Fair trade, ethical gifts

When searching for gifts for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and other special occasions it can be hard to find something unique and truly meaningful.

Fair trade, ethical gifts are becoming more popular than ever with a vast range to choose from. Instead of burdening family and friends with unwanted, everyday gifts why not surprise them with a genuine and heartfelt offering? There is a vast range of gifts ranging from help for impoverished families in the third world to support for fair trade producers working their way out of poverty.

Remember, every gift you buy from below helps to promote fair trade and contributes towards protecting the environment.

"Will urban sprawl spread so far that most people lose all touch with nature?  Will the day come when the only bird a typical American child ever sees is a canary in a pet shop window?  When the only wild animal he knows is a rat - glimpsed on a night drive through some city slum?  When the only tree he touches is the cleverly fabricated plastic evergreen that shades his gifts on Christmas morning?" - Frank N. Ikard, North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, Houston, March 1968

			Send a Cow helps some of the poorest families in Africa by providing training in sustainable farming and resources such as livestock, seeds and trees. All families helped by Send a Cow pass on an offspring of their animal to another family, so more and more families are getting milk to drink, crops to eat, and money to pay for schooling.
			Hubcap Creatures is a one-man operation that makes three-dimensional natural forms, usually marine and animal life, out of recycled, abandoned or donated items. As decorative sculptural objects, their intention in the world is to entertain, but more importantly it's to inform about the importance of recycling, the possibilities of re-using and hopefully the re-definition of what we think we know about the nature of value. http://hubcapcreatures.com/
			Wondering what to get your grandparents, best friend, cousin or brother-in-law? By choosing a World Vision Alternative Gift, you can bring a smile to more than one person. Your friend or family member will have the fun of opening their personalised card and discovering their gift, and a family living in poverty in the developing world will receive their life-changing gift.
			This Fair Earth believes that handmade, ethical products can be more desirable, more individual and higher quality than their mass-produced counterparts. This Fair Earth has a fantastic range of ethical homeware and ethical jewellery. The homeware includes striking, fair trade and environmentally-friendly photo albums, photo frames, journals and candles. The beautiful range of jewellery is either fairly traded from small producers in developing nations or hand made closer to home in the UK. www.thisfairearth.com
			If you are looking for unusual gift ideas then quirky shop Daisy Daisy is just the place. The shop is bursting with fabulous fair trade goodies including handmade jewellery and accessories, hand painted ceramics, wooden toys, fair trade organic cotton kids clothes, handmade homewares and organic skin care. Daisy Daisy is proud to be a member of the British Association for Fair Trade Shops. All of their products are carefully chosen for their quirky style and must meet at least one of the following criteria: ·     Fair trade ·     Ethical ·     Recycled ·     Organic ·     Handmade ·     Natural Daisy Daisy only select things that they love and hope you'll love them too! www.daisydaisyethicalgifts.co.uk
			Tree2mydoor is a unique gift company that specialises in sending personalised trees as gifts to people all over the UK and Ireland. They have created special tree gift packs for newborn baby gifts, green wedding gifts and 4th, 5th and 25th wedding anniversary gifts. Tree gifts range from native UK tree species to garden fruit trees and indoor citrus trees. Send a tree as a gift today from www.tree2mydoor.com
			Wishcraft has carefully selected the most unusual and beautifully handcrafted gift ideas from around the world. Every striking piece in Wishcraft’s collection is ethically sourced and individually created by master artisans. They offer a huge range of beautiful handcrafts and fashion accessories created under fair trade conditions. Their collection includes contemporary silk bags, traditional hand embroidered soft furnishings and colourful children’s items. See their full range of fabulous Fair Trade handcraft at www.wishcraft.eu
			Karma Gifts New Age and Spiritual Gifts online. They have a selection of Fair Trade gifts and jewellery and natural and eco friendly products. They have a beautiful selection of natural, hand rolled incense and Fragranced Gift Sets. Karma Gifts also sell paraffin free, soy and vegetable wax natural candles, Fair Trade Buddhas and mala beads and a range of eco friendly jute bags. www.karmagifts.co.uk
