It’s Black Friday this week and with all the extra demand comes a toll on the environment as delivery companies overextend themselves and unsustainable companies continue their damaging practices. Not to mention the impact this has on small businesses who are following their passions and supporting our communities.
You can vote with your spending this season for a future you’d like to see. Many of the small businesses who choose to build their websites with us are working for the betterment of our planet and their communities. Every day we see small business owners who are supporting charities close to their hearts, putting the environment first in the things that they do and innovating new ideas that bring people together, work to create social change and make a difference.
For Black Friday this year we've put together a list of brilliant independent businesses who design, source and stock a range of unique and beautiful items that will help you get those special gifts for loved ones while also supporting inspiring visions, conscious practices and ethical endeavours. You can find out more about them and their wonderful products below.
Vicky creates beautiful fine jewellery inspired by nature while going above and beyond to make sure she’s working with responsible suppliers who trace the journey of the materials she uses. Sustainability is meticulously built into each step of the production of her items.
If you’re looking for an inspired piece of jewellery for the person who loves nature and sparkle in your life, you’re guaranteed to find something gorgeous for them at Vicky Callender Jewellery.
"I continue in my search for greener ways of living and working. I make every effort to handcraft silver and gold jewellery in a way that keeps my carbon footprint as small as possible. I believe in slow fashion and in creating pieces that are of fine design and made to last." -Vicky Callender
No home should be without Mistletoe this Christmas! What you might be surprised to know is that Mistletoe is a byproduct of cider apple farming and many farms will cut it out from their crop and burn it. This means thousands of sprigs each year will go to waste.
Sarah at Mistletoe By Post is harvesting her mistletoe and repurposing it to be displayed beautifully in people’s homes. If you’d like some fresh sprigs from Worcestershire (the home of English Mistletoe) to decorate your house this season, Mistletoe By Post is the place to shop.
“Creating a beautiful but sustainable product for Christmas is a dream, by harvesting the mistletoe we preserve the ancient trees in our apple orchards and their ability to produce delicious cider!” - Sarah Starkey
Hywel & Dean from New Pastures Home have created a range of scent blends inspired by their time in the Middle East. They’re also passionate about avoiding harmful chemicals and steer towards natural alternatives. If you’re looking to add some warm ambience and delightful aromas to your home, New Pastures Home provide everything you need while also being as kind as possible to the environment.
'Our aim is to provide premium quality products to our loyal customers, whilst playing our part in reducing, reusing and recycling. Furthermore, we only source from certified sustainable suppliers who can prove they are vegan and eco-friendly. We value the importance of caring for the planet, other small businesses locally and internationally, and our customers (who share our passion), all whilst providing quality products and services. - Dean & Hywel
On Jill’s website, one of the first statements is “Life has to be fun, it should be interesting, a little bit silly, and at the right times sensible and organised, but never boring.” and we absolutely agree.
All Jill's cards are printed here in the UK and they don’t come in plastic sleeves. Pick up a few cards to send kind sentiments to the special people in your life from a kind and responsible independent website like jilllawrie.
"I love the idea that after my cards have done their job they can be kept for shopping lists, bookmarks or anything else - or just put in the recycle bin to make something new. I also want to support other small independent companies, and support Britain at the same time” - Jill Wells
On the Graceful Deviant website, you’ll find a beautiful range of different items for everyone’s tastes. Whether you’re looking for a charm necklace to symbolise a moment or a stunning seaglass ring that’s tumbled in the waves for decades. You can find it here without the impact of new silver production.
" I've kept almost all of my production in house and hand made but shifted my focus onto seeing if I could improve my supply chain. This led to me switching my standard sterling silver bullion purchases to eco-silver which is 100% recycled sterling silver.
I've also started to explore more ethical and recycled materials to work with rather than gemstones. This includes decades-old, tumbled sea glass and most recently 'stones' made from polishing waste resin from the surfboard making industry."
- Ellen Hooper
4160 Tuesdays is an indie, artisan perfumery based in West London. Since 2011, they have been making adventurous and inspired scents that evoke a time and place,
and tell a scented story.
They are completely transparent with how they source their materials and focus on being as sustainable as they can be. You’ll find all their packaging to be reusable and recyclable as well as being beautiful like the scent they contain.
"We blend small batches of perfume for people who enjoy wearing unusual aromas. We bottle them to order, so there's no waste. Growth is overrated, and unsustainable. We're content with doing what we do best and delighting the people who appreciate it." -Sarah McCartney
What you’ll find on the Tilia Publishing UK site is an appreciation for the natural world and our environment, through photography, ecology, landscape and history. You’ll find unique greeting cards with evocative images and beautifully written and illustrated books on their website.
If you share a love for nature and our gorgeous landscapes, as well as an intrigue for ecology and history, you’ll find yourself right at home at Tilia Publishing UK.
"Our aim is to share our love of ecology and the environment, and some of our knowledge in a way that engages and inspires, to allow people to achieve that love and sense of exploration for themselves. We do this through our photographs and images on the greeting cards and through the books that we write and illustrate.” -Amanda Davey
Do you have a sustainable approach to how you're doing business and have a website with Create?
We'd love to hear from you!
Send us a message telling us about your mission and what you're already doing in your business to be more sustainable for your chance to feature in our Green Gift Guide and get promoted through our website and channels all year round.
Shopping small means that not only will you discover a variety of stunning and unique products, but you're helping to support someone following their passion.
Our selection of content shares a wide range of heartfelt messages and inspiration around this idea. Download your posts for free today and fill in those gaps you have in the content calendar!