I’ve always wanted to be one of those people who knows how to give the perfect gift – something that is both practical and beautiful, well-designed, environmentally friendly and affordable. And while I have always given generally thoughtful presents (interesting books being my specialty), I lack that special knack for finding gifts that light up people’s eyes when they’re opened.

In an effort to help others out there who have trouble finding great gifts, I’ve compiled a list of beautiful and practical presents that are well-designed, affordable, and most of all, environmentally friendly.

Baby Shower
New babies need everything, so finding gifts for these tiny creatures isn’t difficult. I like to buy things that will last (strollers, savings bonds), but also understand that most new parents need baby staples like onesies, crib sheets and cold weather gear. Kate Quinn Organics, offers an Organic Sherba Baby Bunting that looks warm, comfy and large enough to fit an infant for 6 months. The site also has a selection of organic bodysuits and infant sacques that make good gifts. Babies-R-Us has even gone green and offers a line of natural and organic products on their site. I found a set of 3 organic receiving blankets (by Tadpoles) and an Organic Cotton Sleepsack (by Halo Innovations) that are lower-cost alternatives than the organic baby boutiques. I also love this bib by Peaceful Company – when it’s not your baby, it’s not as outrageous to pay $12 for a bib!

Father’s Day
Dads can be tough to buy for – mine already has everything he wants or needs and is rarely forthcoming with gift requests. One thing he might like however are these Vintage Record Coasters. Handmade by Elsewheres, these coasters are old 45s, and basically just really cool. Elsewheres also makes a Snack Tray, Bowl and Clock out of old records. If your dad is a cyclist, he might like the Bike Chain Bottle Opener or the Recycled Bicycle Chain Bowl. The Elsewheres gifts are edgy – but if your dad is as cool as mine he might just like them.

Graduation
The end of college is prime time for upgrading your graduate’s clothing, outerwear and accessories. Laptop bags are a necessity – especially during job searches – and can complete any outfit. While it was difficult to find many eco-friendly bags, I managed to track down a few. Hip & Zen sells a Recycled Plastic Laptop Bag made out of plastic shopping bags that use no dyes. Each bag’s color is produced during the manufacturing process when plastic bags of different colors are layered to create a unique design. If a laptop sleeve is a viable alternative, you can find laptop cases made from recycled Columbian tires from the UK company TREAD. Handmade from salvaged tires, these cases are designed for Macs.

Housewarming
For some reason I’ve always thought that stationary makes for lovely housewarming gifts – especially if you’re giving it to someone new to the area. Paporganics is an organic paper goods company that makes stationary and gift wrap. Their cards are printed on 100% recycled paper; the Cultivated Card series is adorned with illustrations of fruits and vegetables and finished with witty quotations, while their Organic Cards are made from 100% organic cotton paper and contain real flower petals.

If your friend or family’s new home has room for a garden, consider bringing the Sunflower Garden or Shirley Poppy Garden gift boxes from VivaTerra. These pretty boxes are decorated with their respective flowers and filled with flower seeds. If you want your gift to mean even more, help your friend plant the seeds than sit back and wait until the flowers bloom!

Mother’s Day
If your mom deserves to be pampered on Mother’s Day, consider giving her this 100% Organic Cotton Spa Robe from VivaTerra. This waffle-pattern robe is chemical-free and can be paired with a set of Organic Cotton Spa Towels for true luxury. I also found an organic chocolate company called Vere that hand makes their treats using sustainably-grown, pesticide-free, organic cocoa beans. You can get Vere truffles, caramels, bars, brownies, wafers and even vegan treats. If your mom is anything like mine, she’ll love the gift and possibly even share.

Weddings
I know that wedding registries have made gift giving a no-brainer for a lot of people, but I still like to find more personal gifts for new brides and grooms. If you have similar sentiments, check out Pangaya, an eco-chic online retailer that sells tableware made from 100% recycled products. The Seaglass line of tableware on the Pangaya site is designed and manufactured by the Riverside Design Group and constructed from post-industrial/pre-consumer recycled glass.
VivaTerra is another eco-friendly store that has plenty of items that fit my gift criteria – I like their Thatched Bowls (hand crafted with recycled metal twigs), Root of the Earth Bowls constructed from reclaimed Chinese Fir trees, and River Stone Placemats and Runners made from hand gathered stones.

I hope this little guide has given you some great gift ideas – let me know what you buy and as always, feel free to send me ideas, suggestions and comments on what you’ve read.

Tags: Eco-Friendly Gifts, Elsewheres, Father's Day Gifts, Graduation Gifts, Green Gifts, Kate Quinn Organics, VivaTerra

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This entry was posted on Monday, March 3rd, 2008 at 3:15 pm and is filed under Green Buying, Green Gifts, Green Goods, Mainstream and Green. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.