Sustainable Christmas hamper Alkmaar: local, plastic-free and with social impact

What actually makes a Christmas hamper sustainable - from transport miles and packaging to packing via a social employment workshop.

Giving sustainably is about more than a green logo on the box. The real gains lie in three things: where the products come from, how they're packaged, and who puts the hamper together.

How it works at Alkmaar in a Box

• Local sourcing: our makers are based in and around Alkmaar, meaning short transport distances.
• Packaging made from recycled cardboard, paper filling, no plastic shrink wrap.
• Packing done at a social employment workshop in the city: meaningful work for people with a distance to the labour market.
• Non-perishable surplus goes to the food bank rather than the bin.
• Bundled delivery by address or postcode area, which cuts down on transport movements.

Questions you should ask a supplier

1. 01Where are the products made, and by whom?
2. 02Does the packaging or filling contain plastic?
3. 03Who packs the hampers, and under what conditions?
4. 04What happens to any surplus?
5. 05Can I choose a single address instead of a hundred separate shipments?

Sustainable, yet still personal

Sustainable doesn't mean boring. Our boxes are actually richer in flavour than a standard hamper, because small makers take more risks with their recipes.

Want to know exactly what's in a hamper and where it comes from? Every box page shows the full contents with the maker behind each product. Prefer tailored advice? Request a quote.