The Rise of Inclusive Gifting at Christmas 2025 – Why Brands Are Rethinking the Holidays
📌 Key Takeaways
- 3 billion people celebrate Hajj vs. 2 billion for Christmas – Your gifting strategy should reflect global reality
- Diverse workforces see 12% performance boost (Gartner) – Inclusion drives measurable business results
- Inclusive gifting strengthens retention by 20% – Employees who feel valued stay longer
- HireUp case study: How one organisation got it right with alternative designs
What if your Christmas gifting is accidentally excluding 40% of your team?
For decades, Christmas gifting has followed a predictable script. Tinsel, carols, religious imagery, and the assumption that everyone celebrates the same way. But here's the reality: not everyone finds Christmas festive, and traditional holiday gifting can inadvertently exclude the very people you're trying to thank.
A Word from the Chocolate Factory 🍫
Here at Chocolate On Purpose®, we love Christmas time in the chocolate factory. The energy, the creativity, the joy of handcrafting premium chocolate gifts- it's magic. But we also recognise something important: Christmas is not necessarily a festive or happy time for many people.
For some, it's a season of grief. For others, it's culturally irrelevant. For many, it's a reminder of exclusion- of not quite fitting into the dominant narrative. And as a 100% Indigenous-owned, Certified Social Enterprise, we know what it feels like to be left out of the story.
That's why we've been paying close attention to the rise of inclusive gifting- and how thoughtful brands are meeting this brief with authenticity, respect, and genuine care.
The Problem with One-Size-Fits-All Christmas Gifting
For decades, corporate and personal Christmas gifting operated on a singular assumption- that December 25th is universally celebrated and universally joyful. Yet the reality is far more nuanced. People of different faiths, cultural backgrounds, and personal circumstances experience Christmas differently. Some don't celebrate it at all.
Employees with disability, neurodivergent team members, those from non-Christian backgrounds, and individuals experiencing grief or hardship often feel invisible during the festive season. When organisations gift only Christmas-themed items, they inadvertently send a message: You're not part of our community.
This oversight isn't intentional- it's simply outdated thinking. But it's also a missed opportunity to demonstrate genuine inclusion.
What Inclusive Gifting Actually Means
Inclusive gifting isn't about removing Christmas entirely. It's about thinking outside the norms to respect diversity... think choosing a wreath made with Australian native botanical flora for the lobby, rather than a Christmas tree.
It means:
- Providing alternative designs that celebrate the season without religious or Christmas-specific imagery
- Ensuring gifting experiences are accessible to people with different abilities
- Selecting products that align with diverse dietary requirements, cultural values, and personal preferences
- Creating a sense of belonging for everyone, regardless of their relationship with Christmas
When done thoughtfully, inclusive gifting strengthens workplace culture, builds trust, and demonstrates that an organisation genuinely values its entire community.
The Research: Why Inclusive Gifting Is Rising in 2025
The shift toward inclusive Christmas gifting isn't just anecdotal—it's backed by data and cultural trends:
- Workplace diversity is increasing. Australia's workforce is more culturally, religiously, and generationally diverse than ever before. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, over 30% of Australians were born overseas, representing more than 200 countries.
- ESG and values-based procurement are priorities. Organisations are under pressure to demonstrate genuine commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion- not just in hiring, but in every touchpoint, including gifting.
- Employee expectations are evolving. Research shows that employees- particularly Millennials and Gen Z- expect their employers to reflect their values. Inclusive gifting is one visible way organisations can demonstrate this alignment.
- Mental health awareness is growing. Christmas can be a triggering time for people experiencing grief, loneliness, or financial stress. Inclusive gifting acknowledges this reality with empathy and care.
The result? Forward-thinking organisations are rethinking their gifting strategies to create genuine belonging- and they're seeing measurable benefits in employee engagement, retention, and brand reputation.
The Business Case for Inclusive Gifting
Beyond the ethical imperative, inclusive gifting makes commercial sense. Research shows that employees who feel seen and valued are more engaged, loyal, and productive. Organisations that prioritise inclusion in their gifting strategies report higher employee satisfaction and stronger employer branding.
Recent research from People Management magazine reinforces this shift: Gartner found that diverse, valued workforces see performance improve by 12% and retention increase by 20%. Yet many organisations still default to a singular Christmas lens- forcing time off for colleagues who don't celebrate while overlooking their faith-based festivals. The reality? More people globally celebrate Hajj (3 billion) and Diwali (1.5 billion) than Christmas (2 billion). When your gifting strategy reflects this reality, you're not just being thoughtful- you're building belonging, boosting engagement, and future-proofing your workplace culture.
For B2B gifting, inclusive practices also signal ESG commitment and values alignment—increasingly important factors for procurement teams evaluating suppliers.
A Real-World Example: HireUp's Approach
HireUp, Australia's largest NDIS-registered online platform, faced this challenge head-on in 2024. With a community spanning people with disability, support workers, and families from diverse cultural backgrounds, traditional Christmas gifting simply didn't fit.
"We wanted gifts that said: You belong here, regardless of your background or beliefs," explains their approach.
