Sustainable Gifting On Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and like the team here at Mama Bamboo, you are probably scouring the internet for sustainable gift ideas. After a tumultuous beginning to the 2020’s which left an indelible mark culturally, economically and environmentally, Mother’s Day feels like the perfect opportunity to count our blessings and embrace our nearest and dearest with extra fervour. Whilst it’s a time to show not just our mothers, but any female figure in our lives we hold dear, just how much we love and appreciate them, we also recognise the toll that has been taken on Mother Earth.

It can be difficult to source a gift that sums up our gratitude for how our mothers have kept calm and carried on throughout the challenges of managing family health, home-schooling, home-working and rising costs, and to make a sustainable choice at the same time. These women are our rocks and each unique in their own beautiful way. They have tucked us in, helped us up and encouraged us with a hand squeeze since the moment we were born. So, if you are searching the internet for that perfect gift for Mother’s Day that will not only make her smile, but also give the equivalent of a warm cuddle to Mother Earth, we hope these suggestions will make that task a tad easier.

1. For the mum who loves to get her hands dirty—in the garden, that is! As Mother’s Day in the UK is always handily at springtime, why not pop down to your local garden centre? Not only will she enjoy the process of planting but the gift itself will continue to be a happy reminder of your special bond every time she sees it

2. Nowhere near a garden centre? Order flowers online from websites such as www.bloomlocal.co.uk or www.floom.com who utilise local, independent florists to deliver your bouquets, therefore minimising their carbon footprint.

3. Book in a day out and visit a local National Trust, English Heritage, Cadw or Historic Scotland site together. If the weather is nice, why not take a picnic and have a glass of something fizzy? Remember to recycle your waste

4. For a gift-less gift option, you could consider making a donation to a charity close to her heart. Another way of giving back is by downloading Treeapp and planting a tree for free

5. A fun option is to book an experience or class together, giving you both the opportunity to learn something new. Popular themes include cooking, tasting and crafting but there are more unusual options available such as foraging, photography or even axe-throwing!

6. Cook her brunch using local produce. Ingredients can be sourced from a local farmers’ market or butchers. Tuck the sprig of a herb inside her napkin for that extra special touch

7. Put together an eco-friendly beauty hamper using either zero waste products or those that come in fully recyclable packaging. Or if you are short on time, there are companies such as www.kindable.co.uk who do it all for you

8. Jewellery or clothing make classic and long-lasting gifts. Choose local, independent shops to find that perfect item. The store will value your precious pounds as much as your mum will value your special gift. 9. If you’re looking for something quaffable, why not make your own liqueur or non-alcoholic cordial. We also love the sound of the letterbox wines over at www.letterboxgifts.co.uk/

10. The ultimate Mother’s Day gift is, of course, yourself! Make up a homemade voucher book with options like help with chores or do-at-home pampering sessions.

Remember to consider whether you need to wrap your gift. If you do so, use recyclable paper. A favourite hack of ours is to keep hold of the brown paper packing that is sometimes included to preserve the position of items sent through the post. This makes a great wrapping paper substitute and can be secured around the gift with colourful paper string.