DIY and craftiness are both direct paths to green living, and the Make Lounge in London is a great place for busy people to channel their creative urges after work. Based in Angel, Islington, the contemporary craft classes have proven very popular, with communters dropping in to relax over a bit of crafting and conversation without having to commit in advance to a long course.
Many people will be hoping to kick-start their creativity in the new year, and the classes offered at Make Lounge are an ideal way to re-connect with it. This year, they've anticipated the influx of wannabe crafters and have brought in gift vouchers for the first time. So if you live in or around London and know somebody who'd really enjoy the chance to dedicate some time to crafting, why not buy one for them? The vouchers range from £10 to £45 and can be printed out for immediate use once you've paid on the site. A great gift for anyone wanting to dip their toes into the wonderful world of craft while making friends at the same time!
Now it's not that kids don't care about the environment, it's more that they don't actually think about it. They hear about global warming at school, and they chuck their rubbish in the recycling bin when they get shouted at, but as far as anything else goes, well Nikes are just cool, alright?. Hopefully these lovely little torches should change that, as they are rechargeable and will never need batteries. They're really cute too, and you can choose between a cow, frog or pig. Just squeeze the lever to create some juice and they'll shine oh so brightly for a little while. It's good exercise for the arms too....It's $8.99 from Perpetual Kid.
The last posting date is upon us (eek!), we've bought (almost) all our presents and wrapping them up will soon become a priority. But buying reams of paper is expensive, and just think of all those trees - a shocking 50,000 of them each year just for wrapping gifts, according to Friends of the Earth. Here are some suggestions for making last minute, greener wrapping paper of your own, using items you already have at home.
• Use up existing those bits of printer paper you have at home that aren't quite pristine enough for letter-writing purposes. There's a great online template here for making your own personalised paper from the comfort of your desktop, which can then be printed out for use. It uses a fun, online tool called Make a Flake, which will provide hours of fun for bored kids who can't wait for Christmas, whether or not you choose to print their masterpieces.
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Being small, cheap and essentially pointless bits of fun, stocking fillers are top candidates for being wastefully and unethically made. But they don't have to be! Here are just a few of the best eco-friendly and fairtrade miniature items I've seen over the past few weeks of which eco-santa would wholeheartedly approve. They'll make great small presents for kids, or for your office secret santa.
An Onya Bag makes a great present as it's designed to be tiny, the name refers to the fact that it can be 'on ya' at all times. Available in loads of styles and colours, the plastic bag alternatives will suit kids and adults alike. They squish down into a little key ring sized pouch, so you'll never be caught without one. The original bag costs £6.50
Ecoutlet has a great selection of gifts up to £10. Browse this section for novelty recycled bottle openers, LED torches, fun bags and more. In their kids section there are fun mini lights, recycled lunch boxes and more.
Lush is my shop of choice for tiny gifts, and this year I'm happy to say the chain is greener than ever. Rumour even has it that the popcorn packaging they brought in last year is set to get even more earth-friendly as the company has plans to move its giant popcorn-making machine to a new location where it can run entirely on wind power! Choose from all the usual smellies, as well as Christmas bath bombs.
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Recycling really does make the world go round, and this creation proves that to a T. This waste paper basket is made from waste- 60 sheets of newspaper to be precise, and designer Studio Veríssimo has woven them into a traditional basket shape, which is none the less fully functional. It's a lovely unusual gift, and great for an eco conscious friend.. or yourself. Everyone will want your waste now and not in a scary stalkery way).
£40 from Magma
Related: Heal's recycle bin set: separate in style I Simplehuman's pull out recycler bin
Add a little brightness to your home this winter with a beautifully-sculpted citrus shaped clock from re:modern, a haven of sustainable products for design junkies. The clocks are made from reclaimed HDPE; the plastic found in detergent bottles that's famously a real pain in the butt to recycle...
Available in tangerine, grapefruit and sherbet lemon yellow, the clocks will add some real zest to your day. But there's loads more fun to be had on the site where you'll find all sorts of earth-friendly objects of desire that would make great Christmas presents, from contemporary jewellery to my personal favourite: bamboo sporks.
Men's presents are always the toughest to find, aren't they? I've got all my female relatives' and friend's presents already wrapped and ready to go, but there's still those pesky boys to think about. But once I started looking, I was soon brimming with ideas and with a bit of luck, our roundup of green and ethical gifts for men will help you out too. Follow the jump for some great gift ideas and exclusive hippyshopper discounts that will show your Dad, brother or other half how much you care - both for him, and for the planet too.
Skincare
Lots of guys love their cosmetics, but getting the packaging right is important...and one gift set that does this perfectly is the stylish 'Gentleman's Night Box' from Willow Organics. The 100% natural grooming products included in the set are a black rice soap, organic face and body wash and organic moisturising aftershave balm, in spicy citrus and cedarwood. The smart gift box (which Willow dilligently suggests you re-use as a container for keys, cufflinks, watches and other male accoutrements) is made from recycled and biodegradable material.
Alternatively, Male organics is the place to go for an even wider selection of natural skincare for men. There's a really wide range of prices, so you'll find something here whatever your budget. And to help you out even more, the website is offering a 10% discount for hippyshopper readers until 18th December. So place your order now with the code hippyshopper1 for some fantastic value luxury skincare goodies.
Related: Gorgeous gifts for green goddesses | Green and ethical presents for Children this Christmas
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