Best sustainable gifts for foodies

In need of even more inspiration? Check out our classic Christmas gift guide, best beers gifts and best gifts for cheese lovers, or try our stocking fillers gift guide for ideas under £10.

If you fancy making your own presents this year, look at our guide to edible Christmas gifts featuring recipes like our vegan hot pepper jelly, umami miso caramels and even a recipe for homemade dog treats.

Under £15

Box of chocolate turtles, £6, Chococo

These Venezuelan single-origin milk chocolate turtles (in 100% plastic-free, recyclable packaging) help real turtles, too: 30p from every box goes to the Ocean Giants Programme to support conservation work for marine species.

• Available from Chococo, £6

Flur coasters set, £14 (set of two), thirteen-thirtyone.com

Colourful and functional, these bright coasters are handmade in the UK from non-toxic eco-resin. Take your pick from five bold colours (we love the golden Apricot), each with a protective cork base.

• Available from Thirteen Thirty One, £14

Vintage apple recycled foldaway shopper bag, £5.95, Rex London

No more single-use plastic bags – this cheery tote made from recycled materials folds into a small pouch for stashing in handbags and pockets.

• Available from Rex London, £5.95

Candy cane metal straws, £10 (set of eight), iamfy.co

Add extra festive cheer to Christmas cocktails with these vivid candy-striped metal straws – a simple stocking filler.

• Available from Fy!, £10

Forage calendar poster print, £12, Driftwood Designs

Foraging fans can track what to look out for throughout the year with this illustrated poster, from elderflowers in June to sloes in November.

• Available from Driftwood Designs, £12

Pure honey with Italian truffle, £8.75, The London Honey Company

Supporting British bees, this light acacia honey is infused with luxurious shavings of expertly sourced black Italian truffle.

• Available from The London Honey Company, £8.75

Forest folk bamboo lunch box, £15, Sass and Belle

Kids and commuters alike will love this bamboo box, with a colourful floral trim and pastel pink band to seal, for transporting packed lunches in style.

• Available from Sass and Belle, £15

Nutcracker brownies, £13.95, Exploding Bakery

Richly chocolatey and packed with nuts, citrus and spice, these brownies come beautifully packaged on a recyclable tray and make a decadent letterbox gift for anyone you can’t visit this year. Alternatively, browse olive's guide to best chocolate experiences in the UK to give a chocolate lover an immersive gift in the world of all things cacao.

• Available from Exploding Bakery, £13.95

Green scallop nibble bowl, £8, Dobbies

Perfect for filling with dips, nuts or chocolates, this glossy stoneware bowl is made using zero-waste production methods, ensuring all excess clay and glazes are recycled and reused.

• Available from Dobbies, £8

Olive wood cheese grater, from £11.40, Seggiano

Stylish enough to bring to the table, this chunky olive wood box grater is available in three different sizes — the smaller size is perfect for grating nutmeg or lemon zest, whilst the larger styles are handy for parmesan. To make a gift set, check out our guide to the best sustainable kitchenware.

• Available from Seggiano, from £11.40

Under £50

LIGA Beach Clean placemats, £22 (set of four), Liga

Made from natural, sustainably harvested cork and recycled plastics saved from the oceans, each of these distinctive placemats has a unique pattern.

• Available from Liga, Not on the High Street, Trouva (all £22)

The Botanist gin and herb planter gift pack, £45, The Botanist

For the keen gardener who might be lacking in space: this clever gift set not only contains a bottle of The Botanist dry gin, but the packaging can be turned into a windowsill herb planter so you can grow the perfect g&t garnish. Looking for more gin gifts? Here is our best gin gifts for gin lovers.

• Available from The Botanist, £45

Recycled chunky green glass jug, £30, Spicer and Wood

This elegant water carafe is made from recycled glass, with a natural bubble tint and ridged finish for grip.

• Available from Spicer and Wood, £30

Oil and vinegar dispenser, £19, Liga

Available in cream or dark grey, this stoneware and cork easy-pouring dispenser is a stylish way to store oil or balsamic.

• Available from Liga, £19

Pasquale’s Peppers gift set, £27, Pasquales Peppers

These fiery marinated peppers come highly recommended by our cookery team. The plastic-free gift set contains two jars plus a handmade ceramic serving bowl, ready for aperitivo hour.

• Available from Pasquales Peppers, £27

Chilli and lemon gift set, £17.99, Dorset Sea Salt C0.

Harvested by hand in Dorset and produced using renewable energy, this small-batch salt gift set packs a flavour punch as a finishing touch: we love the lemon and thyme salt on roast chicken.

• Available from Dorset Sea Salt Co., £17.99

Kiss the Hippo coffee pods, £16 (30 pack), kissthehippo.com

Ditch the disposable pods for a box of these compostable, plastic-free, carbon-negative coffee pods (compatible with Nespresso machines) for an eco-friendly caffeine hit. Highlighting products from £15, there are more coffee gifts on our best gifts for coffee lovers or check out our compilation of coffee gadgets and accessories.

• Available from Kiss The Hippo, £16

Stoneground flour mixed box, £16.80, Matthews Cotswolds Flour

For anyone who got into sourdough this year, this box of flours will keep the baking buzz alive. The five blends of ancient and heritage grains are sustainably farmed and traditionally milled, and even come with recipe cards.

• Available from Matthews Cotswolds Flour, £16.80

Libbi enamel platter, £24, Rowen and Wren

Handmade from natural materials in Turkey, this striking lightweight platter is perfect for picnics and al fresco dining in summer (no more plastic plates), yet pretty enough to use all year round.

