7 sustainable gifts for groups

Hand-crafted Aboriginal artwork from Uluru

Australia’s First Nations peoples have long practised sustainability by way of conservation and use of natural resources in line with traditional knowledge, and through recognition of the spiritual and economic significance of various environments. One way to connect groups to Country is to engage Uluru-based art collective Maruku Arts to run a group dot painting workshop, or by gifting a piece of traditionally crafted Anangu art such as a hand-carved punu (wooden sculpture). Maruku Arts comprises more than 900 Aboriginal artists from 20 remote communities across Australia’s central and western deserts, whose mission is to sustain Aboriginal culture by making it more accessible. The collective also facilitates an important income stream for artists living in remote communities across Anangu lands, meaning that a gift from Maruku Arts has a positive impact on multiple levels.

Biodynamic wine from McLaren Vale

A bottle of top-notch Australian wine makes an excellent corporate gift, and biodynamic producer Gemtree Wines ticks both the quality and sustainability boxes. Based in South Australia’s McLaren Vale region and part of the Ultimate Winery Experiences of Australia, Gemtree Wines boasts a raft of sustainability credentials. Primarily, they’re certified organic and biodynamic, which means they farm their grapes in a way that enhances the soil and environment through natural improvers rather than chemical sprays. The company believes that it is their responsibility to better the land for future generations, which is why they’re also a certified member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia, a planting partner of Biodiversity McLaren Vale, and a contributing partner to CleanHub which funds the collection of ocean-bound plastic. Gemtree Wines can customise a gifting solution for corporate groups, and prides itself on using sustainable packaging including compostable paper wrap and wine labels made from sugar cane waste.

Artisan loose-leaf tea from Canberra

There’s a boutique company in Canberra that’s producing beautiful, sustainable tea which is perfect for corporate gifting. Tea Garden Co believes that high quality, small batch production is paramount, and produces a clever range of original teas that are blended, packed and labelled by hand (Espresso Mar-tea-ni, anyone?). The company engages suppliers with strict ethical and sustainable practices such as regularly visiting growers to verify that wages and working conditions are satisfactory, and ensuring farms are engaging in practices to protect and care for the environment. Tea Garden Co’s Canberra retail and production space is entirely solar-powered, and they have a system that enables customers to reuse and refill their glass tea jars. All packaging is either recyclable or reusable, and printing is done by a local certified green printing business in Canberra.

Adopt a native Australian animal from the Gold Coast

A symbolic animal adoption is a clever corporate gifting idea which is sure to bring the warm fuzzies to both giver and receiver. Currumbin Sanctuary in Queensland’s Gold Coast offers symbolic adoptions of its resident animals, of which 100 per cent of the donations go toward 15 critical conservation projects that Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is involved in including the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wildlife through the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, and the preservation of the endangered Queensland bilby population. Recipients are gifted their animal – be it a koala, echidna, bilby or wombat – in the form of a small plush toy along with a certificate, fact sheet and quarterly updates. Also worth noting is that Currumbin Sanctuary holds Advanced Certification with EcoTourism Australia and is working towards an extensive set of sustainability goals including becoming a waste-free business by 2026.

Sustainably grown pearls from Broome

By nature, pearls are the world’s most sustainable gem, which makes them a compelling choice for a high-end gift. Considered ‘guardians of the ocean’ due to their ability to sequester carbon and remove impurities from waterways, one hectare of pearl oyster reef can remove over 10,000kg (22,046 lb.) of carbon annually. Western Australia’s Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm is leading the charge on positive pearling in Australia; not only does it operate the only privately funded marine research station in the Kimberley, but in 2009, the Broome-based company made an industry changing decision to open the doors of its pearl farms to the public to create transparency around the previously secretive process of cultivating pearls. The company has played a key role in educating visitors, customers, and the community on the benefits of pearling which include harnessing renewable energy, actively cleaning up marine pollution, and conserving marine life. Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm can design gifts to suit any budget, from a sustainable Australian Akoya or South Sea pearl housed in a beautiful mother of pearl shell, to a bespoke pearl pendant in a personalised box.

Reef-safe sunscreen from Byron Bay

Founded in 2016 in Byron Bay, Seed & Sprout is an innovative eco-lifestyle brand that’s deeply devoted to creating practical, ethical products that provide solutions to everyday problems whilst lessening the impact on the planet. Their warehouse and head office are 100 per cent emissions-free, plus they ship everything without the use of plastic - right down to the protective filling and mailer boxes which can be recycled or composted. A nod to Australia’s love for the outdoors, Seed & Sprout’s Australian-made reef-safe SPF50+ sunscreen makes the perfect addition to a welcome pack. Stored in an aluminium tin rather than a plastic tube, the toxin-free formula contains nourishing oils from native Kakadu plum, coconut, avocado, and jojoba. Most importantly, it’s free of harmful microplastics, which are added to many sunscreens to enhance their waterproofing and binding properties.

Plant-based chocolate from Melbourne

For a sustainable gift that will please those with a sweet tooth, look no further than the phenomenal plant-based chocolate made by Loving Earth in Melbourne. The team makes the chocolate in Melbourne using minimal processing of heirloom cacao beans from the Peruvian Amazon, where they have cultivated an exclusive purchasing agreement with the Ashaninka community. The local community grows cacao using traditional permaculture systems without the use of synthetic fertilisers, chemical pesticides, or herbicides. The proceeds from this fair-trade union play a critical role in their efforts to preserve the rainforest of which they have been the custodians for generations, with the ambition to save 100 million trees. Loving Earth has a range of products suited to corporate gifting, from trio boxes of organic chocolate blocks to activated almonds coated in vegan salted caramel chocolate made with evaporated coconut nectar and pink lake salt. The packaging’s environmentally friendly, too – they use compostable film made with renewable plant resources like corn and wood cellulose, as well as vegetable-based inks and recycled paper.

Published: 6 May 2022