by Rona Fried
Want to avoid the crowds while getting your last minute green holiday gifts? I always find a great assortment of gifts at my local health food store – from natural cosmetics to exquisite soaps and other beauty care products (even after shave for men) to unusual oils like walnut oil and organic wine. Or order online, from companies like Bluemonkeyherbal.com. Many of these products feel like expensive, luxury purchases for everyday shoppers but make modestly priced gifts.
Everyone enjoys a gift certificate to a great restaurant. You may know of a local “green” restaurant; if not, look for leads at the Green Restaurant Association or Thimmakka’s list of participating eateries (Read our article about Thimmaka). EcoFish ships its sustainably harvested seafood nationwide, as does Diamond Organics for fresh organic produce, soups and nuts. How about a beautiful bouquet of organic flowers? or organic mushrooms – yum! And there’s always Fair Trade organic coffee (try www.peacecoffee.com) or green tea, available almost everywhere these days.
Perhaps you would like to introduce someone to renewable energy – buy them Green Tags as a gift! Your purchase goes directly to support new renewable energy facilities including wind farms, solar and bioenergy. Native Energy, Bonneville Foundation and Renewable Choice specialize in wind, while Sterling Planet provides a blend of solar, wind, and biomass.
Looking for high end products? Q Collection has an elegant and sustainably-produced line of ceramics, lamps, throws and pillows. Its bookends and serving trays, for example, are made from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified maple, painted with zero VOC paint and sealed with a water-based glaze. Lamps are made from recycled glass vases. Celtic Viking Furniture uses only reclaimed wood to make its jewelry boxes, candle holders, boxes and furniture. as does Tropical Salvage.
Debra Lynn Dadd wrote one of the bibles for using environmental products everyday, Natural, Nontoxic and Earthwise. Visit her website for a plethora of ideas from baby gifts to giftwrap.
For the hundreds of green companies making every kind of product you can think of, check out Co-op America’s Green Pages. Or do a search for green products and you will find at least several dozen excellent catalog sites beyond Gaiam and Real Goods, such as Eco-Artware, Vivaterra, Vivavi, EcoChoices, The Natural Zone, and Environgentle. I love my simple address book made from coffee paper from Costa Rica Natural and I’ve gotten some great deals and always great products from Kasper Organics.
For kids, check out such as Natural Play, Toys From the Heart, Blessings Catalog, Under the Nile and Ecobaby.
If you have the nerve, you can give someone an EcoPardon, which forgives them for their daily transgressions against the environment! Your gift will support Chicago’s Foresight Design Initiative, which is working for sustainable cities. The recipient will receive a customized “Certificate of Absolution” for common transgressions such as driving an SUV, failing to use recycled paper, or leaving the lights on!
There’s something for everyone!
Happy Holidays from SustainableBusiness.com
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