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Ecologi’s top 20 list of Eco-gift ideas for the festive season 2020

With the festive season fast approaching it’s important to remember that the gifts you buy can show your love, not only for your friends and family, but also for the planet. It can be so easy to just click ‘buy it now’ on Amazon, but more than ever it is important to consider the environmental impacts of your gifts and to support independent businesses that are doing good things. It is much more important to buy less, but buying well is also key! 
It can sometimes be difficult to find small local businesses that sell the thing you are after, and more often than not big businesses dominate our search engines. Some good tips include looking on websites such as <a href="https://www.etsy.com/">Etsy</a>, <a href="https://www.notonthehighstreet.com/">NotontheHighStreet</a>, <a href="https://www.trouva.com/">Trouva</a>, <a href="https://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/">Social Enterprise UK </a>and local ‘made in’ websites like <a href="https://madeinfolkestone.co.uk/">Made in Folkestone</a> to find independent brands from your local area. A lot of small businesses sell on Instagram too. So, try searching some hashtags such as #ShopSmall #ShopLocal and #SmallBusinessess. If your friend has a company that you think is great – buy from them and tell all your friends to share the message! You can also find ethical brands, and get ethical ratings of your favourite brands on the Good On You ethical fashion App. 
For so many of us the festive season is tied up with consumerism. We learn from a young age that it is all about presents, and that you must buy gifts for absolutely everyone otherwise you don’t care about them. However, we are starting to learn that this is neither sustainable nor necessary. There are so many alternatives to buying presents: you can give your time, give an experience, or even give preloved items. When you do buy presents, it is important to consider whether the person will really value it, and to make sure that it will have a positive impact somehow- e.g. climate smart or supporting local businesses. For those that want to buy less and buy well but have no ideas, we’ve compiled a list of our top 20 eco gift suggestions.

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Guerilla gardening grenades filled with flower power potential, these bombs contain a mix of wildflower seeds that will grow into bright and beautiful nectar rich flowers loved by bees. All you need to do is throw the bomb, and it will split open upon impact with the ground and grow. Seedbombs are quick and easy ways for us all to help our local biodiversity. 
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2130 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208110438/Pollinator-Beebom-Seedbom_LS_SQ-S-copy-600x600-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208110438/Pollinator-Beebom-Seedbom_LS_SQ-S-copy-600x600-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208110438/Pollinator-Beebom-Seedbom_LS_SQ-S-copy-600x600-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208110438/Pollinator-Beebom-Seedbom_LS_SQ-S-copy-600x600.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://kabloom.co.uk/product/pollinator-beebom/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link to Seedbomb </a>    Price: £3.95

2.  Climate Positive Gin from the Arbikie Distillery

Dubbed as the ‘world&#8217;s first climate positive gin’ this gin is made from peas! It has a carbon footprint of -1.54 kg CO2e per 700ml bottle, as well as a smooth and refreshing taste with undertones of citrus leaf and lemongrass.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2162 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201209123652/1582043731SinclairBay-1-273x300.jpg" alt="" width="273" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201209123652/1582043731SinclairBay-1-273x300.jpg 273w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201209123652/1582043731SinclairBay-1.jpg 676w" sizes="(max-width: 273px) 100vw, 273px" />
<a href="https://www.arbikie.com/item/23/Nadr-Gin.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link to Gin</a>     Price: £43

We are spending more time than ever at home right now, so it’s especially important to make it smell nice! Good Candles make candles that are hand poured with responsibly sourced soy wax and they donate 10% of the sales to good causes, including funding climate solutions and planting trees, the National Literacy Trust, and CALM. 
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-2132" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208110924/candle-forest-fire-soy-candle-planting-20-trees-for-every-sale-1_1080x-e1607591955951-300x178.png" alt="" width="505" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208110924/candle-forest-fire-soy-candle-planting-20-trees-for-every-sale-1_1080x-e1607591955951-300x178.png 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208110924/candle-forest-fire-soy-candle-planting-20-trees-for-every-sale-1_1080x-e1607591955951-1024x609.png 1024w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208110924/candle-forest-fire-soy-candle-planting-20-trees-for-every-sale-1_1080x-e1607591955951-768x457.png 768w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208110924/candle-forest-fire-soy-candle-planting-20-trees-for-every-sale-1_1080x-e1607591955951.png 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 505px) 100vw, 505px" />
<a href="https://good-candles.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link to Candles</a>     £35

4. Plastic Free Bath Products from Ethique 

Ethique produces cosmetic products that are 100%  free from plastic and palm oil. They are also carbon neutral and vegan! Try this gift trial pack containing a shampoo bar, conditioner bar, solid face cleanser and solid butter block. This is the ideal gift pack for someone trying to go plastic free and the products smell incredible too!
<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-2134 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208111425/Picture-Ethique.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208111425/Picture-Ethique.png 273w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208111425/Picture-Ethique-150x150.png 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://ethique.co.uk/products/gift-trial-pack-for-normal-skin-hair?geo_redirection_stay=1&amp;geo_currency=GBP" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link to Gift Pack</a>     Price: £11

