Treat someone special while keeping a clear conscience with our pick of the best ethical gifts 

Buying a gift for someone special is a nice way of letting them know you care, but it can be difficult to find the perfect present especially if you're keen to keep a clear eco-conscience.

With so many items using packaging that's destined for the landfill, it can be especially thoughtful to choose a sustainable gift that will put a smile on someone's face without doing damage to the planet.

That's why we've put together our pick of ethical gifts that rely on sustainable sources and keep recycled materials in mind, so you can shower your loved one with presents, guilt-free. 

On a mission to do away with the waste caused by plastic pens, Agile Home & Garden have created an eco-friendly alternative made from natural materials.

The barrel and lid of these pens are made from kraft paper tape, while the ink core at the centre has been created from premium stainless steel, both of which they say are completely recyclable.

Just because they've gone for an environmentally friendly option doesn't mean they've compromised on quality either, claiming these pens have an ergonomic design that promise a smooth and efficient writing experience. The packaging itself is also fully recyclable. 

If you know someone in need of a new phone case you could opt for an eco-friendly option so they can protect their phone while protecting the planet.

Available in a wide variety of colours and styles, these eco-friendly phone cases from WaveCase feature designs that include flowers, plants and animals that reflect their commitment to the natural environment. Instead of plastic these case are made from wheat straw, a biodegradable material which should break down easily when disposed of.

With all the elements you'd expect from a phone case including shock absorbing corners and a 2mm lip to help protect the screen, they also prioritise carbon neutral shipping to further reduce their carbon footprint. 

Socks are often considered a bad choice of present but this ethical option from Herman Robot will surely make a loved one feel warm and fuzzy on the inside, as well as on their feet.

The components that make up the socks include: certified organic cotton, recycled polyester (which they say has been certified to a global recycled standard) and viscose derived from bamboo, for an eco-coconscious product.

The hand-painted box the colourful socks arrive in is also made from FSC card which means it has been taken from a carefully managed source, as well as vegan glue. 

These clever wallets have been made from 100% re-used…firehoses. You read that right.

After a number of fire hoses were decommissioned after 25 years of use in the UK, Elvis & Kresse realised they could be repurposed to create durable, robust (and of course waterproof) wallets for your valuables. They are contactless card safe, and 50% of all profits go towards The Fire Fighters Charity. 

The coffee company illy say they are committed to sustainability and part of that mission includes their X1 Anniversary E.S.E. & Ground machine. Not only does it use compostable capsules, the machine itself operates using a energy saving system when its eco-mode is in use.

They say this significantly reduces energy consumption and also removes the waiting time between making coffees. This sturdy machine has been built to last, using durable materials that mean you shouldn't have to buy another one any time soon.