. >> Harlequin Kids' Elephant Head Wall Art, £29, exclusive to John Lewis & Partners
4. We love this company, which was set up to encourage kindness to each other and the environment. Made from organic cotton, a percentage from every garment sold goes to the charity Young Minds. >> Be Kind to Our Planet Sweatshirt, £30, The Kindness Co-op
5. This little fellow is handmade in Nepal by Fairtrade craftspeople. >> Freddie The Toy Fox Terrier, £25, Olive + Daisy
6. Handmade and ethically produced in Thailand by a women’s community of artisans, this sweet toy storage bag has a rich heritage and a lovely light touch. >>Organic Cotton Caravan Bag For Dolls, from £34, Numero 74
7. Encourage your kids to encourage wildlife in the garden with this little bee hut. Archie & Oscar Jed Bees Garden Bee House, from £25, Wayfair

For Slightly Bigger Ones - the ones who will make the change

1. Creativity in a gorgeous tin. >> Vilac Rainbow Large Painting Set, £13, BlueBellGray
2. All other hanging baskets will pale into insignificance... >>Frida Khalo Hanging Planter £10, Sass & Belle
3. We'll be poring over this when they aren't. >> No One is Too Small to Make a Difference by Greta Thunberg, £3.99 Amazon
4. Surf's Up with this gorgeous sustainably made and handcrafted Belly Board. >> Belly Board, from £55, Dick Pearce
5. Still our favourite organic and Ethical sleepwear that fits like a dream. >> Pyjamas from a selection at The Bright Co.
6. This is the perfect book for young conservationists to dive into... >>The Sea Book by Charlotte Milner, £12, Amazon
7. Warm and cosy made from all natural fibres. >> Sheepskin Slippers, from £45, The Small Home
8. We'd like one of these on our wall too please. >> Initial Print, from £30, Max Made me Do it

For Wood Lovers - these sustainable gifts are heirloom toys in the making

1. This wooden car will put some zoom into the toy box. >>Surfman Car, £31.90, Candylab at HoneyontheHill
2. The spottiest and cutest pull along pal we've ever seen. >>Djeco Pull Along Leopard, £16.50, Cottage Toys
3. Minimal, stylish and definitely an heirloom piece. >> Rocking Reindeer, from £296, Lillagunga
4. Make it snappy with this gorgeous trolley. >> Done by Deer Croc walker £79.95, Scandiborn
5. Everyone knows it tastes better if it's wonky! >> Plan Toys Wonky Fruit Set, £29.95, Babipur
6. Give them the honour of carving the roast this Christmas. >> Roast Dinner play set, £19.95, Wood and Toys
7. Perfect for hourly meteorological updates. >>My Weather Station, £48, Moon Picnic

Above: A beutiful wooden alphabet puzzle game that will be handed down through the family. Oioiooi Wooden Alphabet Game, £165, Soren's House

For Mamas who love a touch of (eco) luxury

1. Envelope yourself in heavenly, all-natural scent. >> Vanderohe No.1 Body Serum, £198, Net A Porter
2. Healthy vegetarian recipe inspiration for the whole family. >> Little Green Kitchen Book, £16.75, Amazon ** See our extracts for Dino Burgers, Pasta Soup and Veg Snack Jars
3. The softest and boldest organic cotton lingerie. We want! >> Soleia Leopard Print Cami, £50 and matching knickers, £24 both Desmond & Dempsey
4. Ethically made baskets to store absolutely anything in. >> Bolga Storage Basket, £35, Lola & Mawu
5. £10 from every sale of this jumper goes to Borne (a medical research charity working to identify the causes of premature birth) >> 'We've Got Your Back' x Sophie Ellis Bextor Magenta Sweatshirt, £58, Scamp & Dude
6. A great gift for anyone who needs to be hands-free. And it's sustainably made. >> Rune Bum bag, £55, Sandqvist
7. Ethically handmade in India and perfect for layering. >> Bohemia Kriti Tassel Bracelet, Hot Pink, £24, Bohemia Design
8. These soft as a cloud slippers are made from ethically sourced Alpaca Wool. >> Slippers, £74.95, Annabel James
9. The ethical and Vegan leather trainer as loved by Meghan Markle and Emma Watson. >> Trainers, £130, from a selection at Veja

For Papas that don't preach but teach the merits of going green.