Give the gift of long-lasting climate action. Ecologi Gifting allows you to buy your loved ones Christmas Trees (forests of 100, 250, or 500 trees) this Christmas. The trees in these gifts do amazing things, supporting local biodiversity and local communities, and these benefits will be felt for many years to come! Your recipient can keep track of their trees in their very own virtual forest where they can watch them grow and learn more about them. 
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-2135" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208111639/gifting_pr_1-1-1-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="533" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208111639/gifting_pr_1-1-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208111639/gifting_pr_1-1-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208111639/gifting_pr_1-1-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208111639/gifting_pr_1-1-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208111639/gifting_pr_1-1-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px" />
<a href="https://ecologi.com/gifting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link to Ecologi Tree Planting gifts</a>     Price: From £24.00

The ethos behind this dutch chocolate company is to fully eradicate slavery in chocolate production. They also actively train the farmers they work with to implement more environmentally-friendly production methods, such as minimising the use of pesticides, offset their emissions, and deforestation within their supply chain is strictly prohibited. Try the milk caramel sea salt bar &#8211; it&#8217;s delicious! 
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2136 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208111755/Tonys-Chocolonely-Fairtrade-Chocolate_1c13dc4e-f908-407c-9805-25aabfcce5a8_1024x1024-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208111755/Tonys-Chocolonely-Fairtrade-Chocolate_1c13dc4e-f908-407c-9805-25aabfcce5a8_1024x1024-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208111755/Tonys-Chocolonely-Fairtrade-Chocolate_1c13dc4e-f908-407c-9805-25aabfcce5a8_1024x1024-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208111755/Tonys-Chocolonely-Fairtrade-Chocolate_1c13dc4e-f908-407c-9805-25aabfcce5a8_1024x1024-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208111755/Tonys-Chocolonely-Fairtrade-Chocolate_1c13dc4e-f908-407c-9805-25aabfcce5a8_1024x1024.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://tonyschocolonely.com/uk/en/our-chocolate/product/milk-caramel-sea-salt-180-gram-1-bar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link to Chocolate</a>     Price: £3.98

55 African elephants are killed a day for their tusks, and in Asia elephants have disappeared from 85% of their historic range. By adopting an elephant you are helping to fund WWF’s work to protect elephant habitats, reduce poaching and address human-elephant conflict. You will receive a welcome pack, regular updates and a personalised adoption certificate to give to your loved one. 
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-2137" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208111902/WWF_Elephant_Online_Certificate_1-300x176.jpg" alt="" width="510" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208111902/WWF_Elephant_Online_Certificate_1-300x176.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208111902/WWF_Elephant_Online_Certificate_1.jpg 539w" sizes="(max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px" />
<a href="https://support.wwf.org.uk/adopt-an-elephant?_ga=2.225425118.51780786.1605099322-285360307.1605099322" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link to Adopt an Elephant</a>      Price: from £3 a month

Turtle bags are a stylish way to reduce your plastic footprint. They are made from certified organic cotton and available in a wide range of beautiful colours.
 <img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2138 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208111957/Screenshot-2020-12-07-12.28.16-298x300.png" alt="" width="298" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208111957/Screenshot-2020-12-07-12.28.16-298x300.png 298w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208111957/Screenshot-2020-12-07-12.28.16-150x150.png 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208111957/Screenshot-2020-12-07-12.28.16.png 584w" sizes="(max-width: 298px) 100vw, 298px" />
<a href="https://www.turtlebags.co.uk/product-page/organic-short-handled-string-bag" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link to Turtle Bags</a>     Price: £6

E-waste has become the world’s fastest growing waste stream, and a typical new phone creates at least 79kg of CO2 emissions. Reboxed provides a sustainable alternative by selling certified refurbished phones and allowing high-spec handsets that would otherwise go to waste, to find new homes. What’s more, they aim to make every phone carbon positive by planting 10 trees and paying to offset its lifetime CO2 emissions! 
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2139 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208112121/reboxed-boxes_1200x_041febd6-a243-468a-aa6d-2b11f4232c28_900x-300x295.png" alt="" width="300" height="295" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208112121/reboxed-boxes_1200x_041febd6-a243-468a-aa6d-2b11f4232c28_900x-300x295.png 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208112121/reboxed-boxes_1200x_041febd6-a243-468a-aa6d-2b11f4232c28_900x-768x754.png 768w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208112121/reboxed-boxes_1200x_041febd6-a243-468a-aa6d-2b11f4232c28_900x.png 900w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://reboxed.co/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link to Reboxed Phones </a>    Price: from £200

10. Zero-waste Shave Gift Set from Know the Origin

This zero-waste shave gift set gives an amazing shave, while also helping to reduce single-use and plastic waste. It comes with a stainless steel razor, 10 razor blades, a shaving bar, razor disposal tin and an organic cotton drawstring bag, all vegan and free of palm oil, and is packaged in a recycled cardboard box.
<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-2140 size-medium aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208112313/Zero-Waste-Shave-With-Bag_540x-e1607426694498-300x275.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="275" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208112313/Zero-Waste-Shave-With-Bag_540x-e1607426694498-300x275.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208112313/Zero-Waste-Shave-With-Bag_540x-e1607426694498.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://knowtheorigin.com/products/zero-waste-shave-giftset" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link to Shave Giftset </a>    Price: £35

