GIVE THE GIFT OF GOOD: 11 CONSCIOUS GIFT IDEAS FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY-MINDED PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE

With the holiday season almost upon us, it’s time to whip yourself into a frenzy and start stressing out about what you’re going to give your friends and family for Christmas this year and how to keep it sustainable while you’re at it… right?

Wrong! We've come up with a list of meaningful Christmas gifts that are green, help wildlife and are kind to the environment.

Here's your eco-friendly gift guide this Christmas.

1. Help Australia’s most iconic animals by making a symbolic adoption

An animal adoption is the perfect gift for any animal lover and a great way to inspire friends and family to care for nature as much as you do. There are different animals you can choose to adopt, including native icons like the platypus, koala and turtle. Or, if you prefer to go global, there are also options to adopt tigers, pandas, penguins or snow leopards!

By making a symbolic adoption, you’ll be helping to support crucial work to bring our unique wildlife back from the brink of extinction. Help make a difference this festive season, and join us in securing the future of our iconic Australian animals.

Plus, every adoption comes with an exclusive gift pack for you to enjoy, including an adoption certificate and optional plush toy.

2. Practice mindfulness and awaken your inner child with a WWF puzzle

Relaxing and fun for all ages, this WWF puzzle is made of FSC-certified wood and features a beautiful tiger.

3. Gift an experience

A present doesn’t always have to be physical or materialistic. Find an exciting local experience for your loved ones to enjoy. 

Some ideas include an escape room, cooking class, art class or a bush culture tour. There are so many options to choose from, and many experience websites include filters to find the most sustainable providers in your area.

For those wanting to gift a once-in-a-lifetime experience, check out our partners Intrepid Travel and their trips to Antarctica. Guests aboard select 2024 voyages will join WWF scientists as they collect vital data on whales throughout the region. 

Spots are limited for 2024, so get in quick!

And don’t forget to consider DIY experiences! Committing to spend quality time with someone can make a very meaningful gift. Plan a picnic, organise a movie night or camping trip, cook a special meal for them; anything that shows you care won’t be forgotten. 

4. Brighten up the Christmas tree with decorations that make a difference

Nothing gets you in the Christmas spirit quite like decorating the tree. Now, you can add an Aussie icon to your seasonal aesthetic with this limited-edition ornament featuring the koala from our partner, Australia Post. For each decoration sold, they will donate $2 to fund our work to protect koalas and help achieve our goal of Regenerating Nature by 2030.

Find yours at your local Post office or online.

5. Send a card that supports wildlife

Our collection of hand-illustrated Wildcards features some of Australia’s most beloved wildlife. By giving a Wildcard, you’ll support WWF-Australia’s mission to protect and conserve Australia’s most vulnerable wildlife and their habitats.

6. WWF toys to inspire a love of nature in the littlest animal enthusiasts

If soft toys are more your child’s thing, check out everyone’s favourite postie marsupial, Pip the Koala. Available through Australia Post’s website and in select stores, this super cute plushie is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. What’s more, $2 from every Pip sold is donated to WWF-Australia to help protect and restore the homes of koalas in the wild.

7. Protect their eyes AND the future of marine animals

The ocean just got a lot safer - and your face is about to get a lot cooler! A pair of ReefCycle sunglasses is the perfect gift for anyone who loves helping the planet in style. In 2018, WWF-Australia removed a deadly commercial gill net from the Great Barrier Reef. With help from our partner VisionDirect this net was then recycled and turned into these super stylish sunglasses - made from 100% upcycled fishing net!

8. Clothes that give back

A Christmas gift classic - socks and jocks. Now, you can purchase the comfiest staples, knowing they’re also good for nature.

We’ve partnered with Underworks to create the Wildlife Collection, a range of fun and comfortable socks and underwear that support wildlife conservation. 5% of every pair of socks or underwear sold will go towards our efforts to Regenerate Nature and conserve threatened species, like the koala and tiger.

What’s more is all Wildlife Collection socks are made from 97% recycled fibers and boast packaging that is entirely plastic free.

9. Shop vintage or pre-loved fashion

Not all fashion is created equal when it comes to sustainability. Eliminate waste and pollution caused by fast fashion by spending your hard-earned cash on vintage clothes. Not only are they cheaper and more unique than most clothing from retailers, but they’re also easier on the environment and a small way you can contribute to reducing your (and your lucky gift recipient’s) carbon footprint. 

10. Gift items that motivate their sustainability goals

Australians throw away over 370 million plastic bottles annually. Scary, huh? Thankfully, one reusable water bottle can save hundreds of plastic ones from entering landfills every year. Besides the environmental benefits, a refillable bottle will save your friend’s wallet, too.

Same goes for reusable coffee cups, tote bags, straws and cutlery. A convenient present that’s good for the planet? What’s not to love?

11. Make a donation on behalf of a loved one (or ask someone to donate for you!)

Don’t like buying stuff? You or the person you’re buying for have a house full of things you don’t need any more?

You can still give the gift of a future for nature without cluttering up your closet by making a donation. And if you’re currently fielding the usual “What do you want for Christmas?” questions, you could even set up a WWF fundraising page and just send your family and friends the link - easy!

Or if you’re after a virtual gift that’s a little more specific, check out our range of Impact Gifts. Your donation could feed a quoll for a month, fund a motion detection camera in the wild or even help us track and protect tigers through GPS collars.