Six Eco-Friendly Gifts for This Holiday Season
There’s nothing more satisfying than giving a fantastic, well-thought-out gift during the holidays — but you can make the experience even more meaningful by choosing an eco-friendly gift that will not only enrich the recipient, but help save the planet as well.
The best eco-friendly gifts are items that are resourced, designed, manufactured and packaged in ways that are environmentally sustainable, leaving only a bare minimum carbon footprint. These special gifts are often made from recycled or organic materials; and, in the case of imported food or clothing, are typically produced under fair trade conditions.
Here’s a look at six awe-inspiring gifts that you and your recipients will love this holiday season.
1. Eco gift boxes
A beautifully packaged gift box filled with culinary gadgets is guaranteed to impress any kitchen geek on your list, and you can score plenty of bonus karma points by choosing one of the many eco-friendly gift boxes available online. These treasure troves come chock-full of handy tools and necessities made of sustainable BPA-free materials. Inside, you’ll find treasures such as bamboo utensils, natural food storage bags, quality cotton cleaning cloths, handmade soaps and lots of stainless steel products to replace all that plastic on our shelves.
2. Stainless steel water bottles
Plastic bottles are a blot on the environmental landscape — but you can put a dent in the deluge by gifting your friends with a stainless steel water bottle. Artfully created in gorgeous designs and colors, these BPA-free bottles use vacuum insulation to keep drinks cold for more than 40 hours. Best of all, each lovely bottle is a work of art that strikes a proud blow for environmental activism.
3. Sustainable plastic toys
Plastic doesn’t have to be all bad — and a number of companies have come up with ways to create toys from recycled milk jugs, food bottles and other plastic materials. The best of these toys are not only BPA-free, but free of PVC and phthalates as well, making them extra-safe for little ones. You’ll find everything from red fire trucks and airplanes to tea sets and submarines, all constructed from sustainable plastic. In many cases, these toys are dishwasher safe as well, so parents will appreciate them too.
4. Puppets made from recycled sweaters
Who doesn’t love puppets? With just a quick Google search, you’ll find a variety of patterns for making all kinds of puppets from recycled sweaters. In most cases, these can be made quickly and easily from your own cast-offs, or from sweaters you can find at secondhand shops. However, if you’re not particularly crafty or you don’t have the time to sew, you’ll find many crafters and eco-friendly companies online that produce and sell these colorful critters.
5. Sustainable fashion accessories
Search for any type of fashion accessory online, and you’ll find an environmentally sustainable version that’s not only attractive, but probably trending as well. From hair scrunchies and socks to scarves and sunglasses, just about anything can be made as a sustainable product — and let’s be honest, what’s more cool than an eco-friendly pair of shades?
6. Fair trade chocolate, coffee and tea
By giving a gift of fair trade chocolate, coffee or tea, you can rest assured that you’re not only giving the very best, you’re also helping the planet and the people who farm it. As with organic certification, fair trade certification gives you full disclosure on the growth and distribution of a product from farm to table. This strict monitoring system enables farmers to receive a fair price for their work and cultivation — and by doing so, benefits entire farming communities as well. Thanks to the efforts of dedicated environmental and humanitarian activists, there’s a wealth of fair trade items available online — not only exotic chocolates, coffees, and teas, but also clothing items and accessories.
When you give an eco-friendly gift this holiday season, you’re giving a gift to the planet, too. It’s the perfect way to celebrate life, love and friendship in your own circle, while enriching the rest of the world as well.