Artfinder sells artwork from local artists that can awaken our imagination and transform our homes. They aim to provide a platform where artists can make a living doing what they love, and anyone can easily find and buy original artworks – no matter their taste or budget. Every single piece is unique and signed by the artist, carrying its own story.
<img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2192" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201211094107/0E143C27-0C31-463F-A4FB-393A68061BD5-300x238.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="238" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201211094107/0E143C27-0C31-463F-A4FB-393A68061BD5-300x238.jpeg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201211094107/0E143C27-0C31-463F-A4FB-393A68061BD5-1024x811.jpeg 1024w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201211094107/0E143C27-0C31-463F-A4FB-393A68061BD5-768x608.jpeg 768w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201211094107/0E143C27-0C31-463F-A4FB-393A68061BD5.jpeg 1364w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://www.artfinder.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link to Artwork</a>  Price: From £18

Food wastage contributes 6.7% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Rubies in the Rubble make products that are packed with delicious ingredients that would otherwise go to waste &#8211; not because they taste any different, but because they’re the wrong shape, size or colour. Try this delicious taster pack of chilli onion relish, tomato ketchup and chilli mayo. 
<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-2144 size-medium aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208112822/TasterBundle_grande-e1607592019581-300x263.png" alt="" width="300" height="263" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208112822/TasterBundle_grande-e1607592019581-300x263.png 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208112822/TasterBundle_grande-e1607592019581.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://rubiesintherubble.com/products/taster-pack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link to Taster Pack </a>     Price: £10

Homemade gifts are a cheap and creative way to show someone that you care, all while being great for your carbon footprint! The Sustainable Cooks have a great blog on handmade gift ideas- from truffles, to quilts, to natural lip balm. 
      <img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2145 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208113056/dark-chocolate-truffles-1-e1607427084460-288x300.jpg" alt="" width="288" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208113056/dark-chocolate-truffles-1-e1607427084460-288x300.jpg 288w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208113056/dark-chocolate-truffles-1-e1607427084460.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 288px) 100vw, 288px" />
<a href="https://www.sustainablecooks.com/handmade-gift-ideas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link to Blog</a>     Price: from £0

In the UK alone, 2.5 billion coffee cups are thrown away each year. Frank Green’s reusable cups are a sustainable and stylish alternative to this. You can customise to your heart’s content, choosing different colours for the lid, the button, and the base, and all coffee cups are recyclable at the end of their use. 
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2146 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208113322/Picture1-300x300.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208113322/Picture1-300x300.png 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208113322/Picture1-150x150.png 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208113322/Picture1.png 375w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://uk.frankgreen.com/collections/reusable-cups" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link to Coffee Cups </a>     Price: from £19.99

Use your gifts this year to make a difference to those who really need it. The Choose Love store allows you to buy items for those living in refugee camps, from a hot meal, to sleeping bags, to legal aid. These purchases also come with an option for a link to a downloadable gift card that can be wrapped up to give to your loved one. 
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2148 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208113618/Picture-Chose-Love-300x300.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208113618/Picture-Chose-Love-300x300.png 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208113618/Picture-Chose-Love-150x150.png 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208113618/Picture-Chose-Love.png 602w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://choose.love/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link to Choose Love Store</a>      Price: from £5

Many tea bags that we buy actually still contain plastic! Teapigs produce quality tea, sourced sustainably, in packaging that’s better for the environment and their teabags are entirely plastic-free and compostable! Their teas are also delicious and they have some exciting winter flavours like gluhwein tea and spiced pear tea. Try this selection box of 12 teas, which allows you to test out a whole range of flavours.
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-2149" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208113832/Picture-Tea.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208113832/Picture-Tea.png 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208113832/Picture-Tea-150x150.png 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://www.teapigs.co.uk/collections/gift-sets-1/products/tea-pick-n-mix" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link to Teapigs Giftset</a>      Price: £17.99

This cookbook is the complete guide to how you can make your food stretch further in order to reduce your waste. Packed full of over 100 creative recipes, Giovanna Torrico and Amelia Wasiliev highlight how you can make use of the food that so often goes to waste. 
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2150 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208113921/9781784882471-227x300.jpg" alt="" width="227" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208113921/9781784882471-227x300.jpg 227w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208113921/9781784882471.jpg 378w" sizes="(max-width: 227px) 100vw, 227px" />
<a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-zero-waste-cookbook/giovanna-torrico/amelia-wasiliev/9781784882471" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link to Cookbook </a>     Price: £16.99

These great-tasting, vegan beers are committed to saving water in an otherwise wasteful industry. Typically it requires 8-10 pints of water to brew a single pint of beer, however the team at Small Beer have whittled it down to just 1.5 pints of water per pint. Try the craft beer gift pack which includes 4 x 350ml bottles of Small Beer and 2 x branded half pint glasses. 
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-2151" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208114137/Picture-Beer-e1607592119908-300x142.png" alt="" width="424" height="200" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208114137/Picture-Beer-e1607592119908-300x142.png 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208114137/Picture-Beer-e1607592119908.png 602w" sizes="(max-width: 424px) 100vw, 424px" />
<a href="https://theoriginalsmallbeer.com/products/small-beer-gift-pack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link to Beer </a>      Price: £18

