Christmas hamper without food: worthwhile alternatives to edibles

For teams with many dietary requirements or a non-food preference: these are the strongest Rotterdam alternatives.

Sometimes you deliberately don't want to give food: lots of dietary requirements, a health programme within the company, or simply because last year's gift was already edible.

Four strong directions

1. 01A sustainable water bottle or thermos flask from a Rotterdam maker.
2. 02Ceramics: a mug, bowl or vase from a city studio.
3. 03Textiles: a tea towel, bag or blanket with a Rotterdam design.
4. 04An experience: a voucher for a local harbour tour, museum or workshop.

Combining with a donation

A smaller non-food gift plus a donation on behalf of the team to a Rotterdam charity works well - and fits the social impact we work with ourselves.

In practice

Tip: don't ask 'why no food', ask 'what instead'

Reasons to skip food vary: allergies, diets, a team already drowning in treats, or sustainability policy. The reason determines the alternative. For allergies, non-food works; for sustainability policy, a donation or a reusable item fits better.

Tip: four strong alternatives

• A good everyday object: water bottle, ceramics, linen textiles.
• Experience: credit for a tour, museum visit or workshop with a maker in the city.
• Time: an extra afternoon off in January, formally confirmed on the card.
• Impact: a donation on the recipient's behalf, with a choice of two or three causes.

Tip: make experiences concrete

A vague voucher rarely gets redeemed. Put a name, an address and an expiry date on the card, and keep the window generous - at least six months. An experience redeemed in March actually extends the gift.

Tip: with a donation, let people choose

Picking the charity yourself quickly feels like your gift to yourself. Offer two or three options, let the recipient choose via a simple link, and report back the total afterwards. That last step is what makes it genuinely shared.

Tip: keep it tangible

Even without food, people want something in their hands. A well-designed card, a small keyring or a print of the city marks the difference between 'we arranged something' and 'we gave something'.

We put together non-food hampers to order from 15 pieces. For inspiration, take a look at our existing boxes or request a non-food proposal.