			Nkuku specialise in eco friendly, fair trade gifts and home accessories. They combine contemporary designs with age old techniques, natural materials and sustainable methods of production. Nkuku is socially responsible and is built on the principles of fair trade and equal opportunity. They are a member of WFTO (World Fair Trade Organisation) and BAFTS. www.nkuku.com
			THE FAIR TRADE STORE is an Online Shop bringing you Fair Trade products from around the developing world in an easy, convenient and secure way. Select from a wide range including Funky handbags, Ethnic Jewellery, Recycled Fashion Accessories and unique Fair Trade Gifts. THE FAIR TRADE STORE  buys directly from UK importers registered with BAFTS (The British Association for Fair Trade Shops), who have close working relationships with the producers, ensuring that Fair Trade benefits are passed on to the actual producers and their communities in the developing world. www.thefairtradestore.co.uk
			UNSCENTED, VEGAN, CLEAN-BURNING 100% NATURAL SOY WAX CANDLES. Hapi Bean Soy Candles is a small ethical business based in Hertfordshire hand-pouring candles for wholesalers and individuals alike. Whether you are planning a celebration, looking for an alternative handmade gift, or enjoy burning candles at home, unscented 100% soy is the way to go. Unlike paraffin candles, Hapi Bean Soy Candles don’t release soot or chemicals into your environment…or into your lungs! These beautiful handmade candles are free from GM products, herbicides and pesticides. The soy wax comes from sustainable sources and not from rainforest land. A sample tealight can be posted out upon request. www.hapibean.co.uk
			The Travelling Souk was set up in 2003 by Georgiana Grimston and Anna Craven. Inspired by a trip to the magical souks & markets of Marrakesh, Georgiana realised there was an opportunity to re-create them in the heart of British homes and raise money for charity. Each Travelling Souk event would become a unique private sale bringing together small businesses selling unique and exotic wares. www.thetravellingsouk.com/acatalog/Eco_Souk.html
			Treemendous cards: a brand new concept in greeting cards. The greeting that grows! A greeting card that contains a living tree. Grown from seed and from sustainable forests, the trees are ready for planting. The card itself is made using recycled board and printed using vegetable inks. A unique concept in greeting cards with 24 different designs for every occasion. The card comes with a presentation sleeve ready for posting. The trees can be grown into fully mature trees or potted for bonsai or deck plants. Truly a greeting that will be remembered. An eco-conscious choice for this Season and every other occasion. www.treemendouscards.co.uk
			Concern Gifts enables people to buy fun and quirky presents for their friends and family that will also help someone living in poverty. With over 20 gifts to choose from, there’s something for everyone this Christmas – from adorable piglets and donkeys to vital school supplies and emergency food.
			The Eden Project is a global garden; a place of beauty and wonder which explores humankind’s dependence on the natural world. Their world famous architecture and art draws inspiration from nature, their educational work is about creating positive futures in the face of radical change, and they try to ensure that everyone who visits here leaves knowing something more about their connections to the world.
			The new gift range, ‘fou for you’ at Fou Furnishings ® features eco-luxurious, original gifts for all the family from organic and designer makers. Choose from their luxurious organic gifts sets or skin care for her or him for pure and natural pampering, handmade natural wax candles, lavender hearts filled with Cotswold lavender or beautiful, unique stationary. For girls, super-sized bobbles, recycled coloured pencils, or a beautifully embroidered jewellery wrap and bag make a perfect gift for all ages, crafted from palest pink recycled lambswool. So, for the perfectly different gift, visit www.foufurnishings.com/shop/categories/fou4you-gifts/
			Woodland Friends is dedicated to recreating native woodland in the UK by turning redundant agricultural land into new, thriving woodland. A variety of sponsorship options are available starting from just £7. You can plant a tree to commemorate a birth, marriage, birthday, anniversary or to help offset your carbon footprint. Only native British trees are planted and sponsors are welcome to visit the site to see their tree and the progress of the woodland. www.woodlandfriends.co.uk
