10 November 2025
Light up your home with these cosy candles from eco-friendlier materials
- COSH! Member Publicity
- Gift Guide
- Lifestyle
The holidays are all about warmth, connection, and… presents under the tree. But let’s be honest: every year, countless hastily purchased gifts end up unused in a drawer or, worse yet, in the trash. This must change! Surprise your friends, family or colleagues this year with more sustainable gifts that not only bring joy to the recipient but also have a positive impact on people, animals and the planet. And that’s precisely where the true magic of giving begins.
Why choose more sustainable Christmas presents?
You reduce waste and overproduction
Traditional gifts are often mass-produced, resulting in low quality and a short lifespan. More sustainable alternatives, from circular accessories to reusable lifestyle products, last much longer. Fewer fast gifts, more lasting value.
You support more ethical and local makers
By choosing products that are more ethically and locally made, you contribute to better working conditions, fewer transport miles and you support smaller, local retailers who keep the shopping streets unique and vibrant.
You give something meaningful
A more sustainable gift tells a story: about craftsmanship, reuse, innovation or caring for nature. This automatically makes such a gift more personal. The recipient feels that real thought has gone into it, increasing its emotional value.
You inspire others to consume consciously
Conscious choices are contagious. By choosing more sustainable Christmas gifts yourself, you start a positive trend within your family, circle of friends and beyond. This way, the impact of a single gift grows to much greater proportions.
You’re investing in quality and long-term enjoyment
A gift doesn’t have to be grand to be valuable. But it does have to be good. Products made with respect for people and the environment are often of higher quality, which means longer use, fewer replacements and more joy for the recipient.
14x inspiration for more sustainable presents with meaning
Choose fairer, more circular, plastic-free, environmentally friendlier and useful gifts to surprise your loved ones. Need some inspiration? Don’t worry. To inspire you, we made a list of the COSH! team’s favorites, all more sustainable gifts! Perfect for giving, but definitely also for asking.
Below is an inspiring list of ideas for 14x more sustainable Christmas gifts you can be proud to give and receive.
1. Colourful napkins by Poppy Dream
Recommended by COSH! founder Niki
If you’re looking for a more sustainable and stylish Christmas gift, Poppy Dream’s colourful napkins are a perfect example. These handmade napkins, with the unique charm of traditional Indian craftsmanship, instantly bring warmth and character to your table. Made of 100% cotton and produced in small batches by artisans, they perfectly align with COSH!‘s values. It’s a gift that not only looks beautiful but is also carefully crafted. Perfect for those who value quality, meaning and sustainability.
2. Have your ‘old’ jewellery upcycled at Kleine Verzierung
Recommended by Luise, Community Manager DE
A truly unique and more sustainable Christmas gift is having your “old” jewellery upcycled at Kleine Verzierung. This way, you can give forgotten jewellery, like that heirloom from your grandmother that’s not quite your style, a new life in a design that truly suits you. The result is a unique piece of jewellery that combines craftsmanship, emotional value and durability: a gift you’ll never want to part with.
3. A cheerful mug from Kleidsam
Recommended by Clara, Marketing DE
A gift guaranteed to bring a smile: a cheerful mug by Kleidsam. These colourful, playful mugs are ideal for anyone who enjoys adding a touch of humor and personality to their morning routine. Clara from our marketing team in Germany enthusiastically recommends this gift because she loves quirky mugs. Perfect for collectors, coffee lovers or anyone who needs a little extra cheer. A small treat that brings joy every day!
4. Plant-based dye kit from Studio WOUW
Recommended by Wieke, Head of Research
For creative minds, the plant-based dye kit by Studio WOUW is a beautiful, more sustainable Christmas gift. With this kit, you’ll discover how to transform textiles with natural pigments: mindful, educational and surprising. Wieke, our Head of Research, recommends this gift because she loves experimenting with textiles. It’s an ideal gift for anyone who loves crafts, color and more conscious creativity.
5. A graphic towel from Moose in the City
Recommended by Annelies, Marketing & Communicatie BE
An original and functional surprise under the Christmas tree: a graphic towel from Moose in the City. With their playful and modern design, these towels instantly add character and color to your kitchen or bathroom. Annelies, our Marketing & Communications specialist for BE, recommends this gift because she loves to give her bathroom or kitchen a cheerful touch. Ideal for anyone who loves interiors with vibrant details and more sustainable, stylish basics.
6. The Clothing Repair Book by De Naaierij
Recommended by Isabel, Sustainability Researcher DE
A more conscious gift that gives clothes a longer life: the clothing repair book from De Naaierij. This book is perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to repair clothes and extend the life of their favourite pieces. Isabel, our Sustainability Researcher in Germany, is eager to learn how to repair and care for her own clothes, so she recommends this inspiring book! A thoughtful gift for anyone who valuestextile care, sustainability and the joy of maintaining their own clothes.
