Eco Gifts

A few weeks ago we talked about a great new site known as, I’m Tired, that donates half of their proceeds to a charity of your choice when you purchase a super cool recycled bracelet. I love, I’m Tired, and I’m excited about their success.

I’ve just come across another great charity site that artistically intersects my love of eco-art wear, music, and charitable giving. The time for you to wrap your wrists in jewelry made from rock stars’ old guitar strings has finally come!

Wear Your Music, has come up with an ingenious way to combine music memorabilia and charitable donations. They take guitar strings donated by rock stars and handcraft them into unique bracelets. The strings are bound by 100 percent recycled silver and bear the initial of whichever rock star’s strings are wound around your wrist. One hundred percent of the profit from each sale goes to a charity of the artist’s choice. The bracelets range from $75 to $500 and make an amazingly unique gift.

Artist Bracelet

Wear Your Music is a company whose philosophy centers around their love of music and their desire to contribute to other important issues. Hannah Garrison began crafting bracelets made from used guitar strings for musician friends and their families. After seeing an ad that read “Do you have any ideas for interesting products made with guitar strings” the bracelets, (initially dubbed the “RelixBand”), were born. The idea grew quickly and now includes participation by over 150 artists such as The Rolling Stones Keith Richards, Ani DiFranco, Joan Jett and Willie Nelson.

The artist bracelets have been so successful that, Wear Your Music, decided to start offering lower priced, one-size-fits-all guitar string bracelet. The unisex bracelets, (available in seven different colors), can be shaped to suit any wrist size. A percentage of the profits from these bracelets are donated to MusiCares.

Fashion Bracelet

With new arrivals updated often, it’s no doubt that you’ll be able to locate your favorite artists and wear their strings on your wrist. I think this is a super cool idea and perfect for us music lovers who, not only love tunes and great eco fashion, but want to give to causes too. Make sure you check this site out. They rock!

Manufacturing, packaging, and shipping items make a huge environmental impact. If you’ve got the time, why not turn some these items into gifts this year.

Cereal Box Journal

Naturally, giving intangible presents cuts down on those stacks of socks and scarves sitting unused in your closet, plus you’ll get bonus points from family and friends for reusing materials that might have ended up in the trash or recycle bin!

Here you can use empty cereal boxes and magazine cut outs to create awesome looking journals. Let your creative energy flow, you’ll be amazed at what you can come up with. Click here to get the design details and make sure you let us know how it turns out.

It’s important to be conscientious about how much waste goes out into the environment. Although supermarkets and other stores are finally catching on and not supplying so many plastic bags, there is still work to be done.

Why not put more green into your holiday gift giving this year. This means more than leaving less impact on the planet; it’s about choosing gifts that are made with recycled, quality, eco-friendly non-toxic materials. This often leads to one-of-a-kind items that say as much about your creativeness as your eco-friendliness. Giving green can mean everything from reusing gift-wrappings, to putting all-natural lotions and beeswax candles in stockings.

Here is a guide to my favorite eco friendly gifts. Have some fun and spread a little green holiday cheer this season.

Gifts For The Eco Wine Lover:

• This converted wine oak barrel lazy Susan adds style and practicality to the center of any table. It displays the original imprint of the winery of origin. A great addition is that you can custom stencil this item for that special someone. The perfect gift for any wine lover!
  

  Wine Barrel Lazy Susan

• The Wine Barrel Stave Bread Bowl is ideal for serving bread or fruit, or for displaying seasonal arrangements. The authentic recycled oak server offers historical character without losing any of its charm.
  

  Wine Barrel Stave Bowl

• This Clear Recycled Glass Wine Decanter Set with casual recycled tumblers and decanter dispense formality and provide carefree swilling. The glass goblet is perfect for water, a parfait dessert, sparkling wine, or fruit salad.
  

  Recycled Glass Decanter Set

Gifts For The Eco Geek:

• The Solio Magnesium Charger is the world’s most advanced hybrid charger. The Solio Magnesium edition combines clever solar panels, (with battery), to collect power from the sun. The strong yet elegant magnesium is the most powerful and versatile hybrid charger ever made. A great gift for anyone who loves his or her gadgets.
  

  Solio Magnesium Charger

• The Eclipse Solar Gear Messenger Bag is designed with all of the functionality and looks of a well-equipped messenger bag, but with the added bonus of a solar charging module. The bag has pockets for your cell phone, iPod and any other gadget you may fancy. It’s the perfect bag for solar lovers.
  

