Sustainable gifts: what to look for, plus ideas that get used

Looking for sustainable gifts and finding nothing but bamboo, jute and green labels? You are not alone. The good news: a well chosen present is not about what is printed on the box. It comes down to a few honest questions. Will it get used? Will it last? Can it be repaired? Here are the criteria that help you tell a thoughtful gift from a pretty dust collector, plus practical ideas for Christmas, birthdays and Secret Santa.

Sustainable gifts: what to look for

No gift comes without any footprint at all. But some gifts are actually used for what they were made for. These seven points make choosing easier.

1. Used, not shelved

The most honest test comes first: a present that disappears into a cupboard is wasted, whatever it is made of. Ask yourself whether the person would pick it up in an ordinary week. A really good peeler beats a third scented candle.

2. Built to last

Look for solid materials, simple mechanics and a guarantee the maker puts in writing. The longer something stays in use, the less often it needs replacing.

3. Repairable or replaceable parts

Are spare parts available? Can a worn part be swapped instead of binning the whole thing? Tools, bike accessories, good shoes or a knife you can sharpen are the classics here.

4. Consumables without single use packaging

Soap, shampoo, coffee, tea, spices: things that get used up often make the best presents because they never gather dust. If you are after plastic free gift ideas, solid soaps and shampoo bars are an obvious choice. They need no plastic bottle and are usually sold in paper or completely loose.

5. Local and traceable

Honey from a nearby beekeeper, bread from the baker, a mug from the pottery down the road. You know who made it and can ask if you want to know more.

6. Second hand

A well kept book, a vintage camera, a record player from the flea market. Pre-loved things have character and a story, which often lands better than something new with people who already have everything.

7. Give time

A day out together, a cooking evening, a voucher for help with moving house. No materials, no wrapping, and usually the best memory of the lot.

Gift ideas that actually get used

• A good lunch box or water bottle in stainless steel that comes along for years.
• Cloth hankies or beeswax wraps for people who enjoy trying new habits.
• A repair voucher for a cobbler, tailor or bike workshop.
• Seeds and a pot of herbs for a balcony or windowsill.
• A solid soap or shampoo bar, wrapped in a piece of fabric. We explain how in How to gift solid soap beautifully.

Where Soapi fits in (and where it does not)

We make Soapi, a magnetic soap holder, so we would rather be specific than use big words. A bottle cap, for example from a cola or beer bottle, is pressed halfway into a bar of soap. The soap then hangs from the magnet on the wall and dries all round instead of going soft in a dish. Soap that dries lasts longer, and the sink stays clean.

How that relates to the criteria above:

• Used, not shelved: it hangs where people wash their hands every day.
• Built to last: it comes with a 10 year durability guarantee. The holder cannot rust because the magnet is fully enclosed in plastic. If a bottle cap ever does rust, simply use a new one.
• Bar instead of bottle: anyone switching to solid soap needs a place where it can dry. That is exactly what Soapi is for.
• Material: The housing is injection-moulded from recycled plastic, around 90 % of which comes from discarded fishing nets and ropes. Moulding takes place in Berlin.

And where it does not: Soapi is an everyday object made of plastic. It makes sense for people who use solid soap or want to. Someone who prefers liquid soap will be happier with something else.

A Soapi costs €12.95 and comes in 10 colours. The easiest one to give is the Starter Kit for €14.95: a Soapi in the colour of your choice, a lavender soap from Marseille, 100 g, handmade in Marseille, and a cleaned bottle cap. Unwrap, stick it up, hang the soap, done.

Mix & Match: several presents in one go

With Mix & Match you choose 5 products and pay €50, with free shipping within Germany. You can combine Soapis in all 10 colours, the magnetic key holder, solid soaps, shampoo bars and children's soaps. That works out at €10 per present, handy when you need several gifts at once for family, colleagues or a gift exchange. Browse the bars in Soaps & Shampoos.

Frequently asked questions

What are good zero waste gifts?

Truly waste free is rare. Things that get used up and come loose or in paper work well, such as solid soap, tea or spices, as do experiences and time together.

Is a bought gift automatically worse than a homemade one?

No. What matters is whether it gets used and how long it lasts. A tool that is used for ten years can be a better choice than a craft project nobody needs.

Does Soapi stick to any wall?

It attaches with a waterproof adhesive pad to smooth surfaces such as tiles, glass, mirrors or stainless steel. Please do not stick it to painted or wallpapered walls.

In short

Good presents get used, last a long time and make a visible difference in everyday life. If you need several at once, build your own set with Mix & Match. For more small, practical ideas, read Small, useful gifts.