It is impossible to avoid consumerism at this time of year. From the start of the “Black Friday" sales in the weeks leading up to Christmas, it is easy to fall into the trap of panic buying and overspending.

And what makes finding the perfect gift for friends and family feel more challenging this year is that though there is a wealth of ideas in the stores, our fragile economy and increasing living costs are forcing many of us to tighten our belts. Furthermore, we have our environmental conscience to consider, which can make finding a balance between protecting the planet and our wallets a real conundrum.

Balancing our wallet with our environmental conscience isn’t always that easy

Fortunately, there are many ways to help protect the environment this Christmas such as buying local and supporting small businesses, purchasing a tree with its root ball, or using linen furoshiki for gift wrapping. But though these ideas are a good start to a more "mindful" approach, there are also some amazing eco-friendly gifts that are certain to put a smile on the faces of new homeowners.

What determines an eco-friendly gift?

“A truly eco-friendly product is sustainable for its entire lifecycle–from the materials and the manufacturing process to the packaging, and ultimately to the disposal of the product,” Micaela Preston, founder of Mindful Momma tells Womenshealthmag.com.

We think the following 15 eco-friendly gifts are perfect for environmentally-conscious homeowners, and the best part is they won’t break the bank either:

1. House plant, Vertical Plant Frame or an Aerogarden - Veggie and herb gardens came out as one of our top outdoor trends this year, and they work well in a vertical plant frame in smaller properties. A little-known fact about gifting plants is that the overproduction of some can actually be harmful to the environment, so the best type to gift is a cutting or one that purifies the air such as the Spider Plant. Obviously, larger plants create shade which also reduces the need for air conditioning. One way to grow veggies and herbs indoors is an AeroGarden and we found a great selection of these on eBay, including this one for around $80.
2. Kitchen Compost Bin – All of these bins from Kitchen Warehouse are stylish and will do the job for around $50.
3. Bookends - A pair of stylish bookends with a couple of second-hand books about how to live minimally and sustainably between them makes the perfect gift. Matt Blatt offers an interesting selection from $50 upwards.
4. Make or bake something – If you’re a secret master in the kitchen, check out these great baking ideas from Delicious. And for the crafters amongst you, look no further than these amazing suggestions from Good Housekeeping.
5. Cutting or Serving Board – We love our cheese boards in Australia and some of us are even taking the plunge with the new butter board trend. There’s absolutely no way your friends won’t love either these eco-friendly bamboo boards from House or a personalised one from Hardtofind.
6. Set of Refillable Glass Spray Bottles – For a practical idea that is stylish as well, we love these bottles from Howards Storage World for storing cleaning products.
7. Cast-iron cookware - When your cookware lasts longer, it is better for the environment and these bad boys last forever if you look after them. Fortunately, they have also come down in price since a certain french company monopolised the market so check out the recommendations from Taste for a dish that suits your budget.
8. Weighted Blanket – There is now a stunning range of bamboo blankets for those mindful homeowners who not only care about the environment but their mental health too. Check out this gorgeous one from Ecosa for $176.
9. Customised house number sign – For a bit of fun, Etsy offers a huge range of creatively-designed metal house numbers that will last forever.
10. An Experience – This is the perfect gift idea for eco-warriors and could be anything from a gift card for a local restaurant to a painting class or a flight in a hot air balloon. Looking for inspiration in Australia? Start with Red Balloon.
11. Board Games – Help your mates cut down on their screen time and power bills with a new board game. You can’t go far wrong with a themed Monopoly set like this Australian edition I bought from Big W recently for $29 for my backpacking niece from the UK.
12. Wine and Serving Picnic Board – These Flinders bamboo serving boards from Yellow Octopus are a steal at around $60 and eliminate the risk of spilling any of your Champagne at your Christmas picnic.
13. Wooden Bath Caddy – This Retreat Natural Bath Caddy from Adairs is made from bamboo and is simple and modern in design. With a price tag of less than $50, it is the perfect way for your mates to unwind after unpacking.
14. Herb Keeper – I was that person who bought herbs, used them for one recipe and then forgot about them until they turned into congealed slime at the bottom of my fridge. I have now discovered the solution to longevity: storing them in a Tupperware with some wet paper towel around the roots. But for something slightly more stylish, buy this herb keeper which also maintains the correct humidity to ensure herbs stay fresh for longer. Check out this one for $44.99 from Robins Kitchen.
15. Candles – These get a bad rap because they are the go-to gift for people who are too busy to shop or be creative. But seriously…who doesn’t like a scented candle? Choose a soy or beeswax candle and make sure it comes with as little packaging as possible – in a jar is ideal because then it can be reused. The Ptolemy Aromatique candle from Aesop – although a bit exxy at $135 – is made from vegan-friendly ingredients.

If you must spend, spend “mindfully”

So there you have it! Sustainability is one of the top interior design trends for 2023, so we’ve taken some of the legwork out of sourcing the perfect Christmas gift for new homeowners who are passionate about protecting our environment. We are also aware, however, that buying and selling aren't easy over Christmas, so if you have friends or family members who are still struggling to secure their dream home, tell them about the many benefits of buying off-market and the services we offer at Listing Loop - advice that may turn out to be their best gift this Christmas.