Have Yourself an Eco-Friendly Christmas
by GillianS - December 05, 2008
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I know, * groan *, it's another article about how to be eco-friendly and green. I seriously am not one to proselytize and am not particularly "green" myself, but as I've gotten older, I've started to feel more than a little bit icky about the mass consumerism and waste that comes with this time of year. Luckily, Al Gore has convinced people that the environment is actually in trouble, so everyone is coming up with fun, new, socially conscious ways to celebrate and give! And I'm jumping on the bandwagon!
Oxfam Unwrapped
By far my favorite of the green gifting phenomenon, Oxfam Unwrapped lets you give gifts to your friends and family that help people who really need it without just sending a lame “A donation has been made..” card. Instead, you can choose from a variety of gifts ranging from Fair Trade Honey to Tool Sets to Entire Forests. Your loved one gets a card with a picture of what you bought and the money goes to Oxfam. Of course, they may not actually spend your goat money on a goat, but they will spend it on someone who needs it a lot more than your dad needs another tie. Does anyone even wear ties anymore?
GOOP
GOOP is Gwyneth Paltrow’s “lifestyle website” (yeah, I didn’t know I wanted lifestyle tips from her, either). Anyway, this year’s gift guide includes some nice greeny things like Bamboo Utensils and Organic gift baskets.
Organic Food Baskets
You can only buy these delicious looking organic “hampers” from Daylesford Organic if you’re in the UK. But the idea is one that you can run with on either side of the ocean. Buy a fair trade bottle of wine and some locally produced cheese (Happy Cows Come From California) and put it in something cute and wicker that you find at a garage sale. Voila – classy, eco-friendly gift!
Metrocard
No, it’s not terribly romantic to unwrap a bus & rail pass from Metro , but it’s one of those gifts that keeps on giving! Your loved one can ride the train for a month or a year and think about you every time. This would be esecially adorable if you & your beau/gal live near train stops.
Reuseawrap!
Resuseawrap is reusable fabric wrapping paper that comes in envelope shapes of many sizes. Not only does it cut down on all that wrapping paper waste (yuck) it also eliminates the problem of guys trying to actually wrap things which inevitably ends with you struggling to open up a ball of tape with a bow on it. Hooray!
Ecco Ultra Lounge
1640 N. Cahuenga Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028
I always like the idea of “experiences” as gifts: concerts, getaways, etc. So why not take your friend who doesn’t get out much for a night at Hollywood’s Ecco Ultra Lounge. LED lighting, eco-friendly cement (?) and organic cocktails. Chic.
A Recycled Sock Monkey!
No, the sock hasn’t been worn, it was just less than perfect. From Maggie’s Organics
Make a Gift!
It’s the thought that counts. I personally love the idea of knitting something (I also personally don’t knit, but I would if I could!) or giving someone a nice photo of you, or that you took, in a frame that you found at a garage sale or at Goodwill.
Reduce, Reuse, Regift
Wait, call it “recycling” and it won’t seem as bad. I know you’ve got stuff in the back of your closet or under your sink that you either bought and changed your mind about or were given by someone that doesn’t know you that well. Why let it collect dust any longer, or worse yet, get thrown away? Maybe you don’t dislike anyone enough to give them the seashell soap set you have, so give a gift to someone that won’t be expecting one from you and they’ll be so happy they won’t notice that it kind of sucks.
Garment Worker Center
1250 S. Los Angeles St Los Angeles, CA 90015
This year, the Los Angeles Garment Worker Center is having a pop-up fair trade store from December 4th-11th. Support local garment workers in way that’s a little more tangible than those pink leggings you bought at American Apparel.
Green Gift Guide
This gift guide from Low Impact Living is more comprehensive than my guide…but, you found this one first :)
Panda Gourd Ornament
I LOVE this panda gourd ornament, made by a fair trade company and available from WorldofGood.com via eBay . LOVE IT.
Local Gift Fairs
If you’re in Los Angeles, you’re in luck. No one cares more about things that are hip and green giving is definitely hip. Just look at all these “Shop Local” and “Shop Green” events that are going on around town in the next couple of weeks:
Eco Gift Festival 2008 will be the second year that Santa Monica Civic Auditorium will have an Eco Gift Festival with TONS of eco friendly exhibitors, organic food booths and speakers like Arianna Huffington. December 12th-14th
SAJE Just Holiday Marketplace Even more local crafty types selling cute, conscious, responsible stuff to give all your friends.
California Market Center
110 E 9th St, Los Angeles, CA 90079
Unique Los Angeles will be in the Penthouse.
Unique Los Angeles will be in the Penthouse.
Recycled Stocking!
This year, TerraCycle is offering a line of recycled stockings and Christmas Tree skirts made from stuff like cookie bags and Capri Sun pouches. Creative, adorable, zero-calories and zero-guilt! Check them out here .
The No Plastic Challenge
How much plastic does a typical Christmas use? You probably don’t want to know. Maybe this year it’s time to try to cut back. Fewer plasticky toys, fewer swipes on your credit card, you know, less plastic.
Organic Booze
In case anyone is at a loss with what to give me this Christmas, organic booze, like Square One Vodka, is a totally safe bet. I haven’t tried it yet, but as long as it gets me drunk (while not adding to the plight of starvation ravaged nations or killing polar bears or anything), it’s OK with me.
The Hunger Site Shop
With gift categories that include “Fair Trade,” “Artisan Products” and “Shop Green” there is all kinds of good to be done on The Hunger Site.
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My mom is cheap and usually just recycles the leftover turkey from Thanksgiving.
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I’m giving my nieces and nephew gift cards, a small amount of plastic, limited shipping costs, and allows them to buy any Chinese slave-labor plastic piece of disposable crap they want.
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Great guide! I was just saying today that reusing paper for Christmas is a good idea. Now I have even more ideas on how to reuse for Christmas!
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