Designed scientifically, this odourless, biomorphic worm composter turns food scraps into fertiliser. Drop fruit and vegetable peelings, grain foods, and tea bags into a top opening and the worms-in-residence will quickly turn it into compost! The composter can process over two pounds of food a week, enough to keep up with most or all of the scraps in a two-or three-person household. Spread the easily removable compost next to your plants or in pots, and watch them grow.
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2152 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208114254/47184_1_640px-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208114254/47184_1_640px-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208114254/47184_1_640px-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208114254/47184_1_640px.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
<a href="https://www.uncommongoods.com/product/living-composter?clickid=3uJTJq2jsxyLWguwUx0Mo3EFUkEzhLx1AxE7zw0&amp;irgwc=1&amp;utm_source=Skimbit%20Ltd.&amp;utm_medium=affiliates&amp;utm_campaign=8444&amp;utm_term=Online%20Tracking%20Link&amp;trafficSource=Impact&amp;sharedid=housebeautiful.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link to Composter</a>     Price: £148.30

Lucy &amp; Yak make beautiful, high-quality garments with the aim that everyone that has an input is treated, and paid, fairly. Clothes are made from organic fabrics and produced in a factory in India, where workers are paid four times the minimum wage. All their packaging is also 100% biodegradable and these colourful Co-ords are beyond funky! 
<img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2153 aligncenter" src="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208114436/Lucy_And_Yak_29_28_10_201369_2bff3cb9-530f-4331-ad4a-d47006ae5164_600x-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208114436/Lucy_And_Yak_29_28_10_201369_2bff3cb9-530f-4331-ad4a-d47006ae5164_600x-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms-assets.offset.earth/app/uploads/20201208114436/Lucy_And_Yak_29_28_10_201369_2bff3cb9-530f-4331-ad4a-d47006ae5164_600x.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />
<a href="https://lucyandyak.com/collections/colourful-co-ords?page=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Link to Colourful Cords </a>   Price: £30-52

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Christmas is definitely one of the most wonderful times of the year, however it is also one of the most wasteful. In the UK, an<a href="https://www.biffa.co.uk/media-centre/news/new-research-shows-brits-are-dreaming-of-a-green-christmas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> extra 30% of rubbish</a> is produced and discarded throughout the festive period when compared with the rest of the year. This is in the region of 3 million tonnes. One big culprit is Christmas wrapping paper. An estimated <a href="https://www.biffa.co.uk/media-centre/news/new-research-shows-brits-are-dreaming-of-a-green-christmas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">227,000 miles</a> of wrapping paper is thrown away in the UK each Christmas, meaning that the average household will go through four rolls of wrapping paper and about 40 million rolls of sticky tape. You don’t want to go through all the trouble of buying super eco-friendly gifts just to wrap it in wasteful, non-recyclable paper! Switching to plain brown paper or newspaper fastened with string or ribbon instead of tape is one way to reduce your waste. 
Wrapping presents in lengths of fabric, following the Japanese art of fabric wrapping: furoshiki, is another option that is becoming more and more popular. These cloths are both beautiful and reusable and can be passed from person to person. When you do use wrapping paper, make sure to do the scrunch test to determine if it can be recycled. This involves schrunching the paper in your hand, and if it remains schrunched it is recyclable. You can also unwrap your presents very carefully and save wrapping paper year after year! 
If you are sending presents to loved ones, <a href="https://heapsgoodpackaging.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HeapsGood packaging</a> has some brilliant compostable packaging options including 100% biodegradable Ecomailers that will break down in 3-6 months! 
There are many ways that you can adapt your wrapping habits to be more sustainable and thus, in our eyes, more in line with the true spirit of Christmas.

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We hope that this blog has given you some great tips for how to have a more sustainable festive season. There has never been a better time to try something different and step back from the excessive consumerism that so often dominates this time of year.
If you want to do more, and help plant trees and fund climate solutions, <a href="https://ecologi.com/plan">sign up</a> to Ecologi today.

Don't wait for politicians, your company can lead the way to net-zero

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Don’t wait for politicians, your company can lead the way to net-zero

<h2>With the cumbersome movement of climate policy, innovative companies must drive change on our route to net-zero.</h2>
 
COP28 is on the way, starting in Dubai at the end of November. It’s fair to say that, given <a href="https://ecologi.com/articles/blog/whats-happening-at-cop27" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the disappointments of last year’s COP</a>, and the fact that this year’s COP President is <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-65708328" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CEO of one of the world’s largest oil companies</a>, expectations are low that international governments will produce positive change which matches the scale and urgency of the climate crisis.
These past few years, the COPs have demonstrated that international policy can be a slow, almost agonising process &#8211; with tense last-minute negotiations, and <a href="https://ecologi.com/articles/blog/cop26-what-happens-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the watering down of already-weak pledges</a> and commitments. 
As we look to the COPs, though, it is clear that there are stakeholders elsewhere who are better placed to drive expansive and rapid change in the decarbonisation of our global economy: businesses.

