Gift Guide: Sustainable Irish gifts for your eco-minded loved one

Christmas is just around the corner, and for those who want to shop for their loved ones while being eco-conscious there are plenty of incredible gifts to choose from, from local small businesses to Irish-made products and ethically minded companies.

The festive season can be a time of overconsumption, so being mindful not to overshop can go a long way - make a list and check it twice!

Wrapping can also be a big opportunity for waste, so choose options that can be reused or fully recycled. I love Japanese art of furoshiki gift wrapping, where you use decorative fabric to wrap your gifts, and encourage the giftee to pass along the cloth wrapping the next time they give a gift. They can then keep the cloth and use it for their hair, as an accessory or as decoration.

As for what is hidden inside your sustainable wrapping, here are some top choices for an environmentally friendly shopper.

Silver Works workshop

For the magpies who love acquiring a new piece of jewelry in a sustainable way, Silver Works are renowned for their workshops, where participants are guided through the process of making their own piece from scratch. From making pendants and bangles to crafting your own Claddagh ring, there are plenty of options available to create in their Dublin workshop. They incorporate recycled metals and casting grains into the process, and prioritise using ethically-sourced gemstones.Workshops start from €85

Aisling Duffy bag charm

Bag charms were one of the biggest trends in 2024, and it’s never out of style to add some personality and pizzazz to your handbag, backpack or tote. Aisling Duffy is a Dublin-based designer who makes whimsical, edgy pieces from her city studio, and her oversized bag charms add interest to any outfit. Perfect for fashion lovers who want something unique. Charms from €35.

Recycled Wool Throw by McNutt of Donegal

Nothing beats a cosy blanket in the wintertime, and this one pays homage to the ocean, which it was inspired by, as it’s hues mimic the changing colours of the tides.The Sea eco throw is woven from yarns which are spun from recycled wool garments, made in Donegal. Made to last a lifetime, but these natural fibres are both biodegradable and recyclable. €104.50

Anam Cosmetics eyeshadow set

Glitter used in many cosmetics is just tiny flecks of plastics, and when washed down your drain when you clean your face can end up contaminating the environment. Anam is an Irish brand dedicated to finding a solution to that issue with their vegan. cruelty free, and 100% biodegradable glitter formula - perfect for Christmas and New Year’s makeup looks. €40 for the trio set.

FieldDay Folk Collection Tin Candle in Gather

Made in Ireland, this lovely little candle is ideal for those who love to create a cosy ambiance at home. Made with sustainable packaging printed with vegetable inks, and each candle is topped with a Wildflower Seed Paper Lid, which you can grow in the container after your candle is finished. Made in a converted mushroom factory in the countryside of Co Down, all the Folk scents are divine, but Gather is warming and smokey, ideal for this time of year. €20.95.

Aisling Kavanagh Flora Embroidered Beau

Aisling Kavanagh’s eternally popular hair bows are a hallmark of her chic brand. Made in Ireland from only remnant, dead stock fabrics, these bows are a gorgeous stocking stuffer. Bows from €60.00.

Grow and Press Wildflowers Gift Box

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Wildflowers are so important to local wildlife, and this kit lets you grow your own wildflowers from seed, enjoy their beauty as they bloom and then preserve them with a traditional flower pressing craft to make unique art for your home while helping biodiversity. €38.00.

Aoife McNamara voucher

For fashion fans, there are plenty of incredible Irish brands out there who are supporting the environment and being mindful about the impacts that the fashion industry has on our planet and its people. Aoife McNamara is one such designer, and there are gift cards available on her website from €50 to €500, so you can help your recipient get the piece of their dreams.

Samsú Cabins stay

Built locally with solar powered electricity, eco waterless toilets and sustainable natural materials, a stay at Samsú in Co Westmeath is ideal to switch off and unwind with nature in mind, just 80km from Dublin. Enjoy an outdoor forest bath and embark on a digital detox by completely disconnecting with your phone and reconnecting with nature. Book a trip for you and a loved one as a restful getaway after the hustle and bustle of Christmas. Prices from €195 per night midweek.

Laoise Carey Carhue Xtra Long Scarf

This gorgeous, cosy scarf has been patchworked together using wool remnants from a family-run mill in Tipperary, alongside other repurposed materials. Every piece is lovingly handcrafted in Ireland, and designer Laoise is committed to ensuring her work utilises vintage, recycled and eco-friendly fabrics. €120.

New Kintsugi Fixing Kit

Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery in a special way, by sealing and mending the broken areas with an urushi lacquer which is either mixed or dusted with powdered gold, silver, or platinum so highlight and gild what was once broken while bringing the piece back to life. Repairing is an essential part of a sustainable lifestyle, rather than replacing, so an at-home kintsugi kit is a pottery fan’s dream. €27.00 from Designist.

Pellador Jersey

Shopping local is much more eco-friendly than ordering something from abroad. Pellador is a knitwear and clothing brand founded by Limerick-based designer Greg Hall that is inspired by traditional Irish design and the country’s history of sport, and is now stocked in Brown Thomas. Jerseys from €45.

Oxfam Unwrapped

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Christmas is a time to give back, and Oxfam Ireland has a selection of Unwrapped Gifts, each of which are a donation that supports Oxfam programme’s development aid work worldwide. Simply choose a gift and then decide if you want it as an e-card, to post, or to print at home. Gifting to charity in the name of a loved one is literally the gift that keeps on giving. From food and water funding to education and providing livestock, there are a range of gifts from €10 to €500.

The Designer Mat from Inish Living

Yoga is a wonderful exercise, and something many people discover by taking it up as a new year resolution. Inish Living’s gorgeous neutral coloured mat is made from resilient bio-based materials, recycled microfibres and non-toxic ink. €120.