If you decided to turn over a green leaf this year and live a more ethical and environmentally-friendly lifestyle, you may be facing a bit of a dilemma this Christmas.
Will your festive shopping fit into your new ethos? On the other hand, you could be someone buying for a green-minded friend and not know where to start.
Fear not, as there are many festive options out there for this niche market.
A goat is not just for Christmas...
A family in a developing country could benefit from your four-legged Christmas gift.
Charity organisations allow you to purchase a locally-sourced animal through them; it will be vaccinated and able to produce milk to drink and sell, fertiliser for crops and offspring to take to market.
And it doesn't stop at goats.
You could provide a cow for a farming family in Honduras or even a pig for a rice yielder in Cambodia.
Chocolate that is fair Treat someone to a chocolaty gift this Christmas knowing the supplier is not being exploited.
There may not be any brands out there that are necessarily fair to your hips, but you can find some that are Fairtrade, which ensures that farmers receive a better deal for their produce (in this case, cocoa) and additional income to invest in their community.
Having ownership also gives farmers a share of the company's profits and a stronger voice in their industry.
Solar powered gifts While Fairtrade is trying to make a difference across the globe, we can make a difference at our desks with a solar powered gift.
Solar powered chargers have finally hit online retailers so you can charge your laptop, mobile phone, MP3 player and any other gadget that operates at a similar voltage using solar power.
The charger is a portable device and would certainly be welcomed as a present by an energy saving enthusiast.
Eco-fragrances Someone who is not into their gadgets and more into their perfumes might appreciate an eco-fragrance.
Ethically sourced perfumes take into account issues such as deforestation in many parts of the world and look towards 'sustainable' ingredient plantations.
These may be hard to come across, so look out for smaller, organic perfume brands, which carry the Ecocert label.
And remember, locally sourced means fewer air miles, so try and get a nose for UK-produced fragrances.
Buy a gift for the environment If you really wanted to scrap commercialism for a year, you could pool together the money you would have spent on Christmas and do something green to your home.
It could be anything from getting your home insulated to avoid wasting energy, or fitting solar panels to your roof as a renewable energy resource.
You will probably save enough money on your heating bills to pay for next Christmas! And don't forget - if your Christmas present is to be wrapped (you shouldn't attempt it with the goat) be sure to use recycled gift wrap!
Will your festive shopping fit into your new ethos? On the other hand, you could be someone buying for a green-minded friend and not know where to start.
Fear not, as there are many festive options out there for this niche market.
A goat is not just for Christmas...
A family in a developing country could benefit from your four-legged Christmas gift.
Charity organisations allow you to purchase a locally-sourced animal through them; it will be vaccinated and able to produce milk to drink and sell, fertiliser for crops and offspring to take to market.
And it doesn't stop at goats.
You could provide a cow for a farming family in Honduras or even a pig for a rice yielder in Cambodia.
Chocolate that is fair Treat someone to a chocolaty gift this Christmas knowing the supplier is not being exploited.
There may not be any brands out there that are necessarily fair to your hips, but you can find some that are Fairtrade, which ensures that farmers receive a better deal for their produce (in this case, cocoa) and additional income to invest in their community.
Having ownership also gives farmers a share of the company's profits and a stronger voice in their industry.
Solar powered gifts While Fairtrade is trying to make a difference across the globe, we can make a difference at our desks with a solar powered gift.
Solar powered chargers have finally hit online retailers so you can charge your laptop, mobile phone, MP3 player and any other gadget that operates at a similar voltage using solar power.
The charger is a portable device and would certainly be welcomed as a present by an energy saving enthusiast.
Eco-fragrances Someone who is not into their gadgets and more into their perfumes might appreciate an eco-fragrance.
Ethically sourced perfumes take into account issues such as deforestation in many parts of the world and look towards 'sustainable' ingredient plantations.
These may be hard to come across, so look out for smaller, organic perfume brands, which carry the Ecocert label.
And remember, locally sourced means fewer air miles, so try and get a nose for UK-produced fragrances.
Buy a gift for the environment If you really wanted to scrap commercialism for a year, you could pool together the money you would have spent on Christmas and do something green to your home.
It could be anything from getting your home insulated to avoid wasting energy, or fitting solar panels to your roof as a renewable energy resource.
You will probably save enough money on your heating bills to pay for next Christmas! And don't forget - if your Christmas present is to be wrapped (you shouldn't attempt it with the goat) be sure to use recycled gift wrap!