Buying ethical presents

[Random63638]

I have friends and family who are stupidly hard to buy presents for so I was thinking I might as well go for fair trade/ethical gifts so at least someone benefits! I've been searching but I can't find anything that really grabs me. Is it all hippy crap? Should I just buy goats?! I'd rather get an actual item.

AIBU - fair trade is to make the giver feel better, not the receiver

AINBU - times are tough, help out if you can

Can you split the difference and buy ethically sourced gifts rather than goats etc?

Parents love to receive goats etc but I don't!

It's my personal policy to buy gifts from small independents - handmade, craft and boutique items - rather than big retailers.

Do you mean you want to get them something nice made in an ethical way, or you want to give one of the charity vouchers?

I do all shopping for Christmas gifts for my adult relatives ethically because I got sick of buying tat but have a pretty tested formula of sticking to food or useful things etc., There is plenty of very nice fair trade food e.g. olive oil, spices, nuts, tea, coffee, chocolates etc.

I extend ethical to mean things from other decent local businesses too, there's a charity for supported work nearby, plus all the more regular businesses locally (e.g. local brewed ale is an ethical product).

Basically I just don't avoid any 'unethical' presents which gives a lot more scope than sticking only to things designated as ethical.

Sorry, last sentence should read: I just don't avoid

We buy all our gifts for each other in charity shops now. Budget of £20 DS gets ethical wooden toys and organic clothes. I'm all for being ethical when shopping!

I hate the 'ethical gifts' brigade. It's usually something that the giver really likes with little thought as to whether or not the receiver will like it. A relative used to always buy us children ethical toys and we hated them, would much rather have had plastic tat from the pound shop.

OP just give them money.

@bluebadgehelp101

I hate the 'ethical gifts' brigade. It's usually something that the giver really likes with little thought as to whether or not the receiver will like it. A relative used to always buy us children ethical toys and we hated them, would much rather have had plastic tat from the pound shop.

OP just give them money.

I really struggle with climate change and the damage that plastic does to the environment. I've bought a few plastic bits but always second hand. We're just doing our bit.

That being said, when buying gifts for others, whilst always ethical, it's always thoughtful and something that they would like + homemade cake. We aren't all that bad

I've started making up lovely hampers for people who have everything - you can fill them with lovely ethically sourced oils, vinegars, coffee,chocolates, wines etc.

Try Traidcraft. Or Shared Earth. Or there are some websites like Ethical Superstore which have loads of different brands of eco/ethical items.

There are a lot of ethical gifts out there I'd be happy to receive - it's finding them! Also depends a lot on what the recipient wants.

Any foodie friend would be delighted with these:

zaytoun.org/products.html

Or it's easy to get a nice handmade soap made by fairly paid people, not wrapped in plastic instead of the usual big brand smellies.

YABU, gifts of any sort when it's clear the recipient doesn't want them is all about the giver.

If the people you're referring to are adults, they'd probably really prefer that you don't exchange gifts at all because you're trapping them in a cycle of obligation to return the 'favour' plus guilt that they don't like what you've given them and they'd rather it didn't exist so they don't have to pretend to like it, store it or take it to the charity shop.

Most adults can buy what they want, when they want, within reason, and if they can't it benefits no-one to be trapped in a cycle of pointless exchange of items that no-one wants or needs.

If you really must buy presents, just get them a token bottle of wine, box of chocs, bunch of flowers etc, fair trade versions of all these are available of course.

What about donating to a charity in their name, like the land of hope (orphanage in Africa that rescues abandoned/tortured children due to superstitious beliefs) , soy dogs (rescue dogs from meat markets in Thailand and other countries, also deliver education) or a donkey santuary. My children have asked me to do this, in lieu of a big gift for their birthdays. They already have everything they need and don't want piles of crap to store in their bedrooms.

Ohhh presents are definitely expected! I suggested secret santa to the family to take some of the stress out of it and save buying loads for people that don't want or need it, but that was rejected immediately. Birthdays, special events, Christmas all demand purchases. It's killing me, I'm not a shopper and I'm over it. Will look at the links from pp's, thanks. Food and drinks always good as I can repeat and repeat and repeat.

I have started to buy fair trad gifts... mine are usually perishable like coffee or tea selections for adults. I really think a small token gift is sufficient for adults.

Buy lots of little glass milk bottles from Hobbycraft. Add a bit of ribbon or string around the top. Attach a small, classy gift card. Buy one bunch of roses or similar and one bunch of gypsophilia. Cut them to fit and arrange them in the bottles. You will have lots of flowers left over for yourself! 3 bottles is a lovely gift and more is even better. This is relatively cheap, a pretty gift and the bottles can be used again by the receiver. Sorted!

When in doubt, go with the goat OP.

I sort of feel like the goat is a veiled "f*ck you" when someone didn't request it! Definitely an option for some family members. I'd like to find nice homewares or something that people would cherish.

Wow bluebadge... bitter much😅

I’d do food items from Traidcraft as long as you know they like the said items. A gift is supposed to bring joy to a person.

I’d never gift a goat or similar. If you want to give to charity then do so, don’t try and pretend it’s a gift for someone though.

What about donating to a charity in their name, like the land of hope (orphanage in Africa that rescues abandoned/tortured children due to superstitious beliefs) , soy dogs (rescue dogs from meat markets in Thailand and other countries, also deliver education) or a donkey santuary. My children have asked me to do this, in lieu of a big gift for their birthdays.,
That is fine where people have specifically asked for it, but otherwise it is not a present for the recipient, but something that just makes the giver feel better.

If you want to give to charity then do so, don’t try and pretend it’s a gift for someone though.
This.

I quite like it when people give me an item that’s a charitable donation; I’m certainly not so much of a dick that I’d ‘hate’ them or ‘prefer plastic tat’.

If the people you know are dicks like some of the PPs then by all means avoid anything charity related. Experience gifts are good too - tickets to an event or gift vouchers for a restaurant that’s to their taste.

It’s not all goats

These little silver star studs www.wearthlondon.com/eco-silver-earrings/little-star-earrings don’t shriek ‘worthy’ but they’re made from recycled silver in the U.K.

A nice candle www.wearthlondon.com/natural-organic-home-fragrance/natural-soy-wax- that just happens to be UK made and gives contributes to charities.

Plastic toys that are actually recycled plastic toys, using old plastic milk bottles
www.greentoys.co.uk/catalog/product/view/id/2441/s/tugboat-blue/

www.wearthlondon.com/natural-organic-home-fragrance/natural-soy-wax-candle

Candle

And if you buy other people rugs they might start a thread on here about you imposing your taste on them but these lovely blankets (and everything else) are made of recycled plastic

www.weavergreen.com/collections/new

@AuntyPasta I like those blankets!

I had my eye on very similar wool ones but never got round to buying them. I think I’ll go for one of these instead.