We understand that buying gifts is a struggle, let alone gifts for people who are cautious with what they consume. Before looking at the different options available, it’s essential to understand what eco-friendly people seek in a product; they’re normally in search of sustainable products. We’ve shortlisted 7 online stores to help you shop for the environmentally friendly friends in your life:
1. These 2 founders are best friends and environmental enthusiasts
Zahra Hussain and Shanze Malik are the names behind ENVO (@envo.pk). They put months on end into research after taking their inspiration from the wild grass straws made in Vietnam. This allowed them to come up with a product that uses wheat as its raw material and is readily replacing plastic straws around Pakistan. Moreover, all their profits are reinvested into the company’s research department to enhance the product in any way possible. Their wheat straws are biodegradable, reusable, and sustainable. The price of a small box of straws is RS. 200 and that of a large box of straws is Rs. 300. Check them out here!
2. This brand is all about responsible consumption
Trashitpk (@trashitpk) is one of the very firsts brands in Pakistan attempting to educate and assist people to practice composting. Their journey started at a startup competition and now has about 1000 satisfied customers. Due to their innovative ideas, they’ve won multiple awards including ‘She Loves Tech Pakistan’ in 2017. Their ‘ecobaksa’ is a perfect gift for your eco-friendly friend because it contains a variety of goodies including a compost bag, 3 packs of seeds, a stainless steel straw, a tote bag, and more. The price range for this store is between Rs. 100 and Rs. 3000. Check them out here!
3. This homegrown business is on a mission to restore the relationship between human beings and Mother Nature
Greenspacepk (@greenspacepk) is where you can find unique plants with aesthetically pleasing pots. This homegrown startup sources its plants from multiple different producers to ensure that only the best quality plants are sold to its customers. These plants are also treated with organic insecticides and repotted in optimal growing media so that the customers have to put in the bare minimum effort to keep their plants thriving. Your friend is in for a surprise if you give them the ‘Golden Sedum’ plant because its golden color turns to crimson if it is exposed to direct sunlight for a long period of time. The plants from this store sell between the prices of Rs. 300 and Rs. 3000. Check them out here!
4. This online store is a one-woman show
Thesoulapothecaryandco (@thesoulapothecaryandco) is run by Shanal Kazi who is a certified aromatherapist and herbalist from the NY school of aromatherapy. She makes her infusions and oils and currently has 3 products which include the sundaze smudge bundle, and two others. She will be launching her fall collection ‘Golden Hour’ soon so stay on the lookout for that! The sundaze smudge bundle is a spin on the ancient Egyptian ritual of smudging which was used for healing and cleansing energy by burning herbs. These products retail between Rs. 1200 and Rs. 3000. Check them out here!
5. This brand’s products are made using salt from the Khewra Salt Mines
Kevrok (@kevrokws) is a brand that believes in sustainability and ensures that it takes all the steps necessary to impact the environment positively. The brand holds the salt from the Khewra Mines in high regard as it claims that it is ‘untouched by modern-day pollution’. Balancing pH, removing toxins, and regulating water content are a few of the benefits of using Kevrok’s products as they contain traces of minerals. The prices of these products range from Rs.1000 to Rs.3000. Check them out here!
6. Being away from home made this founder realize just how desperately Pakistan’s environment needs our attention
After spending several years abroad, Ahmad Tariq, the founder of Nashonumapk, (@nashonumapk) came home to thick smog and piles of trash. This resulted in him taking the initiative to educate and enable the Pakistani community to take steps towards a healthier environment through using sustainable, ecological, and reusable products. You’ll surely find something at Nashonumapk because their wide variety of products contains everything from ‘Bamboo Cutlery Sets’ to ‘Reusable Makeup Remover Pads’. This stores’ products lie within the range of Rs. 45 and Rs. 2745. Check them out here!
7. This brand is run by an NCA graduate
After graduating with a degree in Communication Design, Natasha Zubair (@nastashazubairstationery) decided to share her love for stationery and design with the world. You can find everything from notebooks to pouches and even envelopes on her website. And trust us when we say that you’re going to want to buy everything! The reason why products from natashazubairstationery might be a very appealing choice for environmentalists is that it uses recycled paper (and they’re really cute). The stationery from this store retails under Rs. 900. Check them out here!
