Choose Love might at first glance look like an ordinary online shop – but you’ll be choosing from ‘emergency needs’, ‘daily survival’ and ‘building futures’ sections rather than shoes, trousers and tees. The idea is all the items in the Choose Love online store represent products urgently needed by refugees and displaced people – so you’ll be buying real items, but personally leaving with nothing. You can gift a personalised e-card here – allowing your loved one to choose what they ‘pay forward’ for. Items range from warm winter clothes and shoes to toilets and showers, and services include LGBTQ+ support, legal support and education for children.
Another material but immaterial option is Treedom. I remember begging my parents to let me ‘adopt’ a dolphin when I was a kid - but in 2020, it’s all about adopting trees. Treedom is the first platform in the world where you can plant and gift a tree remotely – and then follow its story, and social and environmental impact, online. You can keep track of how much CO2 it’s offset, and even purchase trees based on horoscopes and pets.
This is a material thing - but arguably an essential one. Wild is a sustainable deodorant brand that doesn’t compromise on effectiveness. Via its subscription service, after you purchase a case, plastic-free and compostable refills are delivered to your door so as to minimise waste in the bathroom. Gift cards are available here and will allow you to send whoever you’re buying for on their way to green, clean armpits smelling of coconuts, mint, or roses, depending on what they’re into.
Maybe your loved one wasn’t quite ready for a lockdown puppy, but has taken on the responsibility of caring for a lockdown plant - or seven. How about a virtual workshop on how best to take care of it, to ensure it continues to thrive even after the days of working from home are over? The Sill is a US company, and it would be ridiculous to send a solitary cheese plant over the Atlantic Ocean, but have a look at their online workshops here. The two post Christmas focus on ‘Winter Plant Care’ and ‘Humidity 101’.
DabbaDrop only delivers (by bike!) to an elite selection of E, N and SE London postcodes, but it’s a standout option for anyone happening to live there. Purveyor of a truly guilt free takeaway and convenience with a conscience, DabbaDrop is a dinner delivery service. It’s fully vegan menus are curated weekly and inspired by cofounder Anshu’s family, who live across South and Southeast Asia. Dishes including aloo chat, tofu butter chicken and urad dal come to your door in stainless steel ‘dabba’, which are collected once you’re done and reused the following week.
If you’re not ready to commit to a takeaway subscription, it’s worth thinking about a one-off restaurant voucher. The hospitality industry is struggling at the moment and there are many restaurants that will hugely value an assurance of future custom. Why not treat your friend or family member to a delicious plant-based set menu from Michelin-starred Gauthier or vegetarian household name The Gate?
This really is a gift for the future. There are under 40 days left to take part in Brewdog’s ‘Equity for Punks Tomorrow’ crowdfund campaign, which has so far raised over £10M. Brewdog is the world’s first carbon negative brewery, and has made a real name for itself in climate circles. Why not gift sustainable shares in Brewdog? Each Equity Punk will own part of the organisation, as well as getting discounts, free birthday beers, sustainably sourced t-shirts and access to events celebrating Brewdog’s eco efforts. Find out everything you need to know here.
Finally, here are three publications you could consider signing your loved one up for whether they’re a climate geek, a newbie on the environmental scene, or just generally interested in current affairs.
Grist is an ‘independent, irreverent news outlet and network of innovators working toward a planet that doesn’t burn and a future that doesn’t suck.’ Although Grist is no-paywall, by becoming a member, you’ll be helping a non-profit publication that relies on reader support for its journalism. You’ll also get access to events, a monthly newsletter and the chance to chat to Grist writers.
For the best of the Financial Times, The Economist, The Washington Post, Bloomberg and others, to listen to rather than to read, have a look at Curio’s gift subscriptions. Somewhere between a podcast and a newspaper article, each Curio piece is curated and your ‘feed’ is personalised with stories you’ll love - without the need to sign up to each and every publication.
It’s Freezing in LA! publishes print magazines in May and November, which you can purchase a subscription to here. Its environmental slow journalism is diverse and informative, covering the ground between science and activism – as well as being beautifully illustrated.