			The Million Tree Campaign brand, established by sponsortrees.com helps businesses and individuals plant trees as gifts. They cost a little but do a lot! All trees are planted in developing countries, greatly benefiting our global environment and the local communities. Businesses can customise their own certificates, and there is a range available to buy online. Visit their site for more details…   GREAT GIFT IDEA Thoughtful, Caring, Lasting, Sharing www.sponsortrees.com
			The Exotic Paper Company produces 100% recycled paper and paper products like stationery sets, jotters, journals, sketch pads and shopping lists all with the inclusion of elephant, reindeer or rhino poo. They also have a range of handmade and plantable papers as well as poo planters (grow kits with a difference!). They make unique and unusual gifts and their paper provides an innovative and ethical way of printing letters, invitations, menus, etc. Their products help support people and animals as well as helping to sustain the environment. www.elliepoopaper.co.uk
			Visit Pure Design's online gallery and be amazed by their range of beautiful designer eco accessories for you and your home. Made in the UK by award-winning designers, their range of organic, recycled and sustainable accessories are all available to order online. They also offer a consultancy and commissioning service; whether you are decorating a new home or simply looking for a centre piece to refresh a room or outfit, let Pure Design help you find an exclusive design piece just for you. www.puredesigncompany.co.uk
			Late Late Gifts helps last minute gift-givers find perfect presents and get them delivered pronto - including eco & green gifts. They cover 270+ online shops that offer next day delivery,  same day delivery and instant delivery gifts. http://latelategifts.co.uk/next-day-delivery/ethical/
			The British Christmas Tree Growers Association insists on growers within its membership comply with its Code of Practice on the environmental and sustainable cultivation of trees for sale. As a natural product the Christmas tree absorbs carbons and particulates and provides oxygen ad wildlife cover during its 10 years of growth. After use the tree can be and is recycled as mulch, footpaths and bridlepaths, river and sand dune protection and fish habitats. www.bctga.co.uk
			TreeTwist exists to make it easy and fun for you to plant a tree and make a positive contribution towards our environment. If you give the gift of a tree, they will plant it in collaboration with Trees for Life in the Caledonian Forest in the North West Highlands of Scotland. It will grow for the rest of your life. To acknowledge your commitment, they will send you a TreeTwist.
			More Than Gifts specialises in quality handcrafted gifts sourced from Fair Trade producers and small village communities.
			Butterfly Treasures. Goods of quality & beauty in personal accessories, jewellery, home ware and children's items. The goods, art and crafts come from all over the world and represent small co-operatives, art workshops, individual craft workers and artisans from Vietnam, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Kenya, Zambia, Mongolia, Philippines and and others. These goods are fairly traded.
			Only Fair want to make fair trade accessible to everyone. They offer a range of fairly traded goods from around the world.
			By Nature offers a fantastic selection of organic and ethical gifts. Green living in style ... no compromise.
			Revolution – Fair Trade that doesn’t cost the earth. A wide range of fair trade gifts. They also stock Remarkable recycled stationery and Ecover cleaning products.
	Other useful gift providers Fairwind is about gifts and fair trade. They pride themselves on great customer service and on being kind to the planet. They offer a high quality range of the most desirable fair trade gifts from across the globe, safe in the knowledge that nobody in the third world is being disadvantaged, and the environment is not being harmed. Greener Style aims to help people have a stylish and sophisticated home while also being in balance with the environment. Green Apple stock a wide and varied range of eco-friendly and ethically sourced products, from chicken doorstops made from vintage fabric and jewellery made from recycled biscuit tins to organic clothing and toiletries and plenty more besides! Orchid Trading Supporting fair trade across the globe by offering high quality musical instruments, arts and crafts at affordable prices. All of their products are produced from natural materials and sourced in an ethical manner. Registered BAFTS importers. Siesta Global Fairtrade Crafts Recognised Fair Trade suppliers of ethnic Gifts, Musical Instruments, Buddhist Items and Clothes from around the world. Retail and Wholesale welcome. The Organic Hamper Company Specialists in luxury organic food and gift hampers. Beautiful hand-packed gift hampers filled with the best organic and fair-trade products.