It's the festive season! That most wonderful time of the year. It's a great time to indulge in treats and share moments and gifts with loved ones. But this can often come at the cost of the well-being of our planet. Amidst the joy of festive dinners and thoughtful gift exchanges, there is a lingering concern about the substantial waste produced each year, especially during this time. Here at In Good Company, we can revel in the celebrations but also make mindful choices during the holidays.
Embracing a more mindful approach to holiday celebrations, we encourage everyone to explore considerate gift choices. Rather than getting caught up in the rush of last-minute shopping and resorting to unwanted panic purchases, why not choose more meaningful and sustainable gifts? Handcrafted items, personalised presents, or shared experiences such as cooking a meal together, can forge lasting memories while minimising the environmental footprint associated with excessive packaging and shipping.
Photo by Olesia Buyar on Unsplash
Encouraging a mindful holiday season involves supporting local and small businesses.
This strengthens our communities and lessens carbon emissions tied to distant shipping. Moreover, it provides an opportunity to discover distinctive, handcrafted gifts that contribute to local economic development, benefiting everyone involved.
Check out some of our top places for more thoughtful, planet friendly and impactful gifting this year:
Greenwich Pantry
The Pantry, located in Greenwich SE10, is both a cooking school and a conscientious food business. Catering to individuals, couples, and groups, they offer a diverse range of classes suitable for beginners and advanced cooks alike.
Using locally sourced ingredients, The Pantry promotes healthy and sustainable eating, gaining recognition for its popular plant-based cooking sessions. Their cooking philosophy emphasises simplicity and practical techniques tailored for modern households, spanning workshops from bread-making and knife skills to sushi-making. Noteworthy is their fermentation and preserving class, promoting sustainable eating by extending the life of surplus ingredients.
The Pantry also conducts cooking clubs for kids in child-friendly kitchens, fostering awareness and independence. Whether you're seeking a unique date idea or aspiring to wield a knife with professional flair, the Greenwich Pantry has the perfect workshop for you.
Hoxton Street Monster Supplies & Leadenhall Market
Established in 1818, and briefly closing for refurbishment in 2010, Hoxton Street Monster Supplies stands as the exclusive provider of quality goods for creatures of all kinds. This whimsical store offers imaginative products designed for monsters, supernatural beings, and humans alike. From 'Mermaid Eggs' (bath bombs) to 'Cubed Earwax' (clotted cream fudge), their creative items make delightful gifts for children or teenagers engrossed in the romance saga of Meyer's Twilight, or equally adults still invested in the vampire appeal. Both the original Hoxton Street location and their new store in Leadenhall Market act as a facade for the Ministry of Stories, a non-profit organisation founded by author Nick Hornby in 2010. Through innovative writing programs and small group mentoring, this organisation helps children discover confidence, imagination, and potential through the art of writing. For those seeking unconventional stocking fillers, Hoxton Street Monster Supplies offers a unique range, from 'Fang Floss' to 'Salt made from tears of laughter.'
Pippa Small, takes a distinctive approach to jewellery design, using Fairtrade and Fair Mined materials such as hand-panned eco gold to hand-make their pieces. Through skill-building workshops, they empower women, provide secure livelihoods in conflict areas and sustain communities in Afghanistan and Myanmar. Viewing each handcrafted item as a privilege, the brand believes that every piece has its own story, creating a meaningful connection between the maker and the wearer. Each item listed on their website includes a “Meet the Maker” section. Wearing Pippa Small not only offers unique, handcrafted pieces but also contributes to the creation of sustainable jobs in conflict-affected areas, promotes ethical mining practices, and preserves traditional crafts. If you or someone special deserves an extraordinary gift this holiday season, explore their store in Notting Hill.
This festive season, consider gifting a healthy, inclusive experience at Blithe Yoga in Stratford. Established in 2016 by Levi Elven, this space aims to make yoga more affordable and accessible to all. They provide Community Yoga and contribute to the local charity Lola’s Homeless. Blithe Yoga provides a range of yoga and meditation styles, from dynamic vinyasa to gentler options like Yin + Restore. In addition, they feature a therapy room for various treatments such as sports massage, reflexology, reiki, and aromatherapy. With different passes available, including an enticing ‘Intro Deal’ at just £29 for unlimited yoga classes over 14 days, or vouchers for your chosen amount, you can gift an experience that enhances both mind and body strength and flexibility while supporting the community.
Consider gifting someone a theatrical experience at the Almeida Theatre in Islington. Originally a literary and scientific society, it has transformed into a platform launching the next generation of British artists onto the global stage. The venue is dedicated to creating innovative works, delving into political topics such as the Cold War in Poland or the timeless tragedy of King Lear. Their varied productions and collaborations with daring artists provoke thought, inspire conversations and pleasantly surprise audiences. Beyond their artistic endeavours, Almeida has incorporated eco-friendly practices, earning them a five-star Creative Industry Green Certification. Chef Tom Artiss aims for at least two-thirds of the menu to be plant-based and 90% vegan for ‘Veganuary. The Café & Bar’s commitment to sustainability includes coffee sourced from environmentally conscious Climpson & Sons, beer from Toast Ale and sustainable wine from Sustainable Wine Solutions. Additionally, they offer concessions for those aged 25 and under, 30 and under, over 65 and individuals seeking Jobseekers Allowances, who can book at a discounted rate.
An eco-conscious perfumery that puts you in charge of creating your personalised scents, where your aromatic preferences are discussed and a unique fragrance is formulated just for you (or a loved one). This London-based company is deeply committed to sustainability, actively reducing waste, minimising plastic use, responsibly sourcing ingredients locally, and manufacturing fragrances in-house, ensuring they only produce what they sell. To further their eco-friendly mission, they offer a convenient refill service, promoting the reuse of packaging and reducing waste. Their fragrances are vegan and cruelty-free certified by PETA, and they proudly offset their carbon emissions through Ecologi’s sustainable projects. Founded by the experienced nose Emmanuelle Moeglin, with 15 years in the fragrance industry, Experimental Perfume Club is a haven for those who seek eco-conscious and personalised scent experiences.
Located in Covent Garden, L'Estrange are on a mission to revolutionise the male wardrobe with a simplified, eco-conscious approach, their modular clothing system offers comfortable, seasonless, and versatile pieces suitable for any occasion. Beyond style, they are committed to circularity, designing in London and crafting in European factories to conserve resources and enhance longevity. By using renewable and recycled materials, such as organic cotton, and offering free repairs, they present an ideal recommendation for sustainable gifting options, ensuring the gift of quality and responsible fashion that stands the test of time.
The Home of Sustainable Things
The Home of Sustainable Things (HOST) is an exceptional store specialising in items with minimal or zero carbon footprint. Whether you need lighting, bedside tables, rugs, or sculptures, HOST can grace every corner of your home with distinctive and eco-friendly furniture and decorations. Pioneering the sustainable design movement, they are committed to optimising natural resources, minimising landfill waste, and conserving water and energy. Their guiding principles revolve around thoughtfulness, innovation, and a shared commitment to safeguarding and celebrating the environment. HOST endeavours to demonstrate the possibility of creating aesthetically pleasing and functional objects without adding undue pressure on global resources. Explore their sustainable and captivating collection on their website.
This holiday season, why not choose more sustainable gifts and experiences to celebrate with joy, kindness, and eco-consciousness. From all of us here at In Good Company, we wish you a festive and sustainable holiday season!
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