An estimated $29 billion was spent online during last year's holiday season. Add to the numbers and to your wallet by saving gas and shopping from home this year.
December 10, 2008
Green Holiday Picks
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - all while dazzling your friends this holiday season,(Or... Give Green this Season to Go Green - and you just may save some Green while you're at it!)
Reusable Shopping Bag: Not just any old reusable tote for you. Only something stylish and special will do. For an economical $10 each, you can present your friends with "The Green Bag by Jennie Garth" - made from 100 percent recycled cotton. This bag features a bright floral motif and is big enough to fit groceries or household items. As an even more green bonus, for every bag sold, Clorox's Green Works will donate $3.65 to the Sierra Club. Available at: www.greenworkscleaners.com Price: $10. Reusable Water Bottles: For the water-obsessed, who go through cases of plastic water bottles a month, try introducing them to the environmentally-friendly and increasingly-hip reusable water bottles. There are many options out there, but ecousable is always a good bet with bottles ranging from classic designs to fashionable finds even the trendiest will be happy with. Available at: www.ecousable Costs: starting at $12.50 Home Water Filter: Help your health-nut friends discover the health benefits and cost savings of filtering water at home. The attractive, high-quality Stefani water filter keeps the H2O tasty and safe. These beautiful stand-alone filters combine style and functionality so it'll fit into any home with ease Available: www.greenpeople.org/listing/Stefani_Terracotta_26050.cfm Cost: $85.00 Solar Powered Ankle Lights: For the night hiker / bicycle rider / inner geek in everyone who loves to have something solar powered, there is the "Anklelight Solar Bike Light." This device straps to your ankle, powers up with sunlight or artificial light, and lasts more than three hours on a full charge. It can be set to flashing or constant modes, doubles as a pant clip, and is lightweight and impact-resistant. Buy a few extras for the joggers, kids, and night-time dog-walkers in your family, and save on batteries (and first-aid). Available at: www.pedalite.com Cost: $19.99
Children and the Great Outdoors: For the little ones on your list this year give them the opportunity to start learning about the natural world around them by giving them experiences as gifts. Many museums offer children's memberships. Or present them with a tree and help them plant it or seeds to start their own garden. Giving children opportunities to have fun, exercise, and learn about the environment around them is a gift that will last forever. Arbor Day Foundation gift trees. Available at arborday.org. For an average of $6 per tree, with many varieties to choose from, and a flat shipping rate of $4.95, you can give a child a gift for under $20 easily. Museum membership: Many museums offer special programs or memberships for children. (i.e.: Chumash Museum in Thousand Oaks, Ca. offers a children's membership for $10 where they can learn about the indigenous Native American culture and their very eco-aware way of life. ) www.chumashcenter.org Burpee.com - get a bunch of biodegradable peat pots and a few packs of seeds for around $10 at this popular garden supplier. Or try Seedsofchange.com for organic seeds. Organic Cotton Robe: For the fashionista, who wants to remain green with style, try out the Under the Canopy Kimono-style robe. Available in two lengths and three colors and averaging $45 dollars. Available at www.Amazon.com Recycled Stationary: Know anyone that's addicted to stationary? Then look for 100% recycled products to feed their need. Green Field Paper Co., based in San Diego, takes the green theme one step further by selling handmade cards that have wildflower seeds embedded into the paper. Write a note, read the note and then plant the note. How easy is that? Available at: www.greenfieldpaper.com Cost: starting at $19.95 Adopt an Endangered Animal: This never goes out of style. The World Wildlife Fun offers "adoptions" of more than 90 species, the top two are polar bears and snow leopards. Available: www.worldwildlife.org Cost: starting at $25 for an adoption certificate and a photograph with info about the animal. Beverages with Built-In Green: Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Starbucks, Teavana and other coffee and tea providers are showing their eco-awareness by offering products and programs that are environmentally-aware. Available: www.coffeebean.com, www.starbucks.com, www.teavana.com Cost: starting at $10 T-shirts with a Built In Purpose: T-shirts are always a great gift - but these T's from TONIC give a whole lot more. TONIC's line is made from 70% bamboo and 30% organic cotton, and for each tee sold something cool happens. For example, for each of the Robin tees sold (by designer Luella Bartley), 2 pairs of sneakers will be provided to students in Haiti, where sneakers are imperative for students who walk miles through mountainous and rocky roads and trails to get to school. Or how about the Sun T? For each T you buy, you'll be protecting 1/4 acre of endangered coral reef in the Pacific Ocean. Available: www. shop.tonic.com Cost: starting at $45 per T-shirt
Optional extra: For kids: Little Green Star www.littlegreenstar.com. Organic cotton clothing to inspire and educate children. Super cute designs and logos (i.e.: "water pollution makes me crabby" "peas out" (eat organic). And with a pic of a penguin: "turn down the heat and keep the ice caps under my feet.")
