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Low Impact Holiday Shopping

Greentips: December 2005

In the frenzy of holiday shopping, it’s easy to neglect the environmental impact of your purchases, but Mother Nature doesn’t have to be left off your gift list. Here are some thoughtful gifts that are environmentally friendly as well.

For food and wine lovers:

• Cooking or serving materials made from recycled glass or bamboo (a fast-growing grass).
• A selection of organic wines (available online and at many liquor and natural food stores).
• Membership in a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm. The recipient will receive a bounty of sustainably grown produce throughout the summer and fall. 

For outdoors enthusiasts:

• Gift certificates for low-impact outdoor adventures such as rafting or canoeing trips.
• Membership to one or more state parks, or a National Parks Pass. The National Parks Pass, administered by the National Park Foundation, covers the entry fee to many national parks and monuments.
• Fleece outerwear (jackets, gloves, hats, scarves) made from post-consumer recycled plastic.

For gardeners:

• A selection of seeds for heirloom and native (non-invasive) plants. Heirloom fruits and vegetables are grown from seeds passed down from generation to generation, helping to preserve genetic diversity. Native plants are adapted for the local climate and therefore require less water, fertilizer, pesticide, and maintenance than exotic varieties.
• Books on environmentally friendly gardening and landscaping techniques. 

For new homeowners:

• An energy efficiency gift basket including weather stripping, a water heater blanket, a programmable thermostat, and compact fluorescent light bulbs.
• A home energy audit to be performed by the local utility.

For gadget lovers:

• Rechargeable batteries (available in most hardware stores).
• Wind-up or solar-powered battery chargers for laptops and cell phones.
   

For all the other people on your shopping list, consider gifts that are locally made, durable, made from recycled or recyclable materials, or use minimal packaging. Happy holidays from all of us at the Union of Concerned Scientists!

Related Resources

Organic Consumers Association—Organic Wine


LocalHarvest—Community Supported Agriculture


National Park Foundation


Seed Savers Exchange


Native Seeds/SEARCH


National Green Pages

Greentips Archive