Gift-giving is one of life’s simple joys. From the challenge of finding the perfect present to watching your loved one’s face as they unwrap it, giving a gift is exciting for all.
When considering great gift ideas for your friends or family, it’s usually a good idea to go with something that matches their passions, hobbies and interests. This shows you know what they like, and you’ve put a lot of thought into it.
If you’re worried about finding the perfect gift for a vegan loved one, the good news is you’re likely overthinking it. Nowadays, it’s easy to find vegan versions of practically anything, so you just need to be wise to a few basic rules. In this article, we will be covering the do and don'ts of vegan gift giving as well as 10 gift ideas for any occasion.
Veganism 101
As recently as a decade ago, veganism was considered niche but it’s now well and truly in the mainstream. From vegan steaks to faux leather jackets, there isn’t much left that hasn’t been veganised.
Before we do a brief rundown of what you should know when shopping for vegan gifts, let’s take a quick look at how vegan differs from vegetarian.
What’s the Difference Between Vegan and Vegetarian?
If you’re unfamiliar with these terms, it’s easy to get confused.
Essentially, vegetarians typically use animal products, such as honey, milk, eggs, cheese, etc., but don’t eat meat. On the other hand, vegans tend to avoid all animal products.
Veganism also often relates to everything a person uses, such as clothes and cosmetics, whereas vegetarianism is mostly about diet.
Shopping For Vegans
Despite having some dietary and lifestyle restrictions, vegans naturally still want to indulge in the same joys as everyone else.
From high-quality clothing to luxury beauty products and decadent sweet treats, there’s no reason to miss out when adhering to an animal-product-free way of life. And, once you hit the shops, you’ll soon realize just how simple it is to find a great vegan gift.
If you want to give an edible present, like a box of chocolates or cookies, it’s easy to identify vegan options by looking for a vegan label or logo. If you can’t find either of these and want to be sure, check the ingredients for animal products, such as milk and eggs.
Side note: There is a difference between being vegan and being allergic to animal ingredients such as dairy. Some people choose products that are free from animal ingredients because they’re allergic, not because they follow a vegan lifestyle. For this reason, it’s helpful to know that many vegan items are produced in factories that handle dairy, so there’s a risk of cross-contamination which makes a lot of vegan products unsuitable for allergy sufferers. However, these products are still considered vegan, and most vegans won’t mind this as they understand the risk is minimal. So, if you see ‘may contain traces of milk’ on the packaging, don’t worry, this would still be a great gift for most vegans unless they are also allergic to dairy.
For cosmetics and other beauty products, it’s wise to check for animal-derived ingredients and investigate if the product has been tested on animals. Common animal-based ingredients in cosmetics include beeswax, collagen, gelatin and lanolin.
When it comes to clothing and accessories, the key materials to avoid are leather, wool, fur, feathers and silk. You might also come across less common animal products, such as snakeskin and goat hair, so always double-check the label.
10 Great Vegan Gift Ideas
Whether it’s for a birthday, Christmas, graduation or for no reason at all, you’ll find the perfect gift idea in the following list.
1. Vegan Chocolate
If food is your love language, show you care with luxury chocolate. This gift is great for any occasion and can feature in a bundle with other high-end sweet treats.
Although dairy milk is an obvious no-no, it’s a common misconception that all dark chocolate is suitable for vegans. This is because sugar is often processed using bone char, an animal ingredient typically taken from cows. So, to play it safe, look for a brand or label that states that the product is suitable for vegans.
Unsure which chocolate bar to choose? For a tasty plant-based way to show you care, check out Cheeky Vegan chocolate bars.
If they’re not a chocolate lover, you might consider vegan fudge, doughnuts, cookies or even bake something delicious yourself.
2. Vegan Subscription Service
Sign your loved one up for a subscription service for a gift that keeps giving. These services typically deliver a box of goodies every month.
With so many to choose from, you’ll easily find the perfect match for your loved one’s personality and interests.
Here are some vegan subscription services:
- The Vegan Bakes for freshly baked treats.
- Vegan Town for confectionery.
- Lush Kitchen Box for a combo of Lush products.
- Happily Ever After for books and vegan treats.
- The Natural Beauty Box for cosmetics and beauty products.
- Nutribox for healthy sweet and savoury snacks.
3. Vegan Cookbook
If the vegan in your life loves learning new recipes and cooking at home, a new cookbook for their collection will be well received.
Countless amazing chefs are creating fantastic animal-product-free recipes these days, so you’ll be spoilt for choice. To get started, check out cookbooks by BOSH!, Rachel Ama, Hannah Che and Max La Manna.
Or, go one step further and enroll them in a local vegan cooking class!
4. Cruelty-Free Vegan Cosmetics
For many vegans, making animal-free choices extends beyond the plate and into other aspects of their lives, such as cosmetics and other beauty products.
Fortunately, choices for cruelty-free vegan cosmetics are no longer limited to just a few brands, with all kinds of products available for every gender.
Some of the most popular cruelty-free vegan beauty brands to choose from are:
Sidenote: Cruelty-free cosmetics are certified as not tested on animals but aren’t always made from 100% vegan ingredients, so it’s important to check for both labels.
5. Vegan Clothes and Accessories
Everyone loves a new addition to their wardrobe and the number of vegan clothing brands has boomed in recent years, meaning it’s now easy to rock animal-friendly fashion.
As a bonus, many vegan clothing brands, such as Vegan Outfitters and Viva La Vegan are ethical and organic, making them great for the planet in more ways than one.
6. Houseplants
Houseplants make for a beautiful gift and there’s a huge variety to choose from. You can even start a tradition by giving a new plant for every special occasion.
Remember, if your loved one isn’t particularly green-fingered, you might want to choose low-maintenance plants, such as succulents. Alternatively, opt for a terrarium to enjoy plants with no maintenance required at all.
7. Make a Donation in Their Name
For friends and family members who are vegan for the animals, a donation to a vegan charity or animal sanctuary is a guaranteed great gift. There are countless amazing organisations to choose from that need ongoing support.
Vegan charities that you could donate to include:
- Viva!
- Animal Aid
- ProVeg
- Goodheart Farm Animal Sanctuary
- Eden Farmed Animal Sanctuary
- Ananda Animal Sanctuary
- Surge Sanctuary
8. Tickets to a Vegan Event
As the popularity of plant-based diets has grown, so has the number of festivals, food fairs, conventions and other events promoting the plant-based way of life.
Gifting your loved one tickets to one of these events gives them a chance to enjoy a full day of fun with like-minded people. This is a wonderful opportunity to make new friends, try new products and learn more about the wonderful world of veganism.
9. Restaurant Trip or Voucher
Going out for a meal is a personal way to celebrate a special day, regardless of the occasion. This is a time for you to spend some quality moments together that will be remembered for years to come.
If you’re unable to take your loved one for a meal at their favourite vegan eatery, a restaurant gift card is the next best thing. A gift card lets them have a meal on you, even though you can’t be there to celebrate.
10. Vegan Gift Cards
Despite your best efforts, you might not find the right gift. In this case, you can purchase a vegan gift card for any amount and your loved one can choose a present.
Many vegan businesses offer gift cards, such as ethical gift company Life Less Ordinary and plant-based meal kit brand Planthood.
The Joy of Giving Gifts
Giving gifts is one of life’s simple pleasures and there’s no need to wait for a special occasion. Sometimes the most memorable gifts are the ones we weren’t expecting. So, if you’re looking for a way to show someone you’re thinking about them, pick one of the great gift ideas from our list today.