Green Holiday Gifts
November 8, 2008 by Julie
Filed under Moms Living Green
Last year, I determined to shop all “green” for Christmas and I didn’t quite make it. This year, that’s going to change. I don’t have an option anymore—I must do more than my part to help our world.
I am looking to purchase natural, green products or online classes and also shop locally. That is difficult with three kids as I live in a very small town but again—I can and will do my part. Somehow, I will make it work.
I personally have tried the products from the following companies and found them fabulous finds:
Holler for Your Health: Be the Key to a Healthy Family
90210organics has hundreds of natural and organic items, including soaps, lotions, apparel, household items and more. I personally have tried their organic Shea Butter which works great as a lotion with my many allergies, and their Unscented & Moisturizing Organic Oils Soap. Works wonderful for those of us with sensitive skin, and babies too!
Softress makes sprays that work like lotions and are 100% natural with no fragrances or preservatives. They have formulas for babies and big people and a following of people who have never returned to lotions after trying their sprays. Price range- $15. and up.
Just Be makes tee-shirts from 100% certified organic cotton that are receiving compliments from the celebs, most recently Courtney Cox and David Arquette. Some of their special silk-screened messages on these very, cool colored tees include “Be Natural”, “Be Green” and “Be Organic”. They have adult tees and baby onesies too! Price range- $15.-$25.00.
Powered Green offers a “Powered Green Energy Seal” for laptops for only $16.00. This energy seal (which comes with a “Powered Green” seal made from recycled aluminum that you can place on your laptop) represents 690 kilowatt-hours of certified renewable energy from wind turbines.
Earth Cinema Circle offers a very cool membership. They send DVD’s every other month with short films supporting the Green Movement in a 100% recycled pulp paper tray, recycled paperboard materials and soy-based ink. There is no plastic in the cases for these DVD’s and I was very impressed with the acting and messages contained within the movies. And I learned A TON. It’s a great, high-quality way to bring attention to these issues. What you are doing with the membership is helping to support the short and educational film industry so the membership is $17.95 plus $4.95 S/H every other month.
Don’t forget your pet! All Natural and Dye-Free pet toys from PurrfectPlay are da bomb! My kitty adores the wool ball, which is washable (and the same color as he is). He plays with it for hours! I have also tried their certified organic Catnip. Well, my kitty tried it and loved it anyway! Additional toys include the all-natural tug toy for dogs and leash pouches made from recycled wool sweaters. I LOVE that these pouches save sweaters from going into our landfills. How cool is that? Price range of various gifts range from $5.-$20.00.
Next post: Online memberships and classes that make great gifts and of course are GREEN because they use few if any resources to create and there is no shipping of product involved.
Going green isn’t easy, especially with all the green washing that major corporations are doing. I mean Wal-Mart winning a green award? Who’s responsible for these things! I work with a company that offers environmental fundraisers for schools to raise money. As a mom I can see the value in these products, I’m not just buying them to support my child and her school. Products such as stainless steel water bottles and Nellie’s Dryerballs that promote waste reduction and resoonsible consumerism. At the moment we are promoting a holiday fundraiser which includes Canadian gift bags made from 100% post-consumer recycled goods and holiday greeting cards that you can plant and grow into flowers. Check us out at Green Students Fundraising for more information.
Check out the great gourmet gift sets @ http://www.sustainablesourcing.com/
The HimalaSalt and Organic Peppercorns are packaged in 100% recycled, refillable, and reusable grinders and containers. They are nested in a locally produced box, made of wood that is certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, with excelsior from a sustainable tree program in the Rockies. The kit is wrapped in clear EarthFirst PLA, the only 100% certified compostable corn shrink wrap. With packaging like this, there’s nothing to throw away. An important part of their company philosophy is to leave the lightest footprint. By creating the highest quality natural products and doing no harm in the process, they are reinforcing their commitment to a cleaner planet.
Thanks for your contribution, Michelle and Sarah!