Here are some ideas for gift giving that not only show your fondness for someone but also reflect your personal commitment to helping the environment.

1. Time

The gift of time to help with chores is always appreciated but you could add an earth friendly twist to it.

a. Help someone with a de-clutter project – offer your services to help organize a garage or a storage space. Help them recycle unwanted electronics, batteries and paints to insure they get to the right place.

b. Help make their home more energy efficient. Pay for an energy audit, buy them a programmable thermostat, share your electronic power meter that measures how much electricity is used, help them put in more insulation or better window seals.

2. Give Consumables

Take them to see a movie, watch a play, tour an art gallery, or explore on a day trip together. Give the gift of a memory rather than a ìdust collectorî to clutter their home.  Homemade jams, pies, fruit loaves are always welcomed.  Think of something theyíve enjoyed that youíve made and bring the ingredients over and show them how to cook it.

3. Give Reusables

a. Specially designed metal reusable water bottles and a pitcher that filters water in their fridge saves them from using plastic water bottles.

b. Give them a tree to plant in their own backyard or plant a tree in their honor through a forest or park regenerating project.

c. Help them go paperless- help them start up an online banking and payment program. Show them how to access catalogues and phone information on line. If you have an elderly parent with no computer, do it for them on your computer. Give ebooks or commit to a bi-weekly library visit with an elderly parent.

d. Make a set of reusable shopping bags to give as a gift. Most stores are charging for plastic bags now.

4. Charitable gifts

Make a donation in their honor to a charity which helps provide basic necessities to those who need it in the developing world. ìBuyî an acre of land for them in a threatened rain forest. Membership to an environmental organization or donations to programs designed to clean up the environment are perfect gifts.

5. Purchase Eco friendly products

a. From skin care to baby care, there are excellent chemical free organic products available.

b. A cloth diaper set is better for the baby and the environment and it prevents tons of diaper waste from going to landfills.

c. Give linens that were made from raw materials produced without harsh chemical treatments. Bamboo is very popular as an eco-friendly resource.

d. Solar-powered lights provide an environmentally friendly accent for the yard, patio, or balcony.

e. Choose wooden instead of plastic toys for children.

f. Buy books featuring craft ideas that are earth friendly.

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When you want to lower your heating bills or you want to make an environmental friendly impact, you have several options available. Most people look to saving money as the overwhelming factor in making eco-friendly lifestyle changes; money has always influenced the way people do things or, in some cases, not do things. These changes are very important in today’s society.

Getting Your Home Winter Weather Ready – Did you know that people tend to waste a lot of energy in the winter because they did not prep their home for the cold months? If you spend time caulking and sealing doors and windows, you can save yourself a lot of money but it must be done before the first initial cold snap. Before you waste energy and money, grab those reusable shopping bags and purchase sealing products to help you in your project. You certainly don’t want to send more money off to the electric/gas company during the winter months.

Utilize The Home’s Fireplace – Does your home have a fireplace? If so, make sure you use it. If you don’t, then you’re wasting a great heating resource. It shouldn’t be too hard to find someone who has wood scraps or works in urban harvesting. When you have an urban harvester, you know the wood you get is recycled. Keep in mind that it doesn’t take a lot of money to heat your home.

Wood/Pellet Stoves – There was a time that wood burning stoves were popular ways to heat a home; the same is true today. Wood stoves can be very expensive initially so many people will opt for pellet stoves.

Bio Diesel - Have you been an eco-friendly person using reusable bags for quite some time? If so, then you may want to use bio diesel as an option to heat your home.

Radiant Heating – If you want a system that will heat the ceiling, floors and walls of your house directly, then you’re going to want a radiant heating unit as your heating source. It’s highly more effective at heating a home than forced air heating and baseboard heating.

Solar Heating – You can always opt for solar heating but it’s important to keep in mind that the cost can be highly expensive initially. In the end, it pays for itself time and again. It’s not uncommon for new home developments to have this as a heating option. Passive solar heating is another alternative that allows you to take in as much sun as possible through your windows.

Replacing Windows – Rather than using single paned windows, go with double paned ones. These windows can reduce the amount of heat you lose as well as make your home eco-friendly.

Put On Clothes – Sometimes the most effective method of keeping warm is just adding more clothes to your body and placing slippers/socks on your feet. Not only will it keep you warm but it also keeps you from having to turn up your thermostat; thus, saving you money in the long run.

If you want to save money and help the environment, the smartest thing you can do is go green. Don’t just stop with the organic cotton reusable bags at your local grocery store. Make your home energy efficient since saving energy goes a very long way.

