GIVE A GIFT THAT GIVES: 10 CONSCIOUS GIFT IDEAS FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY-MINDED PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE

With the holiday season almost upon us, it’s time to whip yourself into a frenzy and start stressing out about what you’re going to give your friends and family this year and how to keep it sustainable while you’re at it… right?

Wrong! We've come up with a list of meaningful Christmas gifts that are green, help wildlife and are kind to the environment. Make a difference this festive season, and join us in securing the future of our iconic Australian animals and their habitats.

Here's your eco-friendly gift guide this Christmas.

1. Give back to Australia’s cutest carnivores with our limited-edition quoll adoption

Bold, elusive and spotty, the eastern quoll was once found all over Australia’s southeast. Sadly, they disappeared from the mainland 60 years ago and, even where they remain in Tasmania, their numbers are declining.

You can help give this special marsupial a future by making a symbolic adoption. But get in quick, these adoptions (and the adorable plush quoll that comes with it) are strictly limited. You’ll be helping to bring the eastern quoll back to mainland Australia. And there’s no better gift than that.

2. Help the world’s most iconic animals by making a symbolic adoption

If quolls aren’t your thing, there are heaps of different animals you can choose to adopt, including native icons like the platypus, koala and turtle. Or, if you prefer to go global, there are also options to adopt tigers, orangutans, penguins or snow leopards!

By making a symbolic adoption, you’ll be helping to support crucial work to bring our unique wildlife back from the brink of extinction. 

Plus, every adoption comes with an exclusive gift pack for you to enjoy, including an adoption certificate, welcome booklet, sticker and optional plush toy.

3. Clothes that give back

Forget socks and jocks, WWF is now offering a bolder way to wear your heart (and values!) on your sleeve. Inject some conservation into your wardrobe with our new range of t-shirts. Choose between designs that hero the iconic panda logo, have some fun with our cheekier range, or get into the Christmas spirit with festive motifs.

Plus, it’s not just adults who can enjoy our brand new designs. Even the littlest people in your life can help protect nature in style with our super sweet baby rompers. 

The t-shirts are proudly GOTS certified organic cotton, and all our garments are printed to order here in Australia just for you, so you can rest assured knowing that we’re creating less textile waste.

4. Gift an experience

A meaningful present doesn’t always have to be physical. Find an exciting local experience for your loved ones to enjoy. 

Some ideas include an escape room, cooking class, art class or a cultural tour. There are so many options to choose from, and many experience websites include filters to find the greenest providers in your area.

And don’t forget to consider DIY experiences! Committing to spend quality time with someone can make a very meaningful gift. Plan a picnic, organise a movie night or camping trip, cook a special meal for them; anything that shows you care won’t be forgotten.

5. WWF toys to inspire a love of nature in the littlest animal enthusiasts

If soft toys are more your child’s thing, check out everyone’s favourite postie marsupial, Pip the Koala.

Available through Australia Post’s website and in select stores, this super cute plushie is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. What’s more, $2 from every Pip sold is donated to WWF-Australia to help protect and restore the homes of koalas in the wild.

6. Protect their eyes AND the future of marine animals

The ocean just got a lot safer - and your face is about to get a lot cooler! A pair of ReefCycle sunglasses is the perfect gift for anyone who loves helping the planet in style. In 2018, WWF-Australia removed a deadly commercial gill net from the Great Barrier Reef. With help from our partner VisionDirect this net was then recycled and turned into these super stylish sunglasses - made from 100% upcycled fishing net!

7. Send a card that supports wildlife

Our collection of hand-illustrated Wildcards features some of Australia’s most beloved wildlife. From koalas and echidnas to lyrebirds and platypus, each Wildcard supports WWF-Australia’s mission to protect and conserve our country’s most vulnerable wildlife and their habitats. 

The perfect gift for any animal lover, a wildcard is a great way to inspire friends and family to care for nature as much as you do.

8. Be original with a gift that gives real impact

Have some loved ones that seem to have everything? We bet they’ve never owned a virtual greater glider nest box!

Give something incredibly meaningful (and not to mention, specific) by giving an Impact Gift. Your donation could help build a fox-proof fence, fund motion detection cameras in the wild or even help track and protect tigers by supporting the purchase of GPS collars.

9. Gift items that motivate their sustainability goals

Australians throw away over 370 million plastic bottles annually. Scary, huh? Thankfully, one reusable water bottle can save hundreds of plastic ones from entering landfills every year. Besides the environmental benefits, a refillable bottle will save your friend’s wallet, too.

Same goes for reusable coffee cups, tote bags, straws and cutlery. A convenient present that’s good for the planet? What’s not to love?

10. Make a donation on behalf of a loved one (or ask someone to donate for you!)

Don’t like buying stuff? Does the person you’re buying for have a house full of things you don’t need any more?

You can still give the gift of a future for nature without cluttering up your closet by making a donation. And if you’re currently fielding the usual “What do you want for Christmas?” questions, you could even set up a WWF fundraising page and just send your family and friends the link - easy!