Escape's Good Gift Guide 2022

Preach Anne.

As each year rolls around, and the number of Christmasses ticks up by 1, we become a little more conscious of the impact of the money we spend. 

It can feel like once we've paid, it’s gone, sucked out of our cards or invisibly shot from our phones.

But that money lands somewhere. It can go to supporting a cause you care about, to a small business owner making their part of the world better, or it might be forked out onto the beaches of a tax haven. A little melodramatic I know, but it is Christmas.

Escape is now 12 years old (so this year I guess we’re hoping for a bike) and we’ve seen the purposeful business movement grow so much in that time. It is now commonplace for people to create businesses that improve our world, rather than merely taking from it. 

Here is a list of some of those incredible and inspiring businesses that not only create amazing gifts but are bringing meaning and purpose to the world. We know that you’ll find some absolutely amazing and inspiring gifts here, and each one is a vote for a better world.

Read on to discover Escape’s recommended gifts to unwrap, gifts to eat and drink, gifts to experience, gifts of giving, and sustainable choices.

Chilly’s - Stylish and sustainable water bottles that keep your water chilly (or hot)

Chilly’s mission is to provide cold water on the go, without having to buy single-use plastic water bottles. The result was Chilly’s bottle, combining the convenience of a plastic water bottle with the eco-friendly benefits of a traditional flask. A perfect gift that will be used every day. 

Psst, also Chillys are hiring now! 8 live jobs!

UpCircle Beauty - The beauty brand built around the closed-loop circular economy

The circular economy sits at the heart of what UpCircle Beauty do, they even named themselves after it. They are the only brand to scale up repurposing wasted ingredients, which can make our skin healthier and more radiant – like used coffee grounds, fruit stones and brewed chai tea spices - into skincare formulations. It’s beautiful and nourishing on many levels. 

UpCircle Beauty were #18 in our Escape 100 Awards 2021!

St. Eval - Cornish candlemakers and B Corp

St. Eval have been pioneering ethical and sustainable business since 1993 and were recipients of ​​the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development. Alongside making some truly wonderful candles, they produce their own power and are on their way to becoming carbon-neutral and plastic free. An inspiring example of what B Corp businesses can do, and how they can help their community. 

Y.O.U Underwear - Changing the world, one pair of pants at a time

A gift of pants may well be more powerful than you thought. At Y.O.U Underwear their vision is to make organic cotton underwear while also improving access to education for women and girls. They donate two pairs for every pair you purchase. Truly changing the world with Your Own Underwear!

Y.O.U Underwear came in at #40 in our Escape 100 Awards this year!

Rapanui - Sustainable clothes, driven by tech

Rapanui's 3 pillars of sustainable clothing are, natural and organic products, made-to-order to cut out overproduction and waste, and ensuring their process is circular and renewable. It’s carbon-neutral, ethical clothing that is built to last. The way it should be. Help support these guys to be the future of fashion. 

Pact Coffee - A coffee revolution

Pact Coffee are cutting out the supply chain in coffee and going straight to the farmers, often paying up to 60% above the fairtrade base rate. Not only are they helping support individual farmers and communities, but they do so in a way that is gentle to the planet. Give someone the gift of amazing coffee this year, but also, put your money towards making the industry fairer and more sustainable. 

Pact Coffee have 2 jobs live with us right now! 

Pentire Drinks - Coastal botanicals for people who love adventure

Inspired by the coast and what grows there, Pentire make healthy drinks for those living an active and adventurous life. This company treats the environment with the care and attention of people who have lived and loved the outdoor lifestyle their whole lives. Sustainability and respect is at the heart of what they do, and this is demonstrated by their B Corp certification.

NEMI Teas - Organic and sustainable tea that supports refugees

Not only do NEMI create delicious organic certified tea with teabags that are plastic-free with biodegradable packaging, but they also provide support to refugees settling in the UK. This is the kind of care and attention true tea lovers bring to their operation, one that guarantees the sustainability of the tea itself – and one that gives back to our communities and the most vulnerable. 

Brew Gooder - Scottish brewers supporting clean-water projects in Malawi

Introducing Brew Gooder, B Corp, Escape 100 winner, and delicious beer maker. Beer must be one of the go-to gifts for peripheral men in your life, and with me being a peripheral man in various people’s lives, I’m very happy about that. Thankfully Brewgooder believes that the beer we enjoy can create waves of people-positive change and improve people’s lives. For every can or pint of their beer enjoyed, they commit to providing 100 times that amount to clean water on projects undertaken by their trusted impact partner, Charity Water. Buy the gift of beer and water this Christmas. 

Sea Change - Eco-friendly and ethical wine producers protecting our oceans

Sea Change combines their love of great wine with their desire to do something to help protect the oceans. Every bottle of Sea Change helps fund ocean conservation projects across the globe, and their minimal packaging reduces waste and environmental impact. Ethical wine just tastes better too.

The Wonky Food Company - Helping stop imperfect food going to waste

Chutney that doesn’t just taste good, but does good too. The Wonky Food Company are helping to reduce food waste. Currently, 40% of food grown in the UK goes to waste. Working with farmers, suppliers and retailers, Wonky Food collects the perfectly imperfect surplus fruit and veg and turns them into delicious tasting products that work so well as gifts. 