Rather than defaulting to generic Christmas hampers, HireUp partnered with Chocolate On Purpose® to create Holiday Season Gift Bags- premium chocolate featuring alternative designs (such as Gumnut motifs) instead of traditional Christmas imagery. The product quality remained exceptional. The cultural authenticity remained intact. The only difference? The design welcomed everyone to the table.
The result was meaningful. Employees and clients felt genuinely included. The gifting became a statement of values, not just a seasonal obligation.
The Broader Trend
HireUp's decision reflects a growing movement. Forward-thinking organisations across banking, healthcare, technology, and not-for-profit sectors are rethinking their gifting strategies. They're asking harder questions:
- Who are we excluding with our current approach?
- What does genuine inclusion look like in our gifting?
- How can we celebrate connection without assuming everyone's relationship with Christmas?
Brands responding to this shift are seeing competitive advantage. They're attracting talent, building loyalty, and creating authentic connections with diverse communities.
How to Implement Inclusive Gifting
If your organisation is ready to embrace inclusive gifting, here's where to start:
1. Audit Your Current Gifting
What assumptions are baked in? Who might feel excluded? Review your past gifting choices through an inclusion lens.
2. Offer Choice
Provide multiple design options, dietary considerations, or experience alternatives. Let recipients choose what resonates with them.
3. Partner with Values-Aligned Suppliers
Choose brands that genuinely understand inclusion and can deliver authentic, high-quality products. Look for Supply Nation certification, Social Enterprise credentials, Fair Trade certification, and demonstrated commitment to diversity. Chocolate On Purpose® will curate the perfect Inclusive Gifting Experience for your Group.
4. Communicate Intentionality
Let your community know why you've made these choices. Inclusion is most powerful when it's visible. Share the story behind your gifting decisions.
5. Gather Feedback
Ask your team what inclusive gifting means to them. Let their voices shape your approach. Create space for honest conversation about what belonging looks like.
How Chocolate On Purpose® Meets the Inclusive Gifting Brief
At Chocolate On Purpose®, we've designed our Holiday Season Gift Bag specifically for organisations navigating this shift. Here's how we meet the brief:
- Alternative designs: Chocolate Bars with imprints that tell a different story. Gumnut motifs and seasonal (not religious) imagery that celebrate connection without assuming faith tradition
- Premium quality: Same exceptional Belgian couverture chocolate infused with authentic Australian native botanicals (Ooray/Davidson Plum, Munthari/Muntrie, Gulalung/Finger Lime)
- Cultural authenticity: 100% Indigenous-owned, Supply Nation certified, Fair Trade certified, Certified Social Enterprise
- Measurable impact: 50%+ of profits reinvested into our mission & vision
- Customisation available: We work with you to tailor designs, messaging, and packaging to reflect your organisation's values
- Award winning: our chocolate and our business is multi award winning
The result? Gifting that says: You belong here. We see you. We value you.
The Future of Christmas Gifting
The rise of inclusive gifting signals a maturation in how organisations approach the festive season. It's not about diluting Christmas or erasing tradition. It's about expanding the circle so that everyone- regardless of faith, ability, background, or personal circumstance- feels genuinely valued.
As we move into 2026 and beyond, expect to see more organisations following HireUp's lead. The brands that get this right will build deeper loyalty, stronger cultures, and more authentic connections with their communities.
Because true festive spirit isn't about tinsel and carols. It's about belonging.
❓ FAQ: Inclusive Gifting
Q: Does inclusive gifting mean we can't celebrate Christmas?
No! It means expanding the circle so everyone feels included. You can absolutely celebrate Christmas traditions while also acknowledging that not everyone in your team celebrates the same way. Inclusive gifting is about addition, not subtraction.
Q: What if our team is mostly Christian?
Inclusive gifting still matters. Grief, neurodivergence, disability, and personal circumstances affect everyone—regardless of faith. Someone might not celebrate Christmas due to loss, mental health challenges, or simply personal preference. Inclusive gifting says: "We see you, and you belong here."
Q: Isn't inclusive gifting more expensive?
Not necessarily. It's about intentionality, not budget. Offering choice, alternative designs, or culturally authentic products doesn't have to cost more—it just requires thoughtful planning. In fact, many organisations find that inclusive gifting improves employee satisfaction and retention, which saves money long-term.
Q: How do we know what our team actually wants?
Ask them! Send a simple survey: "What does inclusive gifting mean to you?" or "Are there any dietary, cultural, or personal preferences we should know about?" This opens dialogue and shows you genuinely care about their experience.
Q: Can Chocolate On Purpose® help us with this?
Absolutely! We specialise in inclusive gifting solutions. Our Holiday Season Gift Bags feature alternative designs (Gumnut motifs, Indigenous art) instead of traditional Christmas imagery—perfect for organisations wanting to celebrate the season while welcoming everyone. Learn more about our inclusive gifting options →
🎄 Ready to Rethink Your Christmas Gifting?
If your organisation is ready to embrace inclusive gifting this Christmas, we're here to help. Our Holiday Season Gift Bags offer premium quality, cultural authenticity, and genuine inclusion - without compromise.
Contact Fiona directly:
📧 fiona@chocolateonpurpose.com.au
We are Chocolate For Good™ – Reconciliation you can taste. Impact you can measure. Inclusion you can gift.