Eco-friendly Mother’s Day gifts that give back

Annika Collins

March 10, 2021

Did you know that millions of Mother’s Day gifts are bought each year in the UK, many of which are single-use or heavily packaged? Choosing eco-friendly Mother’s Day gifts is a simple way to show love not only to Mum, but to the planet too.

Mothering Sunday is typically celebrated every March in the UK. You may choose to shower her with gifts, send a card, treat her to a homemade Sunday lunch or help by completing her not so favourite household chores. You may even just be marking the occasion somehow to remember the Mum’s who are no longer with us.

Whether your mum lives a little further away, or you simply want the ease of sending a surprise straight to her doorstep, ordering online can make Mother’s Day extra special. So with Mother’s Day right around the corner, check out these eco-friendly gifts and ideas to help treat your Mum to something ethically lovely!

Here’s some of our suggestions:

Dedicate a tree

We love this one! Whatever your reason, as a gift or in memory of a loved one, dedicating a tree is a lasting and meaningful way to celebrate.

You can help grow a forest, creating woodland to benefit our wildlife’s habitats. Find out more at The National Forest.

Planting trees supports biodiversity and helps tackle climate change, something organisations like Woodland Trust actively promote.

Recycled wine glasses

After cooking up a storm in the kitchen and creating a yummy Sunday lunch for your mum, maybe she would like to enjoy a glass of wine with her food.

What about buying her some new glasses that are made from 100% recycled material? Here are some examples from One World Shop and Shared Earth.

Choosing recycled glass reduces the need for raw materials and lowers energy consumption.

The traditional flowers (with a sustainable twist)

If you want to take the more traditional route of sending a beautiful bunch of flowers, maybe research who you buy from and choose a company like Bunches that works hard to protect the environment by using sustainable resources.

You could also look for locally grown seasonal flowers to reduce air miles.

Donate to charity

Choosing to donate to a charity close to someone’s heart is becoming increasingly popular. It’s a meaningful way to give back while honouring someone special.

Oxfam unwrapped charity gifts

You could treat your mum to one of Oxfam’s unique gifts, where profits will be used to help others.

You could pick a goat, help provide safe water, feed a family or care for mums and babies, a gift that truly keeps giving.

Why choose eco-friendly Mother’s Day gifts?

Sustainable gifting reduces waste, supports ethical businesses and helps lower carbon emissions. Small swaps, like recycled materials, ethical sourcing or experience-based gifts, make a real difference.

If you’re looking for more ways to reduce waste at home, explore our helpful recycling guides and tips across the recycle-more website.

You can also learn more about what can be recycled in your area by visiting our recycling locator tool or browsing our latest recycling tips and advice pages.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author, Annika Collins, and do not necessarily reflect the views of recycle-more, Valpak Limited, or any other organisation.