5 steps for a more ethical Christmas

The MakePovertyHistory campaign and similar initiatives have focused many people's minds on relief of poverty, trade justice and the effects of over consumption.

Schemes which enable people to send ethical gifts and presents such as goats, chickens, donkeys and pigs to the developing world for example World Vision's Alternative Gift Catalogue, UNICEF's Inspired Gifts or Oxfam's Unwrapped Gift Collection have proved to be a huge success.

Many will be considering a fairly-traded, more simple Christmas. So we thought we would produce a short guide with a few links and sources of information that we've found useful for those who would like to have a more ethical Yuletide - from getting your Christmas cards, to the Christmas meal, presents and decorations.

1. Getting your Christmas cards

If you have old Christmas cards lying around and have ever wondered what to do with them, Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth may have an answer. They have created special labels which enable Christmas cards to be reused. All you have to do is stick them over your old cards. They are available in packs of 50 from Natural Collection.com

If you would rather buy new Christmas cards, then recycling is still an option. There are now a wide range of Christmas cards made out of recycled cardboard. Natural Collection.com have produced six different designs, each made out of 100% recycled materials.

For those who want a more simple solution, there are recycled cards that fit the bill too Greenpeace have produced some that are also self-sealing so do not require envelopes. You simply write your message, seal and post!

However, if none of the above are quite what you are looking for, you can always turn to the faithful charity card. There are a whole selection at HighStreetWeb, with loads of charities to choose from. If you would rather get a charity card catalogue, these can be obtained for free from Catalink.


2. Making your Christmas list

Charity Oxfam hit the headlines last year with their innovative Christmas present scheme that enabled people to send a goat, sheep or pig to Africa, as a gift on someone else's behalf. The charity then sends a card with a personalised message to the person on whose behalf the livestock has been despatched.

This year the scheme has been extended and expanded with an even bigger range of gifts including whole flocks of sheep and herds of goats, but also allowing people to create their very own Christmas wish lists online. And as you would expect they are wish lists with a difference.

The charity has set up a facility which allows the visitor to create their own unique and inspiring alternative gift list online, including a personalised welcome page. Those setting up their lists can even upload their own photograph (Santa hat and all if that is their thing).

Friends and family are then emailed with a link to the list so they can access it buy the requested gifts online. The gift giving can be tracked by logging into a personal account at any time. Messages can also be left with season's greetings on a personalised message board. This year there is also an expanded range of gifts to suit every budget with 72 gifts from a fruit tree for a fiver, a flock of sheep, a bog, or a plane full of emergency equipment.


3. Buying your Christmas presents

There are now simply hundreds of ethical presents to choose from. You can of course go for the popular option of sending a flock of sheep or herd of goats to Africa on someone else's behalf. World Vision will then send a card with your personalised message to your loved one, letting them know what has been sent.

You might like to consider a host of presents from Tearcraft, including Fairtrade jewellery and scarves and wraps. For the more gadget-minded there are lots of fun, eco-friendly gadgets such as a clockwork radio, or a super can crusher for recycling your old cans and tins.

Organic cosmetics which haven't been tested on animals are another popular favourite. Scented Heaven have a vast collection of natural hand made soaps, bath bombs, fragrances, shower gels, candles, incense, potpourri and many other wonderfully scented things.

If you want a present that's going to be spread out for the coming year, you might consider giving a subscription to a magazine about justice. The New Internationalist is full of stunning writing and photography. It covers one key subject each month, from Terrorism to Poverty to Climate Change. Correspondents from around the globe provide a comprehensive world view and thought provoking, well reasoned editorials give a clear, untainted picture.

If you are into more cuddly presents, then why not give a real life Tiger, Panda or Monkey? There are now a number of schemes which allow you to adopt animals, or take part in feeding them - which can be quite exciting too when it comes to feeding the tigers or meeting meercats!

If none of these appeals, then keep checking back to this section as we will be updating it in the run up to Christmas with more gift ideas.


4. Choosing your Christmas decorations

Christmas decorations are often an area that is overlooked, but fair trade Christmas decorations are now available from Tearcraft. From Advent candles to nativity scenes and card holders there are lots to choose from.


5. The Food

Finally of course there is the food. If you are looking for sources of organic produce then the HighStreetWeb has a big list with lots of links.

The natural collection has some luxury, organic and fairly traded chocolates.

We'll be updating this section between now and Christmas with new ethical ideas and links as we find them, so do keep checking back!