It's that time of year again! As Christmas edges closer and closer, you may have already started the hunt for the perfect Christmas gift. As the world continues to grow more environmentally conscious, perhaps it's time to make the right choices when purchasing this year's gifts.  

From Cop27 to the recent announcement of the Earth Shot Prize winners, 2022 has been a year dedicated to sustainability. As the year draws to a close, let's take a look at some startups that will make your Christmas shopping experience merrier and more sustainable. 

Ocean Bottle 

Founded in 2018, this London-based startup is on a mission to end plastic pollution with their water bottles designed to last a lifetime. Made from part stainless steel to part ocean-bound recycled plastic, with each sale of these bottles, 11.4kg of plastic is collected from impoverished coastal communities where plastic pollution is at its peak. There's no doubt that these eco-friendly bottles would make the perfect conscious gift this giving season. 

Notpla

These guys were the winners of this year's EarthShot Prize in the category of ‘Build a Waste-Free World.’ Founded in 2014, this sustainable packaging startup is passionate about fighting single-use plastic. Among their eco-friendly products, you can find pipettes that can be filled with a drink of your choice (be it gin or juice) that can then be consumed in one go - the perfect secret santa gift! 

Upcircle 

If there's one gift choice you can't go wrong with this Christmas, it's a good skincare product. Upcircle is dedicated to providing top-notch skincare with an ethical twist. Founded in 2015, these guys make products from reused and repurposed natural ingredients such as brewed chai tea and coffee grounds. From cleansers to face serums to moisturisers, all of upcircle's products are made from cruelty-free, sustainable, palm-free materials that come in 100% recycable packaging. 

Gamely Games

One of the best part of Christmas time is getting to play board games with friends and family. Why not surprise someone with a game this year from this Brighton-based startup, Gamely Games. These guys develop their games in the most eco and people-friendly way possible. For each game they create, 10 trees are planted plus the company also offsets their carbon by supporting environmental projects in the developing world. 

Mindful Chef 

During the pandemic, many of us got a feel for home-cooking. Mindful chef's recipe boxes are the perfect gift for all your food-loving friends and family. Launched in London in 2015, this startup delivers ethically sourced ingredients from small UK producers and farms. These guys are also dedicated to donating healthy school meals to children in poverty. 

I hope this list has given you some festive inspiration this Yule season!  ?