Who doesn't know it - every year, at this supposedly quiet and contemplative time of year, we start racking our brains about what special gifts we could give our loved ones this Christmas.
In this article, we want to show you that there are also some great sustainable gifts .
Our collection of ideas for sustainable Christmas gifts
Sustainable gifts for the kitchen
The way to a person's heart is through their stomach, right? A very sustainable Christmas gift that you can't go wrong with and will put a smile on grandma, mom, dad, or your best friend's face is a subscription or voucher for an organic box.
We have to eat every day - and in doing so, we should also question where the food that ends up on our plates actually comes from.
The Etepete team has taken on the issue of food waste. We say it's a good thing, because in Germany, a whopping 12 million tons of food end up in the trash every year.
They even go a step further and rescue crooked vegetables and fruit that aren't suitable for regular retail—because they're simply not pretty enough.
They pay attention to short supply chains, the vegetables and fruit are 100% organic, climate-neutral and shipped in sustainable packaging.
You can choose between different themed boxes and see what's included depending on the delivery week. They also deliver throughout Germany—if that isn't a meaningful and sustainable Christmas present!
Sustainable gifts for use in the bathroom
We are often overwhelmed by stimuli in today's drugstores, and advertising often tells us that the latest shampoo, the latest cream, the latest perfume finally offers THE solution for full hair, smooth skin, and an irresistible scent.
Dazzled by fancy packaging and advertising promises, we buy products without even looking at the ingredients or giving a thought to how they were produced. Sustainability is often forgotten.
But now there are some companies that are bringing the idea of sustainability into the cosmetics industry and creating products that we can put in our bathrooms with a clear conscience.
One of them is the Munich-based company NKM .
The products impress with 100% natural ingredients, fillers, and extenders, and are vegan and cruelty-free. As if that weren't enough, NKM goes one step further in terms of "knowing what's in it." You can order ready-made products, as well as kits with instructions for making your own cosmetics.
Sustainable gifts in the form of a sponsorship
Would you like to do something good and receive a great sustainable Christmas present at the same time?
At Oceanmata, we have a variety of donation options for Christmas that are guaranteed to put a big smile under the Christmas tree:
The Turtle Sponsorship
Turtles are not only more threatened than ever by pollution of the world's oceans, but also by natural predators and humans who view the eggs as delicacies.
Choose one or more turtle eggs and then name your nest for the recipient. Print out the certificate, personalize it, and give the gift of an experience that will last a lifetime.
From now on, you will receive regular updates by email until your turtle(s) are released, with many impressions from the "Karma Asih" turtle rescue center in Bali, and you can watch as they are released into the wild.
>> Sponsor a turtle now <<
Or go one step further and give a gift from our Turtle Edition . You'll receive, for example, our Turtle Cell Phone Case and an automatic sponsorship!
The dolphin sponsorship
The days when we abused animals for entertainment purposes are long gone. Actually, that's true. In some countries, animals like dolphins are still locked in much too small pools to perform tricks for the enjoyment of humans. The fact that these friendly animals smile while doing so is no sign that they're having fun.
Like in our case of Johnny, Rocky and Rambo, who were locked up for years in the small pool of the Melka Hotel in Bali for exactly this purpose.
The organization Umah Lumba saved them and together with your sponsorship of one of the dolphins, we can help you give the dolphins what they deserve: freedom.
Just like with the Turtle sponsorship, you will receive a certificate that certifies your sponsorship and also gives you a sustainable Christmas gift that you can give away.
ATTENTION: The dolphin sponsorship is currently only available in combination with other products from the Dolphin Edition .
Give away your time
The most precious thing we have passes every second - it is time.
Every moment that passes is never returned, and we therefore believe it's important to fill as many moments as possible with beautiful memories that we'll look back on fondly. So why not give the gift of time?
Cooking together
Given the current situation, it's unfortunately not possible for us to sit down with all our friends and enjoy a lovely evening together. But why not give the gift of precious time together? How about a cooking evening together? Perhaps you want to try something new and venture into the world of vegan recipes?
Nadine and Jörg have launched the food blog " Eat this !" and offer a colorful mix of vegan recipes that will make your mouth water just by looking at them.
You can find equally great vegan recipes at Isa and Julia and their colorful blog " Zuckerjagdwurst ".
Our tip for the sustainable gift of time:
* Choose and print a recipe according to the recipient's taste
* Fill a gift basket with the ingredients and add a good bottle of wine
* Wrap everything up nicely, include an invitation for the cooking evening including the date
Movie night
Unfortunately, all cinemas are currently closed. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the cinema experience in your own home! Providers like Netflix and Amazon Prime offer many great films that make for a wonderful evening for two.
Our gift tips:
* Choose three films you'd like the recipient to choose from. Perhaps you know their taste in films and can pick something from their three favorite genres?
* What do you associate with the cinema? That's right: the smell of fresh popcorn. Whether salty or sweet, we'll tell you how to create this cinema experience yourself without much effort!
Depending on the variant , take:
50g popcorn, 3 tablespoons sugar or 1 teaspoon salt , 4 tablespoons oil (we recommend rapeseed oil, as it can be heated to high temperatures)
Take a large pot (popcorn expands!) and heat the oil to high (although be careful, oil can self-ignite at around 280 degrees!). Now stir in the sugar or salt. After stirring, reduce the heat to low. Quickly stir in the corn and immediately put the lid on. Your popcorn will start popping! Gently shake the pot occasionally to distribute the sugar evenly. When you no longer hear the popping in the pot, tip the popcorn into another bowl and let it vent. This venting causes the liquid to evaporate. If you don't, the popcorn will become mushy.
Our film tips for a sustainable cinema evening
The Oceanmata team recommends on Netflix:
" David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet"
"My teacher, the octopus"
"Into the wild"
"Seven Lives"
"The Pursuit of Happiness"