  Solar Messenger Bag

• This Iqua Solar Powered Bluetooth Headset has a little solar panel on board, letting you juice it up just by wearing it out in the sun. It’ll give you 12 hours of talk time when charged, and when you wear it in the sun it provides infinite standby time. Now you don’t have to worry about always having to recharge your Bluetooth headset anymore. The sun is all you need.
  

  Solar BlueTooth

Eco Gifts For Him:

• English Retreads adds eco style to the messenger bag. The Bentley is a great option for work, the gym or school, and the large model creates a nice ride for your laptop. Each one-of-a-kind English Retread is made from reclaimed truck inner tubes. Does it get any cooler then that?
  

  Bently Bag

• These one-of-a-kind ballpark cufflinks are the perfect gift for the sports fan in your life. Made of material salvaged from the seats of famous ballparks, the sterling silver cufflinks give your baseball fan an eco alternative to wearing his team’s jersey. Each item comes with a certificate of stadium material authenticity.
  

  Recycled Baseball Cufflinks

• This creative clock is handmade with a vintage record and old-fashioned telephone by Minnesota artist Debra Dresler. The perfect gift for music lovers and antique lovers, this clock will definitely get the guy in your life talking about what a great gift you gave him.
  

  Pendulum Record Phone Clock

Eco Gifts For Her:

• Fashion and eco-friendliness come together in this recycled Newspaper Clutch Purse, and it doesn’t get cooler then this. Made from recycled newspapers woven together to form a stylish purse, it’s as durable as any bag you’ve ever used. This clutch is the perfect size for your essentials like phone, keys, glasses, money and whatever else you need to tag along.
  

  Recycled Clutch Purse

• This recycled necklace is sure to make some waves with the loved one you give it to. Made of used skateboards, this super cool necklace is a one-of-a-kind that will not only bring hipness to any outfit, but a story too.
  

  Recycled Skateboard Necklace

• Does the favorite woman in you life need a stylish place to store all her jewels? Well look no further; the Japanese kiri wood Tansu chest is the perfect solution. The tabletop tansu’s small chest organizes rings, necklaces, and bracelets. The black trim adds an elegant design, perfect for any décor.
  

  Tansu Chest

Gifts For The Eco Adventurer:

• This backpack is made from recycled PET fabric. The sleek-profiled pack is designed with sustainability and convenience, which allows for an easy transition from work to the trails. Perfect for extended day trips and short hikes, and it’s eco-friendly, that’s the best part!
  

  Recycled Backpack

• Protect the environment without sacrificing comfort and efficiency. The Marmot EcoPro plus 30 sleeping bag is made from 100% recycled fabrics and 80% recycled insulation. A great gift for those that love the outdoors and the environment.
  

  Marmot EcoPro

• This Hand Crank Radio and Flashlight is the perfect survival tool. Simply turn the crank to power this AM/FM radio and the self-powered generator recharges the internal battery pack. The LED light will last forever, unlike traditional light bulbs.
  

  Hand Crank Radio with LED Flashlight

Gifts For The Eco Home:

• These Root of the Earth Platters are the perfect give for hostesses. Each individually carved platter is great for serving bread, crackers, cheese, fruit, or sandwiches, and the eco-friendliness is great too!
  

  Root Of The Earth Platter

• A great addition to any table, this Twig Flower Centerpiece is cast from real twigs. As easy to use as they are creatively designed, they perform beautifully as instant centerpieces.
  

  Twig Flower Centerpiece

• This awesome Rolled Magazine Storage Crate is perfect for any room, in any home. Made from repurposed magazines collected from all over the world, each crate is unique. Think of all the other eco-gifts you can add to it too.
  

  Recycled Magazine Crate

Eco Gifts For Colleagues:

• These record coasters are made of labels cut from the center of classic vinyl records. Comes in a set of six assorted labels, perfect for the music-loving colleague, and great for your eco-conscious boss too.
  

  Record Coaster

• This is the perfect gift to help do away with the use of plastic cups. Perfect for any office desk, these Global Warming Mugs are sure to be a topic of conversation. This mug shows the side effects of global warming. Just pour in a hot coffee, and the ocean starts to spread across the continent as ice caps melt and water levels rise. Gotta love this one!
  

  Global Warming Mug

• This recycled bike chain, hold business cards while supporting the planet. Simple, modern and functional, this gift will tell all those who take a card that you’re active and eco aware.
  

  Recycled Bike Chain

Eco Gift Sets:

• This collection of chocolate-covered pretzels, snicker doodle cookies, bittersweet and peanut butter crunch chocolate bars are all organic and totally addictive. The gift arrives in a large Root of the Earth Bowl, which becomes a second gift as server, sculpture, or centerpiece.
  

