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2023-12-22 2:05 pm

The ultimate B Corp holiday gift guide

November 23, 2023
November 15, 2022

Well, it’s that time of year again. Festive fever is (almost) officially upon us, and Christmas is just around the corner. Rather than competing with the crowds at shopping centres or buying things that’ll just end up in landfill, we’ve popped together a list of some of our favourite B Corps, offering products and services that are actually making the world a better place. ‘Tis the season to shop mindfully.

For the green guru

You’ve probably heard us talking about our friends (and customers) Great Wrap before – they produce a cling wrap made from vegetable waste that breaks down in your home compost bin, so you can say goodbye to plastic cling wrap forever. We know, we know – a roll of cling wrap might not sound all that festive, but a Great Mate starter kit is actually the perfect stocking stuffer and an ideal accoutrement for every kitchen. The kit comes with a stylish Great Mate dispenser (made from 33 recycled PET bottles) to slice through your Great Wrap rolls with ease, plus two ‘nudie’ rolls.

Speaking of products that’ll break down in your compost bin, check out these very good bras from The Very Good Bra. New to the B Corp family in 2022 (and proud Bank Australia customers), these comfy and attractive bras (and undies and sleepwear) are made using zero synthetic materials. At the end of your bra’s life, just chuck it in your compost bin or worm farm, where it’ll leave no trace of having ever existed.

In what is perhaps the most practical gift in this list, say hello to big little brushes. Yup, it’s a toothbrush made from bamboo and a type of nylon that will break down in about a year (rather than 600). And 50% of profits go towards funding primary health programs in remote Indigenous communities across Australia. The world – and your pearly whites – will thank you.

For your fashionable friend

Sydney-based Citizen Wolf is a fashion label that’s all about clothing YOU. They create custom tees, designed to fit your exact specs. Just enter your measurements on their website, along with the style of tee you’re after, and voila: the perfect shirt. These beautiful, soft, comfy and stylish garments are made locally using organic cotton, hemp and merino wool, and the offcuts are all upcycled, so there’s almost zero waste. They also offset five kilos of carbon for every kilo of carbon they create, making them a carbon negative (and awesome) business.

Bank Australia customers Jade and Jake founded Salty Aura to provide quality products that won’t leave a dent on the planet. Their range of rugs, bedding and accessories (including cute bucket hats, bags, and water bottles) are all made using 100% hemp or recycled cotton, and are designed to be taken with you on all your outdoor adventures: picnics, camping and the great Australian road trip. Along with being new members to the B Corp family, Salty Aura donate 10% of their profits to Eden Projects and OpBlue, and plant 10 trees for every product sold.

You know what makes a great gift/stocking stuffer? Nail polish. Even better when it’s 100% vegan and cruelty free (with the certification to prove it!). The legends at Sienna Byron Bay make plant-based polishes from their warehouse that’s – wait for it – powered completely by renewables. Their nail polishes come in a range of hot/cute/fun colours, are gender inclusive and Wudu-friendly, meaning they’re suitable for people of Muslim faith to wear too.

For your bookish buddy

Waterproof paper that’s actually made from 100% sustainably recycled stone? Karst Stone Paper sells beautifully designed waterproof notebooks and a range of wood-free pencils, perfect for that creative friend who might be prone to spilling their coffee over their notebook (every. single. day.) or just really cares about the environment.

Bookish types usually need a stylish bag to pop their paperbacks in. Enter Bellroy, a Fitzroy/Bells Beach-founded bag company. Bellroy’s bags, wallets and accessories are made using environmentally sustainable materials like recycled and plant-derived fabrics, as well as premium quality leather with the least environmental impact. And they look great to boot.

Dumbo Feather is pretty much the ultimate in storytelling; each issue is filled with feature-length articles about people doing extraordinary things. The common thread connecting them all together? Everyone in the pages of Dumbo Feather is striving to do good in the world. Subscriptions and magazine bundles are available through Dumbo Feather.

For your coffee chum

When it comes to great coffee, it all starts with the beans. Sourcing their beans ethically from around the globe, Melbourne-based female-founded 23degrees was one of the first roasteries in Australia to receive B Corp certification. Along with a commitment to building a more sustainable and equitable supply chain within the coffee industry, 23degrees is also committed to sourcing at least 50 per cent of its beans from female coffee growers. We like that a latte!

Not into coffee? Not a problem. T2 – the now-global tea chain, founded in Melbourne – achieved B Corp status in 2020 (like us) and is the perfect present solution for your tea-loving pal. Not only does T2 create a range of delicious festive teas (including Eggnog and Mulled Wine flavours), their entire range is now sustainably sourced and their teabags are made using plant-based materials.

What sort of coffee drinker doesn’t have their own reusable cup? Created to cut down on single-use takeaway coffee cups, KeepCup offer a colourful and effective solution to ethical caffeine ingestion with their range of reusable cups. You can customise your KeepCup from an extremely broad selection of coloured lids, plugs and thermal bands, plus a bunch of cafes offer discounts to people who BYO cup. It’s a win/win.

For the conscious quaffer

We all know a cold one on a hot day is good for what ales you (sorry). But breweries aren’t exactly known for their environmental friendliness, using large amounts of water and even larger amounts of waste in order to get the perfect drop. That is, until Capital Brewing Co joined the party.

Launched in September 2016, Capital Brewing Co is one of Australia’s largest independent craft breweries, and is the country’s first Climate Active-certified 100% carbon neutral brewery. Their thirst-quenching range of brews includes fruity XPAs, dark lagers, juicy NEIPAs and a tasty booze-free beer.

Capital Brewing Co joins fellow B Corp breweries Stone & Wood and 4 Pines, who – among other things – brew with less water, create less waste, use recycled materials in their packaging, and make a mighty fine beer. Cheers to that.

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