7. Deadstock Penny Lane coat by LIJOU Vintage
Recommended by Puck, Community Manager NL
A unique choice for under the Christmas tree: the deadstock suede Penny Lane coat from LIJOU VINTAGE. Puck, our Community Manager NL, recommends this gift because she loves unique coats and prefers vintage or deadstock over new clothing. Such a coat is not only a stylish garment but also a more sustainable choice. By choosing deadstock, you contribute to lower production, less waste and you give a second life to something special. Perfect for those who like to stand out and also want to consume more consciously.
8. A timeless wool sweater by The Knitwit Stable
Recommended by Ethan, AI-specialist & Full Stack Developer
A high-quality garment that will last for years: the timeless Dirko wool sweater from The Knitwit Stable. According to Ethan, COSH! AI specialist & Full Stack Developer, this is precisely the kind of sweater that never goes out of style. Thanks to locally sourced wool and transparency about its cost and origins, this sweater combines style, comfort and sustainability. A (Christmas) gift the recipient will enjoy for a long time and that contributes to a better world.
9. A ring you’ll never want to take off from ERDEN
Recommended by David, Marketing Intern DE
A subtle yet exceptionally precious gift: an 18-karat yellow gold ring from ERDEN. This is one you’ll never want to take off!. David, our Marketing Intern DE, chose this ring on his wishlist because he loves minimalist design. Thanks to its minimalist design, the ring is timeless and wearable with any style. This way, you give a touch of elegance and durability: something beautiful the recipient will enjoy for years to come.
10. A vibrant scarf from Wolvis
Recommended by Daniela, Marketing Assistent
A warm and vibrant choice for under the Christmas tree: a colourful and high-quality scarf from Wolvis. Daniela, our marketing assistant, enthusiastically recommends this scarf because she longs for a scarf that stays beautiful for a long time. Thanks to its high-quality materials and vibrant colour, this scarf makes an ideal gift: it adds a cheerful touch to any outfit and offers comfort on cold days.
11. A one-of-a-kind puffer jacket by JIWYA
Recommended by Verena, Copywriter NL
A unique gift for under the tree: the one-of-a-kind Flamingo Puffer Jacket from JIWYA. Verena, our Dutch copywriter, recommends this jacket. As a traveler, she loves unique garments that reflect different cultures. The jacket combines a comfortable, soft suede-like fabric, woven using the traditional Sujani technique, a more sustainable alternative to synthetic fibers. Thanks to the deep indigo blue stripes, wooden buttons and unique design, this jacket is not only stylish and warm but also a more sustainable and unique choice for those who want to give something special.
12. A colorful tea towel from Zepig
Recommended by Christel, Marketing NL
A cheerful and more sustainable gift: a colourful tea towel from Foekje Fleur, available at Zepig. Christel, our Marketing NL colleague, recommends it because she loves colour and it’s also made from leftover yarn. By using leftover yarn, this tea towel gets a second life and reduces textile waste. At the same time, it brings colour and cheer to the kitchen: a practical, stylish and more sustainable gift.
13. A merino wool scarf from Y‑05
Recommended by Luise, Community Manager DE
What’s more wonderful than a soft, oversized scarf to keep you warm during the cold winter months? That’s why our Community Manager DE Luise has the merino wool scarf from the German yoga clothing brand Y‑05 on her wishlist. Wear it outdoors with a coat, indoors as a throw or on your yoga mat during Savasana.
14. A second-hand bag from USED
Recommended by Clara, Marketing DE
A secondhand bag might not be the first thing you think of when considering a Christmas gift, but that’s precisely what makes it such a surprising and meaningful choice. Clara from our marketing team in Germany recommends this gift because she loves unique, timeless items with character. And that’s exactly what you’ll find at the secondhand shop USED. Every bag has a story, a past and a whole life ahead of it. By choosing second-hand, you not only give a stylish and original gift but also reduce the demand for new production. Perfect for anyone who embraces quality, charm and a circular lifestyle.
A meaningful Christmas
More sustainable gifts are not only a better choice, but also a loving one. They reflect attention, care and respect for everything around us. By choosing gifts with impact this Christmas, you contribute to a more beautiful world and give something that truly means something to the recipient.
Did you receive something you didn’t want this year? With these tips, you can keep your unwanted (Christmas) gifts from gathering dust in the closet and give them a new life!
More inspiration for a more sustainable Christmas? Read on here:
- The best workshops that make a memorable Christmas gift
- Make a difference this year by giving a meaningful and more sustainable corporate gift
- A circular Christmas: swapping your not-ideal Christmas gifts
- The quest for a greener Christmas: How to find a more sustainable Christmas tree and decorations
- Elegance meets eco: Sustainable Christmas wrapping for timeless charm
- Glitter & glamour: how to find your party dress in a more sustainable way
- Magical Christmas destinations: discover the winter magic in these 9 cities in Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany
- 9x cosy Christmas destinations to visit by train