  Organic Chocolate Basket

• This Tea Lovers’ Root Basket is sure to please any gift getter. Loose-leaf herbal teas prove that organic sources are the purest, most concentrated flavors as they calm, soothe, and rejuvenate. This assortment comes in a one-of-a-kind basket, hand carved from the root of a reclaimed Chinese fir.
  

  Organic Tea Basket

• The people we care about deserve the best eco-friendly gifts. The Opulent Vintner’s Collection contains a 2005 Ceago Cabernet Sauvignon as well as a 2007 Ceago Del Lago Chardonnay. To complete the biodynamic bounty, there is a Ceago Vinegarden’s estate-grown, cold-pressed olive oil, certified organic and biodynamic. Completing this are the freshest seasonal fruits and nuts, and decadent chocolates. This is exactly the gift you would want someone to send to you.
  

  Ceago Opulent Vintner’s Collection

Eco Gifts For Pets:

• Give your pet a comfortable place to chill and help the environment at the same time this holiday season. The Bella Pet Bed is made of eco2-recycled cotton that eliminates the need to grow, process, and dye the fiber, perfect for any dog or cat!
  

  Bella Pet Bed

• Don’t forget about that happy family member that just loves playtime this holiday. Pups like gifts too! West Paw Toys are hand crafted from 85% post consumer fibers, perfect for your best friend.
  

  Eco Holiday Pet Toys

• Help the environment while giving your furry friend a warm blanket to cozy up with. Made from eco2 recycled cotton the Bella Binky Pet Blanket is super soft, and durable. The blanket is also hypoallergenic and washable.
  

  Bella Binky Blanket

There certainly are a lot of eco options to choose from. I hope this has helped in your search for that perfect green gift for the ones you love. And of course we can’t forget that some of the best gifts we can give are to those who are truly in need. Please make sure to check out our Top Eco Charities and Fair Trade sites for other ways to give this holiday season.

Solio Magnesium Edition Charger

We just posted up our new Solio Magnesium Edition Solar Charger review - check this great green gadget out right now!

The times at the moment are all about change. That’s a good thing! Change is something that presses us out of our comfort zone, is measured by its impact on all who are connected to it, and it never looks for a resting-place, just the next launching point.

Fundraising is a well-known process of soliciting and collecting money or gifts in-kind, via donations. EcoLabel Fundraising has ingeniously used these ever-changing times to create a new, refreshing approach to fundraising.

EcoLabel is based on a love of fundraising and a love for the earth. Their goal is to help you feel content about asking your friends and family to support an organization you feel passionate about by providing eco items to do so.

Getting started is super quick and amazingly easy. You simply fill out their registration form, and upon approval, you’ll be able to start raising funds within 1-5 business days.

When your supporters visit EcoLabel, they’ll find a variety of organic, fair-trade and eco-friendly products to choose from on the site. EcoLabel has something for everyone, which makes it an amazing source for buying gifts year-round as well as raising funds.

Each sale purchased provides 25% of the sales earned towards your fundraising efforts. Supporters will select your organization’s name from the participating organization list, then shop the eco-friendly web catalog. There are some great shopping categories like, gifts for children and home, food and drink, and a few other great genres’. I’m really impressed with what EcoLabel has come up with in terms of eco-products and fundraising creativity.

What a great eco-friendly way to raise money for a cause near and dear and in a way that won’t hurt the environment. These changing times couldn’t be more ready for a fundraising site like this.

It’s that Holiday time again when most people start frantically running around to find that perfect gift for loved ones.

It’s awesome to watch those you love elate over something you thoughtfully surprised them with. However, most of us spend our time thinking about what things we want, how we would like people to treat us and how great it would be if we had this, that and the other thing, that we forget it’s by giving, that we receive.

It’s not just the gratitude you get in giving to a person or organization, but more so the heightened feelings of satisfaction you receive by this pure and simple act.

Whether you give money, things you don’t use anymore, a helping hand, a kind word, a boost of confidence, a high-five for a job well done, you have given and by giving of yourself, you have given to yourself.

For this Holiday season, I decided to compile a list of what I consider to be the top eco-friendly charities and fair trade sites.

Give to humankind, and the betterment of life on earth, or to someone else’s life, which will make a mark on your own heart and soul. Giving charitable donations creates a feeling unlike any other. Buying from websites that give back to indigenous communities, creates a global unity. Just knowing that you are doing a small part to better this earth we inhabit makes all the difference in the world.

Here are my favorites. Pass this along and if there are fair trade sites you feel should be listened, or charities, please add them to our comment section.

