Eco-Gifts Take Center Stage at AGHA Melbourne Gift Fair 2025

The **AGHA Melbourne Gift Fair 2025** (2-6 August) at MCEC showcased Australia’s finest eco-conscious creations, especially within the celebrated **Australian Made Pavilion**-a curated zone of locally crafted, sustainable products. From FSC-certified toys and recycled stationery to carbon-neutral greeting cards and plastic-free planners, this fair highlighted how innovation and environmental responsibility go hand-in-hand. Whether you're a retailer or creator, it proved that sustainable gifting is more than a trend-it’s a market expectation.

Anny

8/9/20251 min read

I always look forward to inspiration-and the AGHA Melbourne Gift Fair (2-6 August 2025) delivered in the most inspiring way possible. As someone passionate about sustainable design, I couldn’t help but be impressed by how deeply eco-ethos is woven into this year's showcase at MCEC.

Local Craftsmanship Meets Sustainability

The Australian Made Pavilion was one of my favorite areas—it’s a curated space bustling with locally made, eco-conscious products, all marked proudly with the green-and-gold kangaroo logo. According to AGHA CEO Anita Campbell, it’s a “major drawcard” for visitors who value quality, sustainability, and craftsmanship.

Retail trends reflect this, too: “96% of Australians prefer locally made products, and 91% want to see more of them,” reports the Australian Made campaign.

Sustainability in Every Aisle

Wandering through the fair, I noticed brands like Axis Toys, whose “Sassi eco lifestyle range” includes FSC-certified sound books and wooden toys made from natural materials. The allure? Thoughtfully designed, durable toys built to last—not landfill fodder.

Likewise, Earth Greetings featured 100% recycled greeting cards and plastic-free wrapping. Their ethos—“Thoughtful. Earthy. Australiana.”—felt like a summary of sustainability done right.

Zero-Waste Inspiration Over Coffee

One highlight was the Business & Breakfast session, focusing on sustainability in packaging. Freyja Tasci of Apiwraps shared how small changes can make big impacts:

> “We might not be able to change Australia’s reliance on fossil fuels today, but we can switch to zero-waste lunch boxes easily, right here and now.”

> —Freyja Tasci, Apiwraps founder

It’s that grounded, actionable approach that makes sustainability relatable—and doable.

Why It Matters

For me, this fair wasn’t just about clever product designs—it was about connection. Each exhibitor told a story of values, community, and environmental responsibility. As a maker of eco-conscious bags myself, seeing so many thoughtful creations under one roof reaffirmed my belief that sustainability isn’t a passing trend—it’s the future of gifting.