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<h2>Businesses are set-up to innovate &#8211; but are they doing enough? 
</h2>
Why businesses? Well, we can start by asking ourselves which organisations have the power to facilitate change on a scale that in some cases may exceed many states. <a href="https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-tech-giants-worth-compared-economies-countries/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Apple&#8217;s market capitalisation exceeds Italy&#8217;s GDP</a>, <a href="https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-tech-giants-worth-compared-economies-countries/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Microsoft&#8217;s surpasses Brazil&#8217;s</a>, and <a href="https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-tech-giants-worth-compared-economies-countries/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meta&#8217;s dwarfs that of Saudi Arabia</a>. With this much influence and access to finance, these private companies have a huge amount of control over the direction of our global net-zero efforts.
Large corporations understand the way the wind is blowing. According to Accenture, around <a href="https://www.accenture.com/us-en/insights/sustainability/reaching-net-zero-by-2050" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a third of the world’s top 2,000 public and private companies </a>have made net-zero commitments. However, according to the same research, around <a href="https://www.accenture.com/us-en/insights/sustainability/reaching-net-zero-by-2050" target="_blank" rel="noopener">93% of them will fall short of these net-zero targets unless they accelerate their efforts</a>.
Why is this? Well, for major corporations, climate ambitions are often perceived as optional corporate social responsibility (CSR) gestures, lacking the rigour and accountability expected of political leaders and international climate governance. This means that whilst businesses are well-placed to take action, often they aren’t yet going far enough.

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<h2>Taking climate action makes business sense 
</h2>
It’s easy to assume that taking climate action as a business is going to be a huge time and resource sink. And it’s true that the journey to net-zero for most businesses is going to be a long-term challenge &#8211; it’s definitely no walk in the park.
But for many businesses, embracing net-zero presents a significant opportunity. Younger generations &#8211; Generation X, Millennials and Generation Z &#8211; want to see companies taking action, with over <a href="https://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/article/2018/global-consumers-seek-companies-that-care-about-environmental-issues/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">80% of consumers from these groups reporting that companies should implement environmental improvement programs</a>. Global investment in sustainability <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/sustainability-green-companies-business-partnership/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has surpassed $30 trillion</a>, demonstrating that as well as individuals, corporate investment initiatives are prioritising the greening of our economy.
Fossil fuel prices are expected to rise steadily, while <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/levelized-cost-of-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">renewable energy costs continue to plummet</a>. For corporations, transitioning to a fossil-free supply chain is a prudent strategy for future-proofing their operations &#8211; both in terms of costs and in terms of energy security.

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<h2>Corporate leadership during and after COP28</h2>
In contrast to the cumbersome movement of international climate policy, the private sector is often associated with innovation, expertise, and agility. It&#8217;s time for businesses to lead the way, proactively driving the green transition rather than waiting to be nudged by governments.
Companies, as much as countries, are stewards of our planet. Those with influence, finance and power have a responsibility to protect our collective home. Therefore, 2023 must be the year when businesses step up and take the lead in the global effort to combat climate change.

<a href="https://ethy.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ethy</a>
 
<a href="https://ecologi.com/ethy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ethy</a> makes it easy and affordable for brands to communicate verified sustainability achievements against transparent standards.
 
They are a Climate Action Workforce subscriber with Ecologi and are aiming to be net-zero by 2025. They are also a part of Stripe Climate &#8211; a coalition of businesses accelerating carbon removal by contributing a portion of their revenue to carbon removal technologies.
 
How do you think the private sector can lead in the journey to net-zero?
&nbsp;
In the UK, businesses are increasingly adopting ambitious carbon reduction and net-zero strategies.When the private sector demonstrates successful implementation of sustainable practices, it also signals to policymakers that there’s viable markets for these initiatives. This, in turn, incentivises the government to introduce policies that support these practices.
&nbsp;
What are your plans for COP28?
&nbsp;
Ahead of COP28, we have developed several important new standards in our sustainability framework to guide our business clients on their net-zero journey, including Carbon Measured, Carbon Reduction Targets, and Net Zero Committed. We aim to highlight these crucial practices and showcase our collaborative efforts with organisations like Ecologi that can support our clients in reaching them.

Ecologi businesses that are taking action during COP28

<h2> 
Take action today and speak to our team</h2>
If you&#8217;re a business ready to embrace this crucial responsibility and take a substantial stride towards achieving Net Zero, we invite you to take action today. Complete the form below to speak to our team about how Ecologi and our partners can provide comprehensive carbon footprinting solutions and dedicated support on your journey to reducing emissions.
If you’re a business with less than 100 employees explore our carbon footprinting tool, <a href="https://ecologi.com/business/zero" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ecologi Zero</a>, designed specifically for UK-based SMEs looking to measure and reduce their carbon footprint.

Speak to our team. We're here to help find your perfect climate solution.

Go above and beyond during your net-zero journey: Explaining Beyond Value Chain Mitigation

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Explaining Beyond Value Chain Mitigation

