From coconuts and newspapers to London’s old fire hoses, these presents are saving materials and supporting the circular economy. Here are a selection of weird and wonderful gifts made from items that would otherwise end up being thrown away.
Plates Pieced Together from Discarded Ceramics
Made using ‘rescued’ shards of broken pottery, each piece of this tableware collection is unique. Celebrated Italian pottery designer, Nicola Fasano has upcycled these broken plates and bowls into hand-painted and glazed statement pieces for sustainable retailer Rentrayage.
Paper Made from Elephant Dung
This notebook is created using handmade paper made from elephant dung. Pressed by skilled artisans in Sri Lanka, the poo for the paper is collected from an elephant conservation trust that cares for sick, disabled and elderly elephants. The dung is collected, boiled and disinfected then mixed with recycled paper. Each page is completely different based on the diet of the elephant it came from.
Inner Tube Wallets and Purses
Cycle of Good is on a mission to save bicycle tyre inner tubes from ending up in landfill. Collected from cyclists across the UK, they turn the inner tubes into everything from belts to wallets and cases for your tech. Each recycled tube is different with some featuring the odd puncture repair or manufacturers marking. It means that no two items will ever be identical.