1. No more snacks wrapped in plastic for lunch on the go with this gorgeous soup caddy. >> Stainless Steel Vacuum Sealed Leak-Proof Flask, £31.95, black+blum
2. The most important meal of the day needs to be taken seriously. >> Breakfast:The Cook Book by Emily Elyse Miller, £35, Waterstones
3. Because dads need some pampering too. >> Marram It's Cold Shaving Cream with organic essential oils, £20 John Belle & Croyden
4. Ethically produced chocolate that will please any gourmet palates. Willie’s Luscious Orange Chocolate, £1.80, Ocado
5. A great message on a great t-shirt. Noon Goons Planet Protection T-shirt, from £38.50, Thread
6. We challenge you to find a more eco-friendly pair of socks. >> True Green Recycled Cotton Socks, €25,Thunders Love Socks
7. A slow start requires a classic stove top coffee maker with a pop of colour. >> Bialetti 3 Cup Moka Coffee Maker , from £23, from a selection of colours at Amazon
8. Can't afford a Tesla? This is the next best thing. >> Townie Go! 5i Black Men's Electric Bike, from £2,600, Electra Bicycle Company

For Home Lovers who don't want to leave giant footprints

1. Father Christmas might like a cup of this after a long night! >> Christmas Breakfast Teabag Tin, £16, T2Tea
2. The modern way to gift pot pourri. This Firenze 1221 Edition has been crafted the same way for three centuries. >> Pot Pourri Bag, £22, Santa Maria Novella
3. A proper teapot - ideal with eco-friendly tea leaves. >> Enamelware Teapot, £30, Falcon
4. The prettiest mugs for Christmas cocoa. >> Fotini Tikkou Mrs. Claus Mug, £14, Anthropologie.
5. A beautiful creation that can be brought out year after year. >> Paper Christmas Mistletoe Wreath, £36, Paper Tree
6. Turn out the lights and pick up a penguin (and some candlelight). >> Berylune Penguin Matches, £8.95, The Little Boys Room at notonthehighstreet.com
7. Deck the halls with personalised baubles. >> Eau de Nil Alphabet Christmas Decoration, £12.95, Fortum & Mason
8. The most stylish crackers with the prettiest eco-friendly prizes we've ever had. >> Crackers (containing traditional wooden or soap prizes) from a selection at Katie Leamon

For Stockings - these eco fillers are the perfect little treats for Christmas morning

1. Cookie cutters are the gift that keeps on giving… >> Dinky Dinosaur cookie cutters, £12, Meri Meri at Kidly
2. A lovely sailing boat for the bath that won’t end up in land or sea-fill. >>Wooden boat, €40, No Fred
3. Make your own pom-pom ballerina from all natural fibres. >> Personalised Pom Pom Ballerina Gift Tin, £7.95, Cotton Twist
4. Grow your own spikey friend. >> Seed Pantry Cactus Easy Grow Kit, £12, notonthehighstreet
5. Happy Holly-days! >> Amuseable Holly, £17, Jellycat
6. Fairtrade Chocolate drops for Christmas fairy friends and foe. >> Cocoa Loco Milk Chocolate Fairies, £5.50, babipur
7. A cotton tote to house all those bits and bobs. >> Fabelab Gift Bags, from £11 various designs, Luna & Cash
8. A 100-piece puzzle to keep little monsters busy! >> Decoder Puzzle, £15, Kidly
9. Hours of fun in a paper bag. And, a new friend at the end! >> Classic Miffy Amigurumi Crochet Kit, £38, Stitch & Story
10. A fun guy they’ll love. >> Fairtrade cotton baby rattle £6.99, ScandiBugs
11. Creature comforts. >> Running Dogs knitted mittens, £11, Sophie Allport
12. We love this ethical Ellie handmade with love and care by Auntie Olivia’s workshop – a small cooperative of seamstresses in Accra, Ghana. >> Cotton Elephant, £15 various fabrics, Lola & Mawu

{Main page image and opening image both Getty Images}