Beyond value chain mitigation &#8211; what is it? Why should your business do it? How should your business do it?
Science is clear that minimising global warming requires substantial emissions reductions globally, if we are to limit the global temperature increase to below 2°C, and as close as possible to 1.5°C.
Simply offsetting your business emissions is an outdated and ineffective way of thinking about sustainability &#8211; as we set out in our previous article, <a href="https://ecologi.com/articles/blog/carbon-offsetting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The way we think about carbon offsetting is all wrong</a>. If all the businesses in the world kept doing what they were doing, but offset their emissions, then we would not solve climate change.
So, for businesses to align with the science of climate change, making direct emissions reductions must be the number one priority.
However, whilst working towards those emissions reductions, businesses can (and must) fund high-quality climate‌ action around the world, at the same time &#8211; and this is where Beyond Value Chain mitigation comes in. 
But what does that actually mean? Where does the term come from, and where does it fit within your business’s net zero journey?
<h2>What is Beyond Value Chain Mitigation?</h2>
Beyond value chain mitigation, or BVCM, is a key concept in the <a href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/resources/files/Net-Zero-Standard.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SBTi’s Corporate Net-Zero Standard</a>, which is the leading net-zero framework for businesses.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">‘Beyond’ refers to actions a business can take outside of its value chain</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">‘Value chain’ is the system of operations, suppliers and activities that generate business emissions</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">‘Mitigation’ refers to solutions which reduce the impact of climate change.</li>
</ul>
Don’t be put off by the scientific terminology. It just means funding climate action around the world, whilst reducing your business emissions on your journey to net-zero.

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Funding climate action allows businesses to focus on making an instant impact today that contributes positively on a global and societal level, instead of  simply trying to offset their  carbon emissions. Whilst the main priority, direct emissions reductions will take some time, so all businesses can and should start funding climate action (BVCM) today.
<h2>Why should businesses invest in BVCM?</h2>
There are two main vectors for why your business should invest in BVCM: for your business, and for our planet.
<h3>For your business</h3>
As well as your business’s philanthropic values, there is ever-increasing pressure from within and around businesses to take serious action on climate. Your business will want to meet climate targets, attract and retain top talent, make credible green claims about your products and services, and gain a competitive edge &#8211; and each of these is boosted if your business can evidence your contributions to impactful global climate action.
Stakeholders all around your business &#8211; from customers, to employees, to potential investors &#8211; all want to see your business give back to the planet. And BVCM is your business’s vehicle for doing so.
<h3>For our planet</h3>
On a global level, there is still a huge gap between where we are today, and where we need to be. Emissions are still rising, and we are continuing to deplete nature’s precious resources at an alarming rate. At present, globally, humanity is using nature<a href="https://www.overshootday.org/how-many-earths-or-countries-do-we-need/#:~:text=Humanity%20is%20using%20nature%201.7,the%20resources%20of%201.7%20Earths." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 1.7 times faster</a> than our planet’s biocapacity can regenerate. That’s equivalent to using the resources of 1.7 Earths each year. The UK specifically is using 2.6 more of the natural resources than it should. In addition, we are <a href="https://www.stockholmresilience.org/research/planetary-boundaries.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">overshooting planetary boundaries</a>, and our <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-what-the-new-ipcc-report-says-about-when-world-may-pass-1-5c-and-2c/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remaining carbon budget</a> is dwindling. 
Alongside taking accountability for your business’s direct emissions reductions, BVCM supports your business to make a positive contribution out there in the world &#8211; to support global efforts toward net-zero, and to the restoration of nature.

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<h2>How should your business approach BVCM?</h2>

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<h3>Tonne-for-tonne</h3>
The simplest approach is the tonne-for-tonne approach. This is similar (though not quite the same!) as offsetting or becoming carbon neutral. 
This means that your business buys and retires carbon credits to match 100% of your company’s emissions. If you produce 100 tonnes of emissions, you’ll buy 100 carbon credits. The size of your emissions is used to benchmark the size of your contribution to climate action.

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<h3>Dollar-for-tonne</h3>
The dollar-for-tonne approach allows you to set a carbon price within your business. For example, you could say that you will fund climate impact of, say, £75, or $100, per tonne of emissions your business produces.
Both of these first two approaches apply the ‘polluter pays’ principle &#8211; meaning that the more emissions your organisation produces, the larger your obligation to fund climate action. Committing to one of these approaches therefore provides your business with a powerful financial incentive to reduce your emissions.

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<h3>Dollar-for-dollar</h3>
Dollar-for-dollar is the most flexible approach, but can also be the most difficult to implement. It ties your BVCM funding to your financial performance as a business, not to your organisational emissions. Examples could include spending 5% of your business’s annual profits on climate action, or 1% of your annual turnover. As your business grows, so does your funding toward climate action. 
As always, whichever approach you choose, it must be carried out alongside an emissions reduction plan &#8211; otherwise, it’s just greenwashing.
<h2>Which BVCM approach is best?</h2>
Which approach is ‘best’ is likely to depend on your business &#8211; what it does, which industry it is in, and how big it is. The highest impact approach in terms of funding mitigation is often the dollar-for-dollar approach, but this commitment may not be possible for your business &#8211; and it also may not be the highest impact approach, if your business is in a particular industry which has high emissions or small margins.
You can even mix approaches.

By definition, climate action that ‘counts’ towards BVCM are those that help to mitigate climate change, and that take place outside of the value chain.
The SBTi gives some examples: 
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Conservation projects, e.g., peatland or mangrove</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Energy efficiency, e.g., cookstove projects</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Methane destruction, e.g., landfill gas projects</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Renewable energy, e.g., solar/wind/biogas</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Industrial gases, e.g., N2O destruction at nitric acid facilities</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Carbon Removal technologies, e.g., Direct Air Capture (DAC) and Storage</li>
</ul>
Adapted from <a href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/resources/files/Beyond-Value-Chain-Mitigation-FAQ.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SBTi (2021)</a>
 
The examples given by the SBTi refer only to the types of projects which generate carbon credits.
 
