Eight Easy Options For Green Gift Giving

1. Gift Certificates – require almost no transportation resources or packaging, and ensure the recipient will get exactly what he or she wants. Choose local, environmentally-conscious companies from which to secure the certificates.

2. Organic Products – are often sourced from environmentally-conscious companies that minimize their impact on the world. Consider clothing, accessories and beauty items.

3. Charity Donation - requires no transportation resources or packaging, and directly make a positive impact on the world. Check out organizations that benefit global resource initiatives, focusing on something meaningful to the recipient like water or air quality, or wildlife protection.

4. Local Home-Made Products – buying locally-made products supports the local economy and minimizes transportation impact. Look for hand-made gift items like bags, decorative boxes and children’s toys.

5. Massage – a hands-on gift requires almost no waste, and the only products required are a little bit of massage oil.

6. Eco Spa Day – while many spas use treatments that are tested on animals and contain ingredients that don’t meet the green standard, eco spas specialize in treating guests to luxury without negatively impacting the Earth.

7. Home-Made Food – if you like to cook, select the best organic and locally-grown products available and prepare a home-made meal that you can either share or drop off. Don’t live nearby? Bake organic cookies and send them in the mail.

8. Groceries for a Week – do their shopping for a week at the local farmer’s market or a responsible grocery store. Don’t forget to include a list of what you purchased and some recipes for using the food!