Image: Amelia Hart/ Oxfam

A Valentine's Day themed Oxfam Shop window in Manchester
A Valentine's Day themed Oxfam Shop window in Manchester

20 Sustainable Valentine's Day Gifts

This Valentine's Day, why not choose gifts that are kind to people and planet as well as your loved one?

Profits from all gifts bought from Oxfam go towards fighting poverty and injustice worldwide.

And they are eco-friendly, unique and unusual. Read on for Valentine's Day gifts ideas.

1. Heart Shaped Chocolate

Choose from white chocolate and strawberry. Or milk chocolate heart-shaped chocolates. Both from the Sourced by Oxfam range of chocolate and confectionery. These chocolates taste good and do good. Divine is the only Fairtrade chocolate co-operative that is 44% owned by cocoa farmers. So they can invest in improving their farms and communities.

2. Pre-loved Jewellery

Give these gems another life. Choose from our range of donated jewellery. Help reduce waste and overconsumption this Valentine's day.

Our women’s jewellery includes jewellery sets still in their original packaging. You can search for your loved one's favourite metal or stone. And our men’s jewellery, includes cufflinks and watches.

3. Pre-loved books

A hand holding a Nigella recipe book wrapped with a red bow

Second hand books can be the perfect thoughtful and heartfelt gift. Gift your loved one a beautiful rare or vintage copy of a childhood favourite, a timeless classic, or a book you both love.

4. Hand Embroidered Card

This gorgeous hand made heart card features sequins and beads. It is embroidered with care by female artisans in rural Bangladesh. The artisans also get healthcare and benefits.

5. Handmade Candles

Set the scene for a romantic Valentine's day dinner. With candles from our Sourced by Oxfam range of home fragrance. These red dinner candles are handmade in Cornwall. Using traditional, sustainable techniques.

Our beeswax pillar candles are made with wax from beekeepers in Zambia, Ethiopia, and Cameroon. Their knowledge and expertise ensures that the local bees and forests are kept healthy and flourishing. And it provides a vital reliable income.

6. Vintage Clothes and Accessories

Madison Inouye, pexels.com

We've cherry picked vintage menswear and vintage womenswear pieces. From our huge range of donated clothes.

Sizing can be tricky when buying online, especially for someone else. So look out for jackets and cosy jumpers which can be worn fashionably oversized! Or choose from our range of pre-loved men's and women's scarves and gloves. There are many designer and luxury items.

7. Cuddly Toys

The perfect cuddly and cute gift! Our donated pre-loved toys include well-known brands like Jellycat and Beanie babies. As well as unique and unusual choices. Like vintage toys, designer toys, and brand new toys with tags.

8. Snuggly blankets and cushions

You can find some gorgeous soft furnishings like throws, blankets and cushions on our online shop. They are unlike anything you can find on the high street. They're often knitted, crocheted or patchworked by hand, and many are vintage.

9. Fudge

This handmade fudge is made in the UK using Fairtrade ingredients. So you know that workers are paid fairly. It comes in seasalt and traditional butter flavours - and the vanilla flavour is vegan.

10. Rabbits Kissing Card

This sweet greeting card featuring two rabbits in love is made in the UK. From sustainably sourced paper.

11. Brand New Sustainable Jewellery

Our Sourced by Oxfam range includes these ethically sourced necklaces. Like this Fair Trade purple beaded necklace. And a druzy quartz moon pendant hand made by the TARA Fair Trade organisation. TARA supports disadvantaged artisan communities in Delhi, India. Or this brass bee pendant hammered by hand by women in Tamil Nadu, India. The women are fairly paid. And trained to increase their skills and future prospects.

12. Happiness Essential Oils

Create a calm atmosphere, and brighten up the vibes of any space with these Happiness essential oils. To be added to a carrier oil or oil diffuser. These oils are distilled, bottled and packaged by a socially responsible and fair trade organisation, Song of India in Delhi. Some of the profits support the education of children in Rajasthan, India.

13. Moomin Hug Pin

Gift a hug that you can carry with you everywhere. With this Moomin pin. We have a partnership with Moomin Characters to create exclusive products. These help fund Oxfam's work fighting poverty and inequality. Perfect for anyone who's "terribly, terribly in love!"

14. Tony's Chocolonely Rainbow Gift Set

This fun and colourful rainbow chocolate gift set is perfect for trying out some new flavours. Including caramel sea salt, almond honey nougat, dark almond sea salt and hazelnut. The Tony's Chocolonely company are on a mission to end slavery. Not only in their own supply chains but in the entire chocolate industry.

15. Recycled Rainbow Card

This gorgeous rainbow love card is part of our range of Fairtrade greetings cards. This one is handmade from recycled office waste in Rwanda.

16. Moomin Mug

This adorable Moomin hug mug is perfect for a comforting warm drink.

It's printed with the quote from Moominpappa at sea: 'We're alike, you and I,' he thought. 'We understand each other, we only care about beautiful things.'

17. Cozy Kantha throw

Snuggle up. This elephant printed kantha throw is made from recycled fabric and block printed by hand by Fair trade group Gopalas in Jaipur, India. They work as a platform for Indian artists and craftspeople who are in need of work, and try to keep traditional skills alive through its products. We also have throws featuring monkeys and tigers.

18. Truffle Making Kit

Formal or time-consuming dinner too much faff? Make truffles together with this kit. It's a great gift for spending time together, with some sweet treats to look forward to at the end. All the ingredients in this kit are high quality, organic, Fairtrade and palm oil free. Cocoa Loco is an ethical chocolate company who reinvest profits into the health and education of communities in the Dominican Republic.

19. Flowers

Instead of cut flowers that won't last long past February, celebrate love that grows over time. These wildflower seed packs support and attract bees and butterflies. They'll also benefit your local wildlife. You could plant them out in these minimalist plant pots made in the UK recycled plastics. Perfect for small balconies and windowsills. Or this recycled terracotta plant pot. The pot is hand painted by women in rural areas of Bangladesh.

20. Wrapping paper

Our sustainable wrapping paper will add the finishing touch to your carefully chosen gift. This pink and gold peacock patterned paper is the perfect choice for Valentine's day.

Photo at the top of the page: Amelia Hart/ Oxfam