However, at Ecologi, we encourage businesses to think beyond carbon credits as well. Landscape restoration, ocean conservation, rewilding, climate education, climate justice &#8211; investing in all of these should be considered when preparing a BVCM strategy, and all of them count.

What climate action can I fund?

<h2>What makes a strong portfolio?</h2>
For businesses it can be helpful to think of funding climate action  as a ‘portfolio’, like an investment portfolio. A strong portfolio will have:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Integrity. Select projects and initiatives that benefit climate, nature and people. 
</li>
<li aria-level="1">Diversity. Balance different projects and project types in order to both maximise impact and minimise risk. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type: none;"></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Quality. Vet all your selected projects for the quality of their activities. All carbon credits <a href="https://ecologi.com/articles/blog/funding-carbon-credits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">must meet high quality standards</a>.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Dynamism. Actively monitor the contributions of your business and be proactive with keeping those contributions up-to-date. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Innovation. Support new projects and initiatives within your portfolio. Don’t be afraid to move things around &#8211; if you find a project isn’t working out, exercise the flexibility and initiative to try something new.</li>
</ul>
In comparing your climate action portfolio to an investment portfolio, don’t expect it to deliver a financial return. It represents your business giving back &#8211; the ‘return’ is in impact for our planet helping to bring us forward to a more equitable, net-zero world. 
<h2>What might your BVCM portfolio look like?</h2>
Here’s an example of what a BVCM portfolio you could build with Ecologi might look like:

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As you can see, in this example there is a good variety of project types, and funding is provided in different amounts across the different types of projects. This allows you to prioritise project types and locations that matter most to your business.
Remember: <a href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/blog/net-zero-urgent-beyond-value-chain-mitigation-is-essential" target="_blank" rel="noopener">funding BVCM is urgent and essential</a> whilst on your climate journey &#8211; but in building your BVCM portfolio, you should always consider where best to place your funds to produce the most impact. If you could spend some or all of your BVCM budget for this year on direct emissions reduction (for example, through installing solar panels) then you ought to prioritise that instead.
In this way, BVCM takes its place alongside your plans to reduce emissions directly, and should never displace them.
<h2>When should I start funding climate action?</h2>
The short answer is: start today. 
Funding climate action is not a get-out-of-jail-free card which excuses your business from reducing emissions. However, it can be the quickest and easiest way to get moving on your climate journey.
Moreover, BVCM represents an opportunity you can tackle in the immediate term, whilst you undertake longer-term strategies for directly reducing your emissions. Both components are essential, but they are likely to have different timescales for your business.
<h2>How can I fund climate action through Ecologi?</h2>
Your business can fund the very best climate solutions through our Impact Shop.
From tree planting to renewables, community-based and nature-based carbon avoidance projects and carbon removals including biochar, mangroves &amp; seagrass (blue carbon) and afforestation you can make an instant impact for our planet.
If you already know what you want to fund then visit our Impact Shop <a href="https://ecologi.com/business/impact-shop" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
If you need to speak to our team to find the right solution for your business, get in touch below.

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What to expect at COP28

This year’s annual Conference of the Parties (COP28) is just around the corner, and at Ecologi we’re gearing up to bring you more analysis and reaction to developments as this 28th session of the parties to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) unfolds.
In this guide we’ll be covering:
<ul>
<li><a href="#whatiscop28">What is COP28</a></li>
<li><a href="#whereandwheniscop28">Where and when is COP28</a></li>
<li><a href="#keytalkingpoints">The key talking points in the run up to COP28</a></li>
<li><a href="#whoisattending">Who is attending COP28</a></li>
<li><a href="#whattoexpect">What to expect during COP28</a></li>
</ul>
This page will be our hub for all things COP &#8211; so whether you’re eager to learn about the climate conference process, or just want to know what’s happening, you can find it all here.

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<h2>COP28: what, where and when?</h2>
<a id="whatiscop28"></a>COP28 is the 28th <a href="https://unfccc.int/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC</a> &#8211; the UN’s primary climate change body. All United Nations member states are Parties to this treaty, as well as the European Union and other non-UN member states. That makes the COPs a huge event in the political calendar, where world leaders come together once per year to discuss, negotiate, and make commitments on climate change.
<a id="whereandwheniscop28"></a>This year’s COP takes place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 30th November to 12th December 2023. The two-week conference will cover a number of crucial climate topics, including <a href="https://www.cop28.com/en/thematic-program" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate finance, youth, agriculture, and more</a>.
We’ve previously covered events at <a href="https://ecologi.com/articles/blog/whats-happening-at-cop27" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh</a> and <a href="https://ecologi.com/articles/blog/what-happened-at-cop26" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COP26 in Glasgow</a>, so do revisit our articles on those if you need a refresher on how it all takes place.

