We’re so lucky to have so many brilliant sustainable brands here in Cornwall, ranging from homewares and outdoor gear to food and skincare, so whether you’re seeking a present for a wild swimmer, a coffee lover or a budding gardener, make it a Cornish-inspired Christmas this year with our guide to some of the best ethical gifts, all made here in Cornwall.
Hand-poured candles from La Luna
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a mantlepiece laden with delicious-smelling candles. Sinead from La Luna spent years perfecting the craft of candle making and now creates small batches of beautiful, hand-poured candles using soya bean plant (a renewable crop) in wonderful scents. All packaging is biodegradable or recyclable, too.
Pressed seaweed prints by the Seaweed Institute
Inspired by the Victorian craft of seaweed pressing, these gorgeous framed prints are made by Kerry and Ruth, the duo behind the Seaweed Institute project which aims to create a greater awareness of the culture and benefits of seaweed in Cornwall. They also run workshops and offer seaweed foraging and cooking gift vouchers.
Yallah Coffee bundle
Sourced from the most sustainable farms they can find and freshly roasted in a solar-powered barn outside Falmouth, Yallah Coffee is the ultimate gift for the coffee connoisseur in your life. With 100% compostable, plastic-free packaging, too, it’s eco credentials are pretty impressive. We love their Ethiopia Bundle, which includes two packets of coffee from a community that established a coffee plantation after a forest fire destroyed their livelihood.
Eco-Friendly Cornish Garden Gift Set from Organic Trevarno
Located on the beautiful Trevarno country estate in south Cornwall, Organic Trevarno is the first skincare company to gain organic certification from the Organic Farmers & Growers, the UK’s longest established organic certifying body. The ingredients in their range of skincare are as natural as possible and their impressive ethical standards make this skincare company a pioneer in its field. Their Eco Friendly Cornish Garden Gift Set includes a bamboo sponge, homemade soap and a cute notebook.
Reusable mugs from Circular & Co
This is the world’s first cup made from recycled paper cups, created by the team at Circular & Co who are on a mission to inspire and educate people about circular design — extending the life of throwaway items by creating new products from the waste materials. Crafted at their offices in Perranporth on Cornwall’s north coast, their stylish reusable cups and bottles will last ten years and are designed to be easily recycled back into a new product.
Craft gin from Loveday Distillery
Flavoured with ingredients foraged from Cornish hedgerows and shorelines, such as rock samphire, fresh gorse and camomile, Loveday Distillery creates small batch gin from their premises in south Cornwall. Established during the lockdown of 2020 by three close friends, these craft gins have already won some prestigious awards for their coastal-inspired flavours and sustainable approach to distilling.
Gardener’s Gift Set by Particle Press
Inspired by the local bird and wildlife, printmaker Fiona creates beautiful, intricate botanical illustrations from her studio in south Cornwall which are incorporated into homewares, from tea towels to aprons, bath sets and lunch bags. We love her Gardener’s Gift Set, which is a perfect present for a green-fingered friend. It comes with a gardener’s soap, scrub and brush, wildflower seed balls and handy seed collecting envelopes.
Wild Tribe Heroes books
If you have a mini eco warrior in your life, this collection of delightful children’s books educates young readers about climate change and plastic pollution in a gentle, engaging way. Dreamt up by Ellie from Looe, children will love getting to know Duffy the turtle, Buddy the orangutan and the rest of the gang through these beautifully illustrated stories.
Christmas bundles from Chocolarder
Who doesn’t love getting chocolate for Christmas? Cornwall’s only bean-to-bar chocolate makers, Chocolarder is created by former pastry chef Mark Longman, who has been committed to producing ethical, sustainable chocolate since day one. The Christmas Gift Bundle includes truffles, a tin of delicious drinking chocolate and three chocolate bars.
Recycled wool blankets from Atlantic Blankets
Designed in Cornwall, these gorgeous, recycled wool and cotton blankets are the last word in hygge. Created to be as sustainable as possible, from the material (British wool and 100% recycled cotton) down to the packaging, the company has also rejected single-use plastic packaging in favour of paper bags and tape.
A Guide to Wild Swimming in Cornwall
This is the perfect gift for that wild dipping friend who’s looking for inspiration for new swimming spots in Cornwall. Covering over 50 wild swimming locations across Cornwall, this handy guide also gives practical advice about water safety, tidal information and an in-depth coverage on the health benefits of cold water swimming. Printed at one of the most sustainable print houses in the country, the book is fully recyclable and its production has been carbon offset.
Festive gift sets from Polgoon Vineyard
This family-run vineyard and orchard produces a range of sparkling and still wine, cider and juices on their farm near Penzance on the south Cornish coast. We love their Christmas gift bundles this year, like the Chocolate Sparkles set, which includes a bottle of their award-winning 2018 Seyval Blanc Sparkling White, plus a ‘Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh’ festive bar from luxury chocolate makers Chocolarder.
Craft beer from Verdant Brewery
Established by two home-brewing friends in 2014, Verdant Brewery in Falmouth creates ethical, sustainable and vegan US-inspired hoppy, hazy pales and IPAs. Now with a team of 30, and with new brewing premises near Falmouth and an award-winning seafood bar and taproom in the centre of the town, Verdant has become one of south Cornwall’s most popular breweries. Their delicious ales are stocked all over the country.
Strand knapsack from Rooted Ocean
Designed and made by a group of talented makers in Bude, this range of sustainable outdoor gear and accessories makes the perfect present for surfers, nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. We particularly love their range of hardwearing backpacks, including the Strand Knapsack (above), a handy everyday rolltop bag which comes with a lifetime repair service.
Looking for a festive break in Cornwall this year? Have a look at our coastal holiday cottages with availability this Christmas