Pasta Evangelists - Ingredients of restaurant standard food, delivered

Some organisations get you on board as soon as you see their name. Pasta Evangelists deliver customers fresh, handmade pasta, the finest sauces & beautiful garnishes from Italy, inviting them to prepare a 5* pasta dish in the comfort of their own home. A subscription from Pasta Evangelists is the gift of restaurant food every night. And as a cherry (tomato) on top, they are striving to be a zero-waste business by 2025. 

Pasta Evangelists have 2 jobs live on our job board right now!

Ooni Pizza Ovens - Modern stylish pizza ovens

Ooni have created the most incredible and stylish pizza ovens that allow for you to bring restaurant-standard pizzas to your own garden or patio. With options for gas ovens which for ease of use, or wood burners for that incredible smoky taste. However, Ooni isn’t solely focussed on pizza, they also run a kind business model. They donate 1% of every sale to carefully chosen social and environmental causes and are a member of 1% for the Planet.

Ooni currently have 2 live jobs on our jobs board!

Ferly - Smashing taboos so everyone can find peace and pleasure!

Ferly is an impact-driven, sexual well-being company on a mission to empower every person to nurture their most important relationship - the one with themselves. Pleasure is personal so they’ve built a space where women can discover their bodies, know their minds and understand their social worlds more deeply than ever before. It’s a pretty radical gift, but one that could change a life.

Ferly were finalists in our Escape 100 campaign 2019! And check out the founder and CEO Billie Quinlan's interview on our podcast here.

Hotpod Yoga - A heart-warming gift

Give the gift of a more flexible body and mind, and a lot of heat. If you haven’t experienced Hotpod yoga, it is such a fun thing to do with a friend or family member. This is the kind of gift you can take part in too. 

Hotpod Yoga were a finalist in our Escape 100 campaign 2019!

NaTakallam - Give the gift of language and help those in need

NaTakallam are simultaneously providing language services and digital jobs for refugees, combining skill-building, income and work. Their impact is incredible, so far they have helped €1.5 million be earned by refugees, immigrants and host community members. Learning a language is an incredible practice and skill, and now you can give someone this gift and also help support displaced people to build meaningful careers. 

Stay Nimble - The gift of a better career

Give the gift of a re-energised career this festive period. Sign up for Stay Nimble's free Discovery programme (including 30 minutes of free, expert career coaching) and every two days in December the Stay Nimble team will randomly upgrade an account to their Thrive programme (worth £480 with 6 hours of coaching support and much more) free of charge. 

Soil Association - Joining forces with nature

The Soil Association Charity was formed to pioneer a better world – one where we can all farm, eat and live healthily in balance with the environment. If you know someone who is passionate about the environment and the natural world, why not buy them a subscription so they join a community of people who want to see lasting change with the way we form and care for the soil.

Treedom - A sustainable gift for a greener planet

Treedom is the first platform to allow people and companies to plant trees and see their impact online, supporting local farmers around the world. You can choose the perfect tree to gift to a friend or loved one, and help build a healthier greener planet in their name.

Do Nation - Pledge healthier habits for a healthier planet

Do Nation offers something a bit different in terms of charitable action. If people are asking what you want for Christmas you can ask them to make pledges. You set up a campaign, maybe set yourself a challenge, and rather than people giving you money they make commitments that reduce their impact on the environment, like eating less meat or cycling to work for a month.

Pot Gang - Getting beginners growing their own fruit and veg

This is such a great gift. Many people feel the urge to grow things, to see the magic of leaves and fruits unfold from a diet of soil and light. It’s magic, but to many people it’s daunting, they don’t know what to do, what should they plant and when? Pot Gang is a monthly subscription service that sends you seasonal seeds when they want to be planted, with no thought required on your part. They also send starter pots and compost as well as offering advice and support. Growing your own fruit and veg is so much fun, give someone that gift this Christmas.

Auklett - Plastic free, eco friendly products 

Auklett make zero-waste swaps that benefit both the consumer and the planet. They make products that are planet friendly, compostable where possible, reusable, and ethically made with Zero Plastic Packaging. If you know someone that is interested in being zero-waste or you know shops at eco stores and re-uses their products, you know they’ll love this. 

AllMatters - The gift of sustainable care

AllMatters’ goal is to unfold a #NewPeriod of periods – making them easier, healthier, and greener for half the world's population. AllMatters is an amazing organisation spreading awareness of how periods affect teenagers around the world, educating communities on menstrual health and donating cups to those in need. Give someone the gift of helping protect our planet every month. 

Bike Club - A kids bike subscription service 

Bike Club are making sure that you never have to buy a kids bike again. They aim to make cycling more affordable and sustainable. A child's bike subscription service allowing you to exchange as your child grows. Making sure they'll always be riding the perfect size bike. Why not gift a lucky child in your life the present of a bike that fits, and their parents the price of a new bike!

Bike Club were winners of our Escape 100 campaign 2022