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The fashion industry has woken up to embrace an altogether new trend by the name of “green trend” or “eco trend”. This Go Green culture actually refers to use of eco-friendly ways to produce things of use like clothes, bags, and other accessories. According to STEP (Sustainable Technology Education Product), eco fashion trends pay special attention to “the environment, working conditions of the people in the [fashion] industry and the health of the consumers.” Hence these efforts are oriented towards striking a perfect balance with nature as well as keeping everyone happy.

Green fashion clothes have to meet certain criteria before living up to its expectations. Eco-friendly clothes are made of raw organic materials that cause no harm to the environment. It is vital for all eco-friendly products to be organic so that they can serve the purpose of their existence. Around 70% of our clothes are made of cotton. These days, cotton crops are fed on pesticides which are poisonous to the environment. Hence use of organic cotton becomes obligatory.

Organic cotton is grown without the use of pesticides and insecticides. Besides being very expensive to the farmers, pesticides and insecticides spell immense harm to the environment. Hence cutting them off from the production process is the healthiest option.

Besides organic cotton, linen, organic wool, natural dyes, and hemp are being used widely in the fashion industry under the Go Green banner. Linen is made from flax and uses minimum amount of fertilizers. Use of natural dyes made from plants, vegetables and roots keeps off those polluting contaminants which can be highly poisonous once they enter the food chain.

Hemp is one item that can be used to produce eco friendly clothing as well as reusable shopping bags. Hemp is the common name for plants of the entire genus Cannabis. Industrial hemp is used in the following- paper, textile, biodegradable plastic, health food, fuel, bags.

With environmental concerns making headlines every other day, the fashion industry has done well to keep pace with people’s inclinations. Today’s style mantra is being eco-friendly but with style.

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I’ve discovered a lot of great green and eco-friendly products since I started writing my blog, MissMalaprop.com, in August 2006. I’ve had the chance to personally test quite a few of them, and now there are green products that I absolutely swear by. Below is a round-up of some of my favorite green and eco-friendly products.

Everyday Green

Change can come in both big and small ways — one of my early posts was all about taking baby steps to changing the world. One of my favorite green blogs, Tiny Choices, also believes that small steps can add up to a big difference, as do the people behind Ideal Bite, which is a great free resource for learning easy ways to go green. Their daily email newsletter is packed with information and tips — I’ve learned about lots of environmental issues and solutions from their emails!
Choose to reuse! Envirosax reusable shopping bags are my personal favorite for grocery shopping and every day use. I keep at least a couple of these folded up in my purse at all times, and they fold up really small, so it’s easy! I’m also a big fan of the stainless steel water bottles by Earthlust. I keep mine with me at work and find myself drinking more water these days! Even choosing reusable chopsticks over disposables can add up to make a big difference. Reducing is another big part of helping the environment. I’ve written about lots of ways you can reduce and get rid of junk mail.

Carbon emissions are a big issue when it comes to the environment. One easy thing you can do is make sure to stop idling your car — whether it’s warming up in winter (most modern cars don’t need to do this anymore anyway) or keeping the A/C on when parked in summer, it’s bad for emissions and you’re wasting gas and money! I’m also a big proponent of shopping local as much as possible, for reducing food-miles and supporting the local economy.

Health and Beauty

Ever since I read the book Living Green, I’ve become way more aware of all of the nasty chemicals commonly found in things we use every day, and I find myself reading labels much more closely. (Check The Green Guide for a list of the top chemicals to avoid.) There are a couple of products I’ve tried out to see if they would be better than the mainstream alternatives, and now I swear by them.

Manor Hall Soap Company’s face wash is my absolute favorite. Not only is it all natural and made from organic ingredients, it’s also handmade! I was skeptical when I first tried Crystal deodorant, but now that I’ve made it through a summer using this stuff instead of antiperspirant with chemicals linked to cancer, I’m definitely a fan!

Anti-Body is a great fair trade company that makes fantastic body care products, including amazing peppermint lip balm that I use every night. If you’re an open-minded lady, check out my post on eco-friendly and handmade menstrual alternatives — there are a lot of scary chemicals in those traditional pads and tampons, not to mention the trash they produce!

Looking for a better toothbrush alternative? Check out Recycline’s eco-friendly toothbrushes and razors made from recycled plastics.

Home and Decor

Those scary chemicals? They’re not only in stuff we put on our bodies, but also all around our homes. Traditional vinyl shower curtain liners give off chemicals that you breathe in while you shower. I found an awesome recycled shower curtain called EnviroCurtain that works as both a liner or the only shower curtain you’ll ever need!

For greener cleaning alternatives, check out these awesome handmade eco-friendly dish sponges or try the range of Seventh Generation cleaning products, which is what we use at home. You can also make your own inexpensive cleaners at home using products that should already be in your kitchen. Soap nuts are another great all-natural alternative for not only laundry, but all sorts of cleaning needs.

