As homes glow with festive lights and year-end celebrations gather momentum, the act of gifting is taking on a deeper meaning. From homes to boardrooms, thoughtful choices are shaping what goes into festive hampers, with consumers increasingly opting for presents that reflect care not just for loved ones, but for the planet as well. According to the Hansa Research Festive Insight 2025 report, 78 per cent of shoppers now gravitate towards eco-friendly gifting, while 66 per cent seek brands aligned with conscious, value-driven celebrations. In parallel, India’s gifting market - estimated at ₹12,000 crore and expanding at over 200 per cent annually - is witnessing an overwhelming 80 per cent tilt towards sustainable gifting options.
Sustainable and Mindful Gifting
At the heart of this movement are enterprises that place people and the planet on equal footing with profit. For Neju George, CEO of GreenKraft, a women-owned producer collective rooted in rural Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Odisha, sustainability begins with choices that honour both natural materials and the livelihoods behind them. “Festive decorations shouldn’t harm the soil we walk on tomorrow,” points out George. Incubated by the Industree Foundation, GreenKraft works with women weavers and artisans to create high-quality, hand-woven home and lifestyle products using bamboo, banana bark and Sal leaves - natural alternatives to the plastic that dominates nearly 93 per cent of Christmas décor. “At GreenKraft, each piece is handmade by rural women, and all revenue flows directly back to them,” George explains. This festive season, the brand’s thoughtfully curated holiday hampers - from the Frosted Vine Hamper to the Christmas Carols Hamper - bring together reusable décor, bamboo string lights and tealight holders. Customisable corporate hampers, George adds, allow organisations to align festive gifting with sustainability goals while directly empowering women artisans.
Thoughtful gifting is no longer a niche preference; it is fast becoming a mainstream choice for a growing segment of consumers. This evolution signals something deeper than a passing trend. It reflects a collective realisation that gifting can be both heartfelt and mindful; a way to celebrate life’s moments while nurturing the planet that sustains them.
For Gaurav Manchanda, Founder and Director of The Organic World, sustainability extends beyond materials to transparency, health and trust. “We encourage responsible gifting by making worry-free choices easier,” he says. Every product in the brand’s portfolio is curated to avoid harmful chemicals, unnecessary packaging, while actively supporting organic farmers and ethical production systems. “From toxin-free incense and preservative-free plum cakes to cookies, everyday snacks and plant-derived home care solutions, consumers can create personalised DIY hampers that feel both festive and purposeful. Gifting should feel good to give and meaningful to receive,” Manchanda notes - a sentiment that resonates strongly with shoppers seeking gifts that tell a story beyond the wrapping.
Utility & Purpose Driven-Gifting
Utility-driven gifting, too, is gaining ground as consumers look beyond symbolic gestures. “Festive gifting in India is increasingly moving towards choices that reflect long-term value,” says Rajendra Gandhi, Managing Director of Stovekraft. Under its Pigeon brand, kitchen appliances such as air fryers, cast iron cookware, induction cooktops and nutri blenders are being chosen for their relevance to everyday life and healthier living. “In a country where the kitchen is central to family life, gifting tools that make cooking faster, safer and healthier simply makes sense,” Gandhi explains.
Old-School Joy, New-Age Gifting
Balancing tradition with innovation is another hallmark of this season’s gifting landscape. At Elite Foods, Danesa Ragulal, Executive Director, speaks of how plum cakes continue to anchor festive celebrations across generations. “They’re nostalgic and deeply familiar,” she says, while noting the brand’s expansion into lighter pudding cakes like banana and butterscotch to appeal to evolving tastes. Enhanced festive packaging and curated hampers combining cookies, brownies and cupcakes ensure these offerings are gift-ready and accessible across the country.
Arvind Ramachandran, Vice President – Marketing at Dairy Day, points out that ice cream cakes remain a central part of festive moments at home. “With their visual appeal and celebratory indulgence, they have become popular options for surprise gifting. We’ve introduced special festive packaging and new formats like Bento Cakes, designed for mini celebrations and everyday gifting,” he says, highlighting how thoughtful sizing and formats help reduce excess while preserving joy.
Taken together, these perspectives underscore a broader cultural shift. Today’s festive gifting is about more than exchange; it is about intention. As consumers increasingly choose eco-friendly options and organisations respond with thoughtful, responsible offerings, the season of giving is evolving into a celebration of community, care and conscious living - proving that the most meaningful gifts are those that leave the world a little greener than they found it.
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