Christmas gifts for a greener, cleaner lifestyle

In recent years, it’s become increasingly clear that we need to start living more sustainably for the sake of the planet and future generations. And while many of us want to make a difference, it’s difficult to know where and how to start. Here are a few small items you can gift to your loved ones (or yourself) this Christmas, that encourage a more sustainable lifestyle.

1. Keep Cups

For many of us, a visit to the local coffee shop in the morning or during lunchtime, is an integral part of our daily routine. However, it’s important to consider the environmental footprint of our caffeine habit. Disposable coffee cups, while made of cardboard, are not recyclable due to the coating of plastic that allows them to hold liquid. When millions of people are drinking 1-2 cups of takeaway coffee a day, that’s a tonne of waste ending up in landfills and litter on the streets.

A keep cup is the perfect gift for the coffee lover in your life. Keep cups are typically made of glass or metal with heat retaining properties to keep your drink warm and come with an airtight lid to prevent leakage (even better than a normal coffee cup). Just wash them after each use and refill them as desired.

2. Reusable Shopping Bags

Over the past few years, major cities around the world have stepped up their legislation on single-use plastic, and plastic shopping bags have become harder to find or come at a cost. Help your friends adjust to the changes with style by gifting them a high-quality and beautifully designed reusable shopping bag.

While cotton is a popular choice for reusable shopping bags, the majority of cotton production has negative impacts on the environment. Instead, opt for bags made of recycled fabric and plastic, or sustainably produced natural fibres like jute or bamboo.

3. Reusable Cutlery Sets

Like plastic shopping bags, takeaway cutlery is also becoming increasingly scarce. Gift your loved ones with a reusable cutlery set (most of them are made of stainless steel or natural materials like bamboo), that they can take with them wherever they go. It’s also the perfect gift for times when you may be using shared cutlery at the office or when eating out at restaurants.

If possible, choose a cutlery set that also includes a reusable straw. Though most of us know that plastic straws pollute the ocean and cause harm to wildlife, most food stalls don’t offer a sustainable alternative.

4. Urban Compost Bins

While compost bins might not seem like a glamorous gift, they are definitely useful and perfect for your environmentally conscious or plant loving friends. Composting breaks down food waste and in return produces nutrient rich liquid that can be used to fertilise plants.

What many people don’t know is that you don’t need to keep worms or have extensive outdoor space in order to start composting. Originating from Japan, Bokashi is a composting method that relies on inoculated bran to break down organic waste. Simply place food scraps in an airtight bin and add Bokashi mix or liquid. There are also plenty of Bokashi bins that are designed to be used indoors (won’t emit any foul smells) and look great in your kitchen.

5. Biodegradable Baby Wipes

This item on the list is for all your friends who are parents to infants or young children. Parents go through boxes and boxes of baby wipes, negatively affecting their wallet AND environment. This Christmas introduce them to Niki’s life-changing environmentally friendly baby wipes.

Most baby wipes are made of at least 70% polyester, a plastic that takes between 20 to 200 years to break down. Niki’s Natural Wipes are made of wood pulp cloth, which is completely biodegradable, decomposing at a significantly quicker rate once it’s disposed of. Our wood pulp cloth is so soft and sturdy you won’t even be able to tell the difference!

What’s more, our baby wipes are made of 100% natural ingredients and are free from harmful chemicals, toxins and allergens that can cause skin irritations in babies.

Find out more about Niki's Natural Wipes Wipes here, or try them out for yourself today.

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