If you’re in the market for a new mattress, and you want to go as green as possible, search Craigslist for an unwanted used mattress (these are often still in great condition!) or try one of the eco-friendly mattresses and pillows from Keetsa.

In search of a way to get rid of bugs and pests without a lot of nasty chemicals? EcoSMART organic bug sprays are safe around children and pets. And if you’re looking to green up your home office, check out The Green Office for lots of recycled office alternatives.

Fashion and Accessories

It’s becoming much easier to find more sustainable alternatives when you’re shopping for fashion these days, whether it’s clothes, shoes, or accessories, and whether you want mainstream brands or goods handmade by indie artists.

For shoes, try the vegan shoes and boots from TOMS shoes. They’re a really great company who gives a pair of shoes to a child in need for every single pair of shoes purchased, and all of their shoes are manufactured under fair trade practices. If you can’t get enough of flip-flops, give the eco-friendly fair trade flip-flops by Feelgoodz a try. (My friend Bridget did and she said they’re the most comfortable flip-flops she’s ever worn — and she’s an avid flip-flop wearer!) And if it’s running shoes you’re searching for, check out the eco-friendlier running shoes from Brooks.

For awesome indie eco-friendly fashion, there are so many great brands that I love! Gaia Conceptions eco-friendly clothing is one of my faves for great basics in solid colors and organic fabrics, and each piece is made by hand in the USA. I also really like the recycled garments handmade by Hayley Lau of heidi and seek ethical clothing. For eco-friendly fashion in a full range of sizes (XS through 4X), check out Mewv Sustainables.

Toggery by Kate D’Arcy is another up-and-coming eco-friendly fashion line. Everything is made in the USA, and each piece is classic — I have a top from here that I know I’ll love for a long time. The pieces from The League of Lovers & Thieves make me think of couture meets eco-friendly fashion, only at fairly reasonable prices. Their gorgeous clothing is to die for!

If you like cozy soft organic t-shirts, you’ll love Artevist, which is sort of like a Threadless for the eco-conscious set. If you want to get the most life possible out of your old jeans, check out Denim Therapy, which offers a specialized service to repair and reweave your favorite torn and ripped jeans.

Think eco-friendly fashion can’t be sexy? Lingerie lines like Sandmaiden sleepwear and lingerie and Enamore’s sustainable lingerie are out to prove you wrong with their stunning looks made from the best organic and sustainable fabrics.

There are all sorts of cool handbags and purses out there made from a variety of recycled and sustainable materials. I couldn’t possibly mention them all, but for starters, check out Ecoist bags, which are made from recycled candy wrappers and movie billboards, or take a recycled necktie clutch purse out on the town. For those who want something a bit simpler, Reware’s recycled bags are made in the USA and they offer not only purses but also solar powered backpacks that are great for guys and girls.

Books on Going Green

Want to find out even more about how to go green and make a difference? There are a TON of books on the market right now about just that. I’d never have time to read all of them, and I don’t expect that you do either, but here are a few that I have read and really enjoyed.

Living Green, which I mentioned above, was one of the first books I read about making the switch to a more sustainable lifestyle, and it really opened up my eyes to all of the toxins and chemicals surrounding us in everyday life. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a better understanding of how environmentalism is not just about the greater good, it’s also about your own personal health, and the health of your family.

Green Chic: Saving the Earth in Style is a fun read for ladies who want to go green but don’t want to have to sacrifice style to do so. It’s actually really informative while being a quick and easy read at the same time.

There are lots of books about going green that cater to specific events. The Green Bride Guide is a must-read for anyone planning a wedding. (Also check out my post about more eco-friendly wedding options.) The holidays can be another time of year that is traditionally pretty wasteful and consumer-driven. Green Christmas: How to Have a Joyous, Eco-Friendly Holiday Season is packed with tips on how to celebrate the holidays your way and keep the impact on the earth to a minimum.

If you’re trying to get your kids involved in going green, I highly recommend the Gaia Girls books. Even as an adult, I absolutely loved reading these, especially the second book, Way of Water. The whole series isn’t out yet, and I can’t wait to read the rest! (These are sort of like a eco-conscious Harry Potter.)

Books are filled with paper and that means trees have to be cut down to produce them. Try looking for publishers that use recycled paper and eco-friendly inks in their printing. (Most of the books mentioned above do.) You can also seek out ways to recycle books, whether by utilizing your local library or sites like PaperBackSwap that let you trade and recycle old books you’ve already read for ones you haven’t.

I hope this list offers a good starting place and some ideas on easy things you can do to change your habits for the greener! I’m always on the lookout for more eco-friendly alternatives. If you’re seeking a specific type of product and think that I might be able to help you find what you’re looking for, don’t hestitate to contact me, and I’ll try my best to help!

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