With a shortlist that grows longer every year, the first line-up of finalists for the Gift of the Year Ethical and Sustainable Gift Category have now been revealed, placing a brand new emphasis on more regenerative, less consumptive behaviours among today’s gift givers.
An eclectic mix that not only reflects the evolving sensibilities of modern day shoppers and their growing appetite for planet-friendlier gifts but also the hot bed for innovation the Gift of the Year sustainability category has become, this year’s list showcases what boundaries can be broken and systems can be rebuilt when sustainability sits at the core of a company.
Where else will you find Zero Waste Patchwork Slippers and DIY Bee Hotel Kits sit alongside Fair Trade Artisan Bird Nesters (made from recycled saris and sustainably sourced seagrass) or EUGY puzzle toys that contribute to global conservation efforts of some of the world’s most endangered animals and their habitats?
Shortlisted products for the 2024 Gift of the Year Awards span 20 categories, showcasing the diversity and innovation within the creative sector. This year’s Ethical and Sustainable Product category features no fewer than 16 shortlisted companies. They are:
Rex London – Beaded Heaet Collection
AllGoodThings – BosilunLife Recycled Ceramic Boreal Mist Scented Reed Diffuser Gift Set
Beevive Ltd – DIY Bee Hotel Kit
Brainstorm – EUGY
Wildlife World – Fair Trade Artisan Bird Nesters
FRUU – FRUU Solid Shower Bars
VENT for Change – Ocean Collection
Eco Able – Oceans Away
Best Kept Secrets – Our Fragrant World
Purscents Ltd – Purscents Aromatherapy Scented Candles
Purscents – Purscents Candle Refills
Designed in Colour – Recycled Plant Pot Covers
The Little Green Cracker Company – Sophisticate Christmas Crackers
Vurchoo Ltd – Studs of Hope
Purple Pilchard – The Grubby Gift Box
Pajama Pantry – Zero Waste Patchwork Slippers
These shortlisted products will now be judged for a second round of in-person judging throughout Spring fair 2024.
Chris Workman, PR and marketing manager at the Giftware Association, said: “It’s a job that gets harder and harder each year for our judges as more and more innovative and design-led products enter. But to make it through this far is such an achievement. Even just by entering, your products would have been seen by over 100 industry judges this year.”
The Winners of the 2024 Gift of the Year Awards will be revealed later this year.