Lets make an eco difference this holiday season and feel good about ourselves in doing so!

• I just wrote about “I’m Tired” a few days ago, but to me, they are number one this year. Make a small purchase…Make a big difference! That’s how this will work. The concept behind “I’m Tired” is that you purchase very inexpensive, but fashionably cool eco-bracelets, and in doing so, you’re making donations to a multitude of causes.
• The “I’m Tired” bracelet concept was sparked by the success of Lance Armstrong’s effort to raise money for cancer with a simple silicone bracelet. For every $10 bracelet you purchase, I’m Tired donates $5 to the cause. You pick the cause and the donation will automatically be made on your behalf. Think about it. If you bought 10 bracelets for 100 bucks, you would have 10 great eco gifts to give those you love and you would also be giving $50 to the charity of your choice. It’s a win, win situation. What are you “Tired” of? Pick your cause!
• If you don’t think Great Aunt Betty would fully appreciate the anti-gorilla poaching patrol, you can give her a gift certificate so she can choose a charity she’d like to support. “Just Give” is a creative team of charitable advocates whose dedication and expertise work together to connect individuals with the causes they care about most.
  To donate go to justgive.org where you can purchase a gift certificate for any amount.
• If you have a cause, but not a specific charity in mind, think about getting a “charity gift basket” from Just Give. Choose from a list of causes like “Animal Place“, or “Save the Earth“. Check out justgive.org for their full list of gift basket options.
• What Is Fair Trade you ask?
  Fair trade is an organized movement and market-based concept that empowers developing countries to produce and promote sustainability. The movement warrants the payment of a “fair” prices as well as social and environmental standards in areas related to the production of a wide variety of goods.
• These are a few well-respected fair trade organizations that verify each product has a positive impact on the people and the planet that helped create them. Their goal is to ensure that every choice you make here is a good one. Buy your coffee and chocolate for those office holiday parties from fair trade companies this year!
• WorldofGoods.com is the world’s first online marketplace to assemble thousands of people positive and eco positive sellers and products all in one place.
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• Equal Exchange envisioned a food system that would empower farmers from third world countries, as well as consumers, to support small farmer co-ops and use sustainable farming methods.

• The Kallari Association is an amazing self-governed coalition of Amazon artists and organic cocoa producers. Kallari was created to facilitate sustainable income in Kichwa, Equator. Buying their fair trade coffee and chocolate can fulfill basic family needs without logging their rainforests or selling their land.
  To purchase products, click here
• At “A Better Footprint“, (formerly Worldgoods Fair Trade), is dedicated to economic development in some of the world’s poorest areas. Their store is your place for fair trade, earth-friendly, organic, and multicultural products. Shop there and leave a better eco-footprint.
• For more than 45 years, WWF, (World Wildlife Federation), has been protecting the future of nature. WWF is the largest multinational conservation organization in the world, working in 100 countries and supported by 1.2 million members in the United States and close to 5 million globally.
  Their mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment, and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. Adopt an animal, or give an adoption card here.
• “Plan-international” is one of the oldest and largest international development agencies in the world, working in more then 49 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas. “Plan-international” is the largest child-centered community development organization in the world. With no religious or political affiliations, “Plan-international” works with children, their families and communities to make lasting improvements to childrens lives.
• Greenpeace stands for positive change through action, defending the natural world and promoting peace. They investigate, expose and confront environmental abuse by governments and corporations around the world. Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organization that acts to change attitudes and behavior, protect, conserve and promote peace towards the environment.
• For more than 75 years, “Save the Children” has been an independent force for change in the lives of children in need, making it possible for them to grow up healthy and safe. “Save the Children”, offers great opportunities and choices in areas such as providing micro-nutrients and medicine to children, educating a child for one year, or helping children in the U.S. break the cycle of poverty. For more info, click here.
• “Friends of the Earth“, makes life better for people by inspiring solutions to environmental issues. The dedicated staff fights to protect the rights of all people to live in a safe and healthy environment, both at home and in countries around the world. Their campaigns demonstrate a belief that the fight for justice and the movement to protect the health of the planet are part of the same struggle. By supporting “Friends of the Earth”, they promise that your donation will be wisely invested in the future well-being of this planet and its inhabitants. Click here for further details.
• “Rainforest Rescue” is committed to saving the rainforests for current and future generations. Their projects involve rainforest restoration, research and property purchase and protection. Rainforests support half of the species of life on earth and absorb massive amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. The biodiversity provides vital ecosystem services upon which all of humanity depends.
  All donations to “Rainforest Rescue” are tax deductