Christmas is often a season when generosity unintentionally turns into waste. Glittering packages hide objects destined to last only briefly — gifts that fade quickly and are soon forgotten. To challenge this cycle, The Guardian, one of the world’s most respected newspapers, has published its guide “Nine eco-minded gifts that actually make a difference”, spotlighting sustainable gifts that generate value rather than waste.
Among The Guardian’s curated list — which includes repair kits, reusable essentials and low-impact products — the Ecobnb Gift Cards stand out as an innovative, meaningful way to give the gift of sustainable travel. This international recognition underscores how eco-friendly hospitality has shifted from niche interest to global priority.
Why Ecobnb Gift Cards stand out
In his article, journalist Christopher Allbritton notes a key issue: many hotels and tourism businesses label themselves “green” with little or no transparency. A term often stretched thin, and frequently disconnected from real impact.
Ecobnb takes the opposite approach. Every accommodation on the platform must comply with at least 5 of the 10 sustainability criteria established by the Ecobnb network, including:
- use of 100% renewable energy
- installation of solar thermal panels
- measurable water-saving initiatives
- serving organic or locally sourced food
- recycling at least 80% of waste
- promoting slow and sustainable mobility
- energy-efficient systems
- eco-friendly building materials and green architecture
- environmentally safe cleaning products
- rainwater collection and reuse
These are rigorous, transparent and measurable standards. Requirements are initially self-assessed by hosts, then validated by travelers, who provide sustainability-focused reviews after their stay.
A model based on transparency and accountability — one that turns travelers into active contributors to responsible tourism.
Over 3,000 eco-stays worldwide
The Guardian also highlights the global reach of the platform: more than 3,000 eco-friendly accommodations in 95 countries. From the forests of Trentino to Portugal’s Atlantic coast, from Slovenia’s iconic treehouses to desert glamping in Morocco, from mountain refuges to Costa Rican jungle lodges, Ecobnb offers a world of authentic and low-impact travel experiences.
Each stay invites travelers to slow down, discover local ecosystems and reconnect with nature.
The digital gift cards can be used on any property across the platform — an open, inspiring gift that celebrates freedom and imagination.
The story behind a gift: Gabriella’s experience
One of the stories highlighted by the Guardian is that of Gabriella, who received an Ecobnb Gift Card for her birthday. She used it for a stay at Rifugio di Mare in Sardinia — a retreat nestled in nature, surrounded by silence, greenery and brilliant starlit skies.
Her experience — slow mornings, genuine hospitality, intimate atmospheres — captures the essence of sustainable travel: not possession, but presence; not consumption, but connection.
Sustainable gifts that redefine the Christmas imagination
The Guardian’s message is clear: some gifts inspire a shift in perspective, extend the life of what we use, support local communities and help reduce our environmental impact. Ecobnb Gift Cards fall into this category because they represent not just a present, but a conscious cultural choice.
They support:
- responsible accommodations that protect landscapes
- local economies and authentic experiences
- a slower, more respectful way of traveling
In an era defined by the climate crisis, gifting an experience that lowers environmental impact is an act of care — for loved ones and for our shared planet.
A lighter, more meaningful Christmas
Ecobnb’s inclusion in The Guardian’s list of sustainable Christmas gifts encourages us to imagine a different kind of holiday season — one shaped by intention, awareness and gifts that don’t add clutter, but expand horizons.
A gift that doesn’t end with an object, but becomes an experience, a memory, a journey.
Read the full article on The Guardian
