Celebrating with family and friends is one of life’s great joys, and moving into a new home is definitely something to celebrate. To help make your loved ones’ new house or flat feel like home, it’s lovely to give a gift, and it’s even better if that gift is sustainable.
The best sustainable housewarming gifts are those that have little to no impact on the environment, are going to be used and adored for years to come, and (if they do eventually need to be disposed of) are made from biodegradable materials.
When shopping for a sustainable housewarming gift it’s also important to think about where the product is coming from, and whether the companies involved are transparent with their processes, for example, here at Karakorum, we are dedicated to sustainable practices and ethical sourcing, and you can learn more on our about page.
We want to help you bring warmth and beauty to your loved one’s new home while preserving our planet’s precious resources, so here are our favourite sustainable housewarming gift ideas.
1. Give a practical & beautiful storage solution
Something that is often a welcome new home gift is storage, especially for those moving out on their own for the first time who might not have a big collection of furniture and other household items.
And you don’t have to choose between practical or beautiful – we have some gorgeous storage baskets, hand-woven by our artisans who are always paid a fair wage.
Small wishing baskets with lids made in Uganda are great for little items, while our Uduseke Storage Baskets are made in Rwanda and come in 3 sizes, big enough to store slightly bigger items like blankets and throws.
2. Warm up a new home with a cosy blanket gift
Speaking of blankets and throws – you can never have too many in a home. They’re great for adding colour and texture to a room, as well as for much-needed warmth during the winter months.
Buying a blanket or throw made of sustainable materials is key here, and we have a few beautiful recycled cotton throws available in our online shop for under £30, including this Chevron Recycled Cotton Throw (£24) which comes in 6 gorgeous colours.
Alternatively, browse car boot sales for a cosy blanket bargain and keep your eyes peeled in the textiles section of your local charity shops. If there are none local to you, many charities have online shops now too, such as Oxfam online.
Buying recycled or second hand is really sustainable, as you’re keeping items out of landfill and not creating added demand for new materials.
3. A sustainable piece of art for their new home
Giving the gift of a piece of art can be risky – what if the recipient doesn’t like it, or it doesn’t fit in their new home?
You could take some of the risk out by giving them something personal and sentimental. If you have a creative streak, making them an arty gift out of items you already have could be a really affordable and eco-friendly way to give a new home gift.
You could find out if any local artists have affordable prints available, or search your local charity shops for second hand artworks – at the very least they’ll definitely have some frames that you could pop a print in.
You can also find sustainable art online. We love this Black Jug print by Noama (£25), which is printed to order in London (to reduce waste) onto eco-friendly bamboo paper.
4. A sustainable cookbook for an eco-friendly new home gift
Cookbooks are lovely things to give as a new home gift, as they’re beautiful objects to have, filled with gorgeous photos and great dinner ideas that’ll make your mouth water.
One Pot, Pan, Planet by Anna Jones (£28) is exactly that, but with an added bonus – not only are the recipes quick and delicious, but the entire book has a sustainable angle.
Anna encourages us to cook more mindfully, sharing information about how to make small changes in our meal planning, food shopping and food waste for a greener life.
5. Give sustainable, long-lasting kitchenware as a gift
Useful kitchen items are a great housewarming gift, especially if it’s for someone who’s moving out on their own for the first time, as it can be difficult for one person to buy everything they need.
Make sure to go for eco-friendly kitchenware that will stand the test of time, and will not need to be frequently replaced (not very sustainable).
We love this beautiful Eco Brush Cleaning Set from Planet Friendly Living (£22), and these Beach Clean Placemats from Protect The Planet (£22.99), that are made out of plastic waste washed up on UK beaches.
There are also always lovely kitchen and dining items to be found in charity shops, vintage shops and car boot sales too – it’s worth having a look, as you could find a real sustainable bargain.
6. Bestow a tasty Fairtrade housewarming gift
Giving a consumable housewarming gift is always a great idea, as your loved one might not have had a chance to stock the cupboards in their new home yet. Make it an even lovelier gift by ensuring the tasty treats are Fairtrade certified.
“The Fairtrade certification is given by the accredited third-party auditor, FLOCERT, and generally refers to food products. It ensures that workers’ rights are met, people have safer working conditions and receive fairer pay.”
If you’d like to learn more about the difference between Fairtrade and Fair Trade, have a read of our other blog post, Ethical small business: implementing the 10 Fair Trade principles at Karakorum.
It’s important to create balance between nature and humans, to both support future generations and preserve the earth and natural resources.
How about a Yumbles Fairtrade Chocolate Hamper (£29.95) or an African chilli sauce set from Black Mamba (£15), who support and uplift small-scale local growers who embrace regenerative farming methods.
7. Give the ultimate green housewarming gift – a houseplant
A houseplant can be a really sustainable and affordable new home gift, especially if you already have houseplants that you can propagate. Pilea Peperomioides is known as a friendship plant or pass-it-along plant due it being super easy to propagate and give to loved ones.
Pop a plant in one of our Black Soapstone Plant Pots (£20) and you’ll have an ideal ethical and sustainable housewarming gift.
As an added bonus, we found that houseplant aficionados Greenrooms Market have written a really lovely blog post with tips on looking after your houseplants sustainably, so that you can continue being good to our environment.
8. Let them buy their own perfect gift for their new home
When you’re feeling really unsure and don’t want to buy a housewarming gift that your loved one might not like or use, a safe bet is a gift card or voucher, so they can buy something that they’ll really love and hopefully use for years.
Most shops have one available, including us! You can get a Karakorum gift card for £10 or £25 to keep it under budget, or more if you’re feeling extra generous.
Have a browse of the Karakorum online shop for more ethically sourced homeware inspiration from around the globe.
Whatever you decide to buy for your loved one as a housewarming gift, keep in mind its origins, and how it will be used. Sustainability is important for every one of us, as well as the planet.
And finally, we wish your loved one all the best and lots of happiness in their new home!
