Gift Guide for Him: The Eco-Conscious One

The holiday season comes around for us all and while it can be a time of glittering Christmas trees, songs by the fire and the smell of turkey roasting in the oven, it can also be a time of immense stress. I share my own thoughts when I say, some people are devilishly tricky to purchase for and I am sorry to say gentlemen have their own category of difficulty, at least the ones in my life do. I have compiled a list of all things sustainable and useful for the gentleman in your life who most of all values craftsmanship, longevity and the planet in his pile of presents.

Merry Christmas!

1. Cord Field Jacket in Dark Green, The Good Neighbor, £99

I found The Good Neighbor at the Regent Street edit. With high respect for sustainability, most of their wonderful garments are crafted from existing stock or end of role fabrics that would have been thrown away. Made from Cotton Stretch Corduroy this coat cuts him a stylish, yet comfortable figure.

2. Bright Spark Enzyme Oil, Wilde Fruit, £15

Wildefruit’s skincare is crafted from upcycled produce, this product’s fruit seeds were destined to be thrown away by the juice and jam industry. Here they become a deeply nourishing face oil, which can double as a beard oil if he wishes.

3. Purifying Freshness Shampoo Bar, L’Occitane, £10

Free from silicones and sulfates and formulated with a prebiotic natural sugar complex, these bars respect and maintain the scalp’s ecosystem and PH while strengthening the skin natural defences. Lather up in the hands for a few moments and then apply directly onto the hair. (Up to 20 washes.)

4. Pebbled Leather Laptop Cover, Padfield, £155

Padfield is a family run business using British tanned leather left over from the meat industry, to create wonderful leather accessories that are 100% British made from design to production. This sturdy laptop cover is made from black British tanned leather and can be monogrammed for free.

5. Wheat & Lavender Warmer (Large) Somerset Lavender, £17

Somerset Lavender is a business local to me, sharing the same passion for sustainability and craftsmanship. These wheat bags are crafted on the farm to ease those aches and pains. Warm in the microwave and apply to backs and necks for relief and the relaxing scent of lavender.

6. Rocket Fuel Coffee Tea Emporium, £8.75 (500g) 

For serious coffee drinkers, rocket fuel is just that, a blend of rich, dark roasted Vietnamese robusta and Brazilian arabica coffee beans that is sure to propel them into their day with a buzz! Tea Emporium is a local independent business that has been importing outstanding sustainable teas since 2005.

7. Sandalwood Men’s Moisturiser, Verde London, £33

With Sandalwood and Vetivert creating a gentle earthy aroma this moisturiser can be applied daily to protect, hydrate and nourish the skin using Marshmallow and Calendula. It can even double as an after-shave balm if he likes.

8. Kinta Capiz Ball Decoration, Maison Curate, £8.50

This holiday bauble is made from Capiz Shell, whose molluscs are edible, which means local fishermen can harvest them for their meat and reduce waste and earn extra funds by reusing their shells for décor and handicrafts.

9. A Christmas Skincare Spa Experience, Duolab, £179

For the gift of splendid skincare, Duolab blends technology with plant-based ingredients up to 100% preservative-free. Using the LAB device and a DUO of capsules that are vacuum packed he can choose what his skin needs from day-to-day.

This Christmas kit includes x 1 Duolab device, x 1 Discovery pack of 14 capsules, x 1 unique code unlocking two months of skincare capsules delivered to your door and x 1 FREE skincare consultation.

10. English Lavender Oil 10ml (Lavandula Angustifolia) Somerset Lavender, £8

For those of us who lead lives full of stress or perhaps work a job that requires long hours, one of the best gifts can be even a moment of relaxation. A few drops of organic locally farmed lavender, whether it’s on the pillow or in a diffuser can have a tremendous effect on anxiety, sleepness and blood pressure.

11. Lambswool Jumper in Dark Red, The Good Neighbor, £99

Keep him cosy this winter with a seasonally coloured 100% Lambswool Wool jumper, made in England. The Good Neighbour makes garments to last, crafted from quality fabrics, using special construction methods to ensure that his clothes can be enjoyed for many years, rather than just one season.

12. Rose Skin Food Bar, Sintra, £3.50

I discovered this wonderful bar of soap while at an Artisan market stall in Bath called OKO Marketplace. Entirely plastic and preservative-free this soap can be used for both the face and body. With dried lavender flowers giving their anti-bacterial and pH maintaining properties you’re giving soft clean skin.

13. Sheepskin Insoles, The Dartmoor Shepherd, £15

For the walkers and hikers on your gift list, these insoles will be a delight. Made from the softest sheepskin they slot easily into any shoe for maximum warmth and comfort, transforming his shoe from summer to winter in a moment. (Made in the Southwest of England.)

14. Sheepskin Fingerless Mittens, Dartmoor Shepherd, £44

These soft sheepskin mittens are hand-cut and sewn in the South-West of England. Perfect for the busier among us they leave his fingers free to text. These mittens are a bi-product of The Dartmoor Shepherd’s hogget, which is sheep that have been given two or more years to graze. These farmers are the only ones to raise all three of Dartmoor’s native rare longwool sheep, letting them roam and mature naturally.

15. And Away by Bob Mortimer, Topping & Company, £20

The number one bestseller and Sunday Times Humour Book of the Year by national treasure Bob Mortimer.

For pages of cheer this winter pop Bob Mortimer’s new autobiography into the mix of presents.

16. Elemis Superfood AHA Glow Cleansing Butter, £30

A fantastic cleanser for dry and dull skin that needs a bit of a refresh. With fermented Pumpkin enzymes and Acerola Cherry, this cleansing butter brightens the skin and nourishes it with Chia Seed Oil, rich in omega fatty acids. Easy to use with just a penny-sized piece it removes the grime of the day with ease.