The holiday season might have passed, but being green is great all year round. I found these gifts at thegreenguide.com:
- Portable Solar Charger – At prices thar hover around $20, portable solar chargers are affordable, yet highly effective, green gifts. The newest Solar Style SC002 Solar Charger comes in lavender or silver, weighs just 131 grams, and has an output voltage of 3.6 or 5.5 volts. This charger has a built-in battery with enough power to charge most cell phones, MP3 players, and digital cameras, yet it can fit easily in a pocket. It is ideal for emergency kits and extended travel without power supplies.
- Coffee sleeves – In the movie Made of Honor it was said that the character Tom Bailey invented coffee sleeves and was able to make his living off of it. I wish they hadn’t been invented, because they are yet another paper product to add to the list. Know a coffee lover? You can save them from using the coffee sleeves that they trash by purchasing a durable one. To make the gift more personal, you could even make it yourself!
- The Gift of Charity? – At charitygiftcertificates.org, you can purchase “gift cards” to give to friends that allow them to pick a charity to donate whatever amount that you put on the card to a charity of their choice. It’s a new concept, giving money that will strictly be used for charity purpose. You can pre-select a charity, too. Why not pick one that works toward saving our environment?
- Paper Recycling Factory – The paper recycling factory teaches children how to use waste paper to create greetings cards, note pads, and other paper supplies. It’s a fun gift that gets kids excited about taking steps to reduce waste. At about $30, it is one of the more pricey items on the list.
For these gifts, waiting until the next holiday season or until a recipient’s birthday just isn’t logical. If you see a green gift that you or a friend will use, go out and get it, because the environment is always in need of some help.