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<h2><a id="keytalkingpoints"></a>What are the key talking points in the run up to COP28?</h2>
<h3>The hosts</h3>
As ever &#8211; or perhaps more than ever &#8211; this COP is mired in controversy before it’s even begun. As a nation, the host country, the UAE produces the <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/co-emissions-per-capita?tab=chart&amp;country=ARE~GBR~CHN~AUS~USA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sixth-most emissions per capita of any country</a> in the world (21.8 tCO2e per capita in 2021, excluding land use change). It is one of the world’s ten largest oil producing countries, with <a href="https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/united-arab-emirates-oil-and-gas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">around 30% of its economy</a> based on oil production. The COP President is Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-64240206" target="_blank" rel="noopener">who is CEO of ADNOC</a>, the Emirati state-owned oil company.
The UAE has also <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/01/leak-uae-presidency-un-climate-summit-oil-gas-emissions-yemen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">been accused of attempting to whitewash</a> (and greenwash) its reputation ahead of the conference, including hiring a number of PR and lobbying agencies to promote the country’s image, which is often associated with strict restrictions on freedom, and <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/middle-east-and-north-africa/united-arab-emirates/report-united-arab-emirates/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">allegations of human rights violations</a>.
<h3>Fossil fuel phase-out</h3>
The ‘High-Ambition Coalition’, a loose group of around 15 Parties including France, the Marshall Islands, Sweden and the UK, has started preparing negotiations to phase out fossil fuels. This is notable because countries and multilateral groups are not always up-front about their negotiating stances prior to the conference, and even more seldom are those stances ambitious enough to meet the challenge of the climate crisis.
You may remember this was a key flashpoint back at COP26, where at the last minute the language of phasing out fossil fuels <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/13/cop26-countries-agree-to-accept-imperfect-climate-agreement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was disappointingly changed to phase down “inefficient fossil fuel subsidies&#8221;</a> in the final cover decision.
Whether the High Ambition Coalition can maintain this phase out stance throughout two weeks of negotiations remains to be seen. What is certain is that this issue has become the most glaring elephant in the room for the international climate conferences: we all understand that <a href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/09/1126931" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the burning of fossil fuels must end</a>. But the politics of the COPs has so far meant that a commitment (even a non-binding one) to end fossil fuel use for good has still not been delivered.
<h3><a id="whoisattending"></a>Who’s going (and who’s not)</h3>
In a first, Pope Francis <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/pope-francis-to-attend-cop28-climate-change-conference-in-dubai-16c50cd5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has announced</a> he will be attending COP28 this year, making him the first Pope to do so. He and the Vatican have been happy to speak out on climate change in recent years, including vocally backing the Paris Agreement and <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/donald-trump-pope-francis-slap-face-paris-agreement-climate-change-vatican-global-warming-a7767751.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticising the US for withdrawing from it</a> under Donald Trump in 2020 (the US rejoined the Agreement under Joe Biden in 2021).
Biden himself will <a href="https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/cop/biden-unlikely-attend-dubai-cop-climate-meeting-sources-say-2023-10-31" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly not be in attendance</a> this year, though he did attend COP 27 last year, and his administration is known for changing the President’s plans to make appearances last-minute. 
During his speech a few weeks ago where he announced the slackening of some of the UK’s climate commitments, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66871073" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced</a> that he would be attending COP28. In addition, we now know that King Charles will also be attending, and <a href="https://www.royal.uk/news-and-activity/2023-11-01/the-king-will-attend-cop28-uae-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">delivering an opening address on 1st December</a>. The King has been very vocal about environmental issues over the years, including <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV9n0LM63Bc&amp;t=12s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">taking part in our very own virtual festival of climate action</a> back in 2020.

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<h2><a id="whattoexpect"></a>What to expect during the COP</h2>
As is always the case, we can expect lots of talking points, controversies, and politicking to take place throughout the two weeks of the COP. 
Because of the fact that the conference host and key organising figures are so heavily associated with the fossil fuel industry, it seems unlikely that this COP will deliver much in the way of substantive commitments on reducing fossil fuel use. We can probably expect a lot of high-profile speeches and announcements early on, with the legal and policy commitments then steadily being watered-down over the two weeks.
There are other factors too, like a recent history of disappointment from the COPs, which so far have failed to halt annual increases in emissions &#8211; let alone begin reducing them. In the UK, with the conference being later than usual and finishing only two weeks before Christmas, we can probably expect relatively little cut-through into television and news media.
Throughout the conference, we’ll be bringing you regular updates as we follow along with the negotiations and announcements.

<h2>Partner with us for COP28 and beyond</h2>
Over the next 12 months we want to support as many businesses as possible to measure their footprint and help reduce their emissions.
If your business is interested in a brand partnership to help scale climate action or starting its climate journey during COP28 or beyond, get in touch 🌍

Ecologi’s top 20 list of Eco-gift ideas for the festive season 2020

How to lower your impact this Christmas

1. Seedbomb

2. Climate Positive Gin from the Arbikie Distillery

3. Good Candles

4. Plastic Free Bath Products from Ethique

5. Ecologi Gifting

6. Tony’s Chocolonely Chocolate

7. Adopt an WWF elephant

8. Turtle Bags

9. Planet-Friendly Phones from Reboxed

10. Zero-waste Shave Gift Set from Know the Origin

11. Art from Artfinder

12. Rubies in the Rubble Taster Pack

13. Homemade Gifts

14. Frank Green Reusable Coffee Cup

15. Choose love, Help refugees

16. TeaPigs Pick n’ mix Gift Sets

17. The Zero-Waste Cookbook

18. Eco-Friendly Beer

19. Living Composter

20. Lucy & Yak Colourful Co-ords

A note on packaging...

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