• Available from Rowen and Wren, £24

SoleCup, from £16, SoleCup

Say goodbye to disposable cups. As well as being made from biodegradable, ethically produced materials, all packaging is plastic-free and recyclable, and deliveries are carbon-offset.

• Available from SoleCup, from £16

Under £50

Dry gin, £39 (70cl), Cooper King Distillery

A carbon-negative gin, this top-quality spirit is hand-distilled using 100% renewable energy. Every bottle removes 1kg more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it emits, and plants a square metre of native UK woodland. Plus, the striking bottle makes it ideal for gifting.

• Available from Cooper King Distillery, £39

Sustainable foodie gift box, £48, Social Stories Club

This hamper is packed with independent brands on positive missions: from crisps and chilli relish that combat food waste, to biscuits made with renewable energy and chocolate that donates to reforestation projects. Find more foodie hamper inspiration in our list of best foodie hampers.

• Available from Social Stories Club, £48

Scallop concrete tray, £40, Smith and Goat

We love the contrast between the rustic, natural concrete material and the dainty scalloped design on this sturdy tray. There are six contemporary colourways to choose from – we love this peach and navy.

• Available from Smith and Goat, £40

One Thousand and One Nights spice chest, £45, Gunpowder Spices

This treasure chest will keep keen cooks busy. The blends are ground by hand in London and refills are available in recycled paper bags, so you can keep the glass jars fully stocked. This chest takes you on a global spice tour including Turkish sumac, North African rose harissa and organic Indian nigella seeds.

• Available from Gunpowder Spices, £45

Wacaco Minipresso GR, £46.90, Wacaco

What to get the coffee lover who has everything? This portable espresso maker is operated by hand, with a manual pump that produces a single espresso complete with thick crema while on the go. Read our full review of the Wacaco Minipresso for everything you need to know.

• Available from Wacaco (£46.90), Selfridges (£50), Amazon (£55.90)

Herb by Mark Diacono, plus seed collection box, £35, otterfarm.co.uk

Anyone with a garden, balcony or window box can grow their own: Herb is packed with recipes and a growing guide, and this edition comes with 10 seed packets to get started, including basil, coriander, dill and parsley.

• Available from Otter Farm, £35

Olive wood pestle and mortar, £31.50, Crabtree and Evelyn

This chunky set is hand-carved in Kefalonia, where the olive tree is used for more than just oil. Plus, 5% of profits from the collection go to Pnoi Agapis, a Greek art therapy charity for families affected by life-limiting illnesses.

• Available from Crabtree and Evelyn, £31.50

Sicilian sweet nut spread gift set, £29.13, Strazzanti

Give this trio gift set of luxuriously creamy pistachio, hazelnut and almond spreads. All spreads are made with nuts produced through sustainable dry farming (naturally irrigated) – the pistachios are harvested every two years to let the trees grow and heal.

• Available from Strazzanti, £29.13

Rifle Paper Co x Corkcicle Canteen, £40, Auteur Limited

Swap plastic bottles for this pretty floral stainless steel one. It’s triple-insulated, keeping drinks cold for 25 hours or hot for 12.

• Available from Auteur Limited, £40

Over £50

LOVEBOX No 5, £55, Platform Shop

Support a range of independent Kentish homeware producers with this pastel pink gift box (packaged in recycled wrapping), filled with coasters, candles and mugs. Perfect for any new homeowners.

• Available from Platform Shop, £55

The Always Pan, £125, Our Place

The pan taking Instagram by storm lives up to the hype. Made from responsible materials in ethical factories, this pan has an unbeatable non-stick coating and is thoughtfully designed to be multi-use – fry, steam or boil in one. Choose from nine colours, from pale lilac to fiery 'heat' red.

• Available from Our Place, £125

The Piccadilly hamper, £100, Paxton and Whitfield

Give a cheese connoisseur a tour of British cheeses while supporting small producers with this lavish hamper. It’s packed with five different cheeses, plus chutneys, crackers and more, all in a traditional wooden box.

• Available from Paxton and Whitfield, £100

Leiths School of Food and Wine short courses, prices vary, Leiths

Choose from more than 450 classes to gift with an apron on Christmas. From ‘Pickles and kimchi’ to a two-day sourdough masterclass, there’s something for everyone.

• Available from Leiths, prices vary

Three-month Brewgooder subscription, £60 (12 cans monthly), Brewgooder

For every can of these B-corp certified brews – choose from lager, session IPA or pale ale – Brewgooder ensures that 100 times that amount is provided in clean water globally. Read our full review of the Brewgooder beer subscription here.

• Available from Brewgooder, £60 for 3 months

Petersham Nurseries rose bellini hamper, £98, Petersham Nurseries

For a taste of luxury, this plastic-free hamper contains a bottle of prosecco, rose syrup, crystallised rose petals and two crystal glasses to serve the perfect rose bellini.

• Available from Petersham Nurseries, £98

Mayflower non-stick ceramic set, £130, GreenPan

With a Scandinavian look and feel, this GreenPan Mayflower set includes a casserole dish, steamer and ladles. The pans are made with GreenPan’s signature non-toxic, non-stick coating based on natural materials.

• Available from GreenPan, £130

MySoda carbonator, from £52.80, Finnish Design Shop

This sparkling water maker is an eco-friendly gadget: it saves on plastic bottles, and the Finnish-designed machine is made from a biocomposite of nearly 100% renewable raw materials. Plus, it requires no electricity.

• Available from Finnish Design Shop, from £52.80

Recycled glass dome, £70, Nkuku

Whether used as a cheeseboard or cake stand, this versatile glass dome and board set makes an impact in the kitchen. It’s also made from recycled glass and sustainable mango wood.

• Available from Nkuku, £70