15 Tips for Green Giving

It’s the season of giving, but our holiday generosity often takes far more than it gives from the environment. So this year, why not resolve to celebrate the season in ways that, at the least, do no harm and, at best, nurture the planet.

For each gift you consider purchasing, ask yourself where it came from, what resources were used in its creation, how much energy was needed to ship it to the store or its recipient and, ultimately, what impact its disposal will have on the earth.

If the answers aren’t good for the environment, reconsider your purchase. With a little time and thought, you can easily come up with something that will delight each recipient on your list without bedeviling the planet. A bonus: A more mindful approach to gift giving is likely to result in a more meaningful—and more appreciated—gift.

Try these 15 tips for a greener holiday season:

Upcycle. No, we’re not suggesting you recycle a gift, but you can make a present from found materials rather than purchasing something new that may one day end up in a landfill. Turn ordinary objects into art, such as a toy from old T-shirts or a quilt from scraps of cloth.
Reuse. Give the gift that truly keeps on giving. You can find something for almost anyone in antique or architectural salvage shops. One person’s castoff may be another person’s treasure.
Purchase presents crafted from renewable or recyclable resources, such as a piece from Bamboo Dreams DreamSacks’ line of apparel (www.dreamsack.com), be present’s new T-shirts made from recycled plastic bottles (www.bepresent.com), or for pet lovers, one of Planet Dog’s Green T collection for women and men (www.planetdog.com).
Give the gift of good taste. Everyone will appreciate fair trade-certified goodies in eco-friendly packaging, such as nuts, chocolates, coffee, or tea. Good choices include Green Mountain Coffee (www.greenmountaincoffee.com), Dagoba Organic Chocolate (www.dagobachocolate.com), and Shaman Chocolates (www.shamanchocolates.com).
Deliver a service instead of an object. Cook a meal from sustainably grown ingredients or offer to give a massage using organic oils.
Purchase gifts from companies that dedicate resources and percentages of their profits to projects and causes that support the earth, such as treats from Endangered Species Chocolate (www.chocolatebar.com), cosmetics from Save Your World (www.saveyourworld.com), and T-shirts from Tees for Change (www.teesforchange.com).
Share good spirits by giving a certified-organic wine such as Yellow+Blue wines, sold in 1-liter, eco-friendly Tetra Pak cartons (www.ybwines.com), or a Fish Eye Pinot Grigio from California or a Pinot Evil Pinot Noir from France, both in a 3-liter premium wine cask that takes less energy to produce and transport than does bottled wine.
Shop close to home to reduce your energy consumption and purchase products made locally to reduce the need for energy for transportation. Visit a local craft fair where artisans create with sustainable materials.
Consider the environmental impact of gift wrapping. Give a “naked” gift, choose reusable or recycled wrapping, or get creative and package your gift in a usable cloth, a collage of magazine or newspaper pages, or a hand-decorated recycled box.
Give a gift membership or donation to organizations that do the earth good, such as the National Resources Defense Council (www.nrdc.org) or Heifer International (www.heifer.org).
Present foodie friends a share of community-supported agriculture so they’ll enjoy fresh, local produce while you support your local farmers.
Choose items that your friends and family can use daily to care for the environment, such as Seriously Safe Stainless Steel Food Containers from www.newwaveenviro.com or designer shopping bags that are reusable and recyclable from www.mixedbagdesigns.com, www.bazurashop.com, and www.bagsgogreen.com.
Rethink holiday cards and invites. Web sites such as www.americangreetings.com and www.evites.com let you send your greetings without denuding a forest or using energy to get your cards from here to there. If you choose a more traditional route, select items that are printed on recycled papers and, perhaps, with eco-friendly inks. Even the most traditional of card companies, Hallmark, offers green options (www.hallmark.com). Or send a plantable seed card, such as those from Bloomin’ Home (www.bloomin.com).
Give a gift certificate to a nearby restaurant that serves local, organic foods and promotes sustainable methods.
Adopt a polar bear or other endangered creature of the wild at the National Wildlife Federation (www.nwf.org).

— Kate Jackson