Green Gift Ideas
- Green gifts are good for the earth too.gifts image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com
The market for organic, carbon neutral and recycled products continues to expand in exciting ways as consumers demand more choice. When looking for a gift, consider chocolate, wine or clothing gift-wrapped in recycled paper. Avoid packaging completely by purchasing a gift which helps others or not purchasing a gift at all. Honor loved ones' environmental consciousness by giving something to help them achieve their earth-friendly goals. - Organic gift baskets can delight.gifts in a basket. image by mashe from Fotolia.com
Consider a gift basket (purchased secondhand from your local thrift store) filled with items your loved one will enjoy. Your basket can include a wide variety of treats suited to a romantic surprise or a Christmas present. Collect organic, free-trade products. Coffees, teas and mulling spices create a warming Christmas selection. For Valentine's Day, select chocolate and wine. Wrap your gift in 100 percent recycled gift paper; tie the paper with a red ribbon made from 100 percent cotton printed with biodegradable soy-based inks.
A number of wineries across the globe have converted to carbon neutral practices. Sip a glass of merlot, pinotage or cabernet sauvignon along with organic, free-trade chocolate. The love of your life may drive a hybrid, but a model of a vintage gas-guzzler fashioned from recycled tin will look great on the garage tool shelf. When the family next door announces an imminent birth, celebrate the new life to come with a delivery of your own: washable diapers and a gift certificate for a diaper cleaning service. - Give a gift to charity.christmas basket with gifts image by Kathy Burns from Fotolia.com
To avoid giving an unwanted gift which will land in the garbage or thrift store, consider a gift given to others in your friend's name. Hospitals, animal shelters and environmental organizations will gladly take your donation in honor of a birthday or instead of a Christmas gift. Adopt a panda from a zoo or sponsor an impoverished child; you can even eliminate unwanted paper waste by using PayPal or a credit card. Other possibilities include adopt-a-trail or plant-a-tree programs.
Alternatively, offer your own services in the style of a gift certificate (written on recycled paper). Ideas include child-minding, cooking, cleaning or grocery shopping for a month. If you are handy in the kitchen, concoct an organic jam or jelly in honor of a loved one. Store your sweets in a mason jar topped with pretty fabric and ribbon. You can even fill the jar with dry ingredients for baking cookies or muffins without the wasteful packaging of store-bought mixes. - A gift that completes a long-term goal is smart.christmas-gifts image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
When you know someone who wants to use green practices, get him started with a gift for that long-term goal. A composter created from recycled plastic can slowly be filled with the peelings from a regular doorstep delivery of organic produce. If your sister wants to get out of her car, get together with your relatives to purchase her a good-quality bicycle for her next birthday. Help her to avoid the use of plastic bags with a selection of recycled, reusable cloth bags in various patterns and colors. For that empty spot in your grown child's new garden, supply him with a kit to grow a tree.
Organic, Recycled or Carbon Neutral
Charity and Waste-free Gifts
Sustainable Practices
Source...