A VERY CONSCIOUS CHRISTMAS
THE CONSCIOUS TRAVEL FOUNDATION’S ALTERNATIVE GIFT GUIDE FOR A MORE ECO-FRIENDLY, SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS.
With almost 60 million unwanted presents exchanged each Christmas in the UK alone, we wanted to create an alternative gift guide to showcase some of the wonderful ideas and innovations that we love and support here at The Conscious Travel Foundation. Sales from each of the products included in the edit have a positive impact on communities, cultures or conservation efforts around the world. And if consumerism and ‘stuff’ are off the menu this Christmas, we’ve included some of our favourite global charity initiatives should you wish to make (or ask for) donations in lieu of exchanging gifts.
The Green Edit: Travel
Brainchild of Conde Nast’s sustainability editor and great friend of The Conscious Travel Foundation, Juliet Kinsman, “The Green Edit: Travel: Easy tips for the eco-friendly traveller” is a pocket-size essential guide to travelling more responsibly. Packed from cover-to-cover with easy-to-follow hints and tips to incite positive changes to the way we travel, The Green Edit is the perfect stocking filler for the avid traveller in your life, or simply as a desktop companion for anyone wanting to make a start on their own sustainability journey. Available at all good independent bookshops (or online, via Hive).
Organic Savanna
Established in 2016 to empower local women and their families, Kenya-based Organic Savanna use natural ingredients sourced from farmers across East Africa to create organic skincare products. Involving local communities at every stage from harvest to sale, 100% of their profits are reinvested to the community, supporting everything from education programmes and vocational training for adults to raising awareness around environmental issues.
Allbirds
Founder Amy first heard about these shoes when she was in New Zealand and was intrigued. All Birds create trainers made of Merino wool that are supremely comfortable and work hard to be as environmentally friendly as possible, but it wasn't until she returned to London and added a pair to her wardrobe that she discovered the lightest, most comfortable shoes she has ever worn. All Birds are a B-Corp business and although they already have significantly reduced their carbon footprint, they are working to bring it down to 0. They also work with Sole 4 Souls to redistribute lightly used shoes, and all the packaging is recycled.
Cuddle + Kind
Creating heirloom quality hand-knit dolls from the softest natural cotton, Cuddle + Kind are passionate about making a difference to children’s lives around the world. For every doll sold, Cuddle + Kind donate 10 meals to children in need, supporting school meal programmes across the globe. Making sure that every aspect of their business lives up to their strong values, they ensure that the artisan makers in Peru have equitable, sustainable employment and are paid a fair-trade wage. Since September 2015, Cuddle + Kind have helped provide over 13 million meals to children in need.
Kalinko
A beautifully curated emporium of textiles and homewares, Myanmar-based Kalinko is named for the Ka-lin-kaw tribe, famed for their hospitality and lack of gender and class discrimination. Working with artisan producers and makers across Myanmar, Kalinko choose to showcase products that respect time-honoured tradition and customs, cutting out the middle man so that all the purchase costs go directly to the makers. We speak from experience when we say that their Zomi Highball glasses make for the perfect G&T vessel, handmade by master glass-blowers in the heart of Yangon.
Mulberry Mongoose
Firm favourites of the whole team at The Conscious Travel Foundation, Mulberry Mongoose craft exquisite jewellery from discarded snare wire in the heart of the Zambian bush, providing opportunities for local women to earn an income and support their families. Local craftswomen utilise snare wire recovered from patrols across the South Luangwa, hammering and forming this this brutal material into elegant, stylish jewellery – finished with hand-crafted wooden beads and feathers from local farmers. Every Mulberry Mongoose purchase includes a donation to local conservation efforts and enables the team to continue supporting their community and empowering women in the South Luangwa.
LOVE BRAND & Co.
Uniquely British beach wear on a mission to save wild elephants through their ‘Trunks for Trunks’ campaign. Love Brand’s fun and colourful swimming shorts are made from certified 100% recycled plastic and are printed by dye-sublimation which produces zero waste and removes the need for water in the printing process. Alongside their swimming trunks, Love Brand’s lightweight linen shirts are digitally printed, using less water and less ink and with an overall 30% lower carbon footprint than traditional rotary printing methods. To top it off, Love Brand & Co. is proudly part of '1% For The Planet', a movement of businesses supporting environmental solutions.
Be The Change Books
Educating the next generation is a wonderful way to perpetuate a more sustainable way to live and offer hope for the future. Be the Change publish engaging, creative children’s books that focus on current global issues and what we can do to make the world a better place. ‘Finn the Fortunate Tiger Shark and his Fantastic Friends’ is a firm favourite with founder Olivia’s children, written by sustainability advocate and environmental campaigner, Georgina Stevens. 100% of the profits from sales of Finn the Fortunate Tiger Shark will be split between Greenpeace and the Social Plastic Foundation.
Bushbells
A company close to founder Henry’s heart, Bushbells create bright and colourful apparel from traditional Kenyan fabrics and leather, ploughing the profits straight back into the local community in Watamu where the garments are made. A team of four local craftspeople create trousers, shirts, shorts and small leather goods using vibrant Kikoi fabrics and African beads, bringing a welcome splash of Kenyan sunshine to all who wear them. To date, the profits from all Bushbells’ sales have built one school, with the second school nearing completion. They are able to provide ongoing support with school resources, whilst providing food for a daily breakfast club - feeding 85 children and 6 teachers.
Charitable Donations
In lieu of exchanging gifts, asking for or making charitable donations is a wonderful way to spread festive cheer and help initiatives around the world that need our support now more than ever. Whether that’s reforesting the earth with Tree Sisters, donating to the wonderful Sol Y Luna Foundation in Peru or supporting one of the many high-impact charity projects that we champion here at The Conscious Travel Foundation, we are happy to guide you and make suggestions of grass-roots projects to whom your donations would make a huge difference. Contact Us to find out more.
DISCLAIMER: The Conscious Travel Foundation is not affiliated, associated, authorised, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with any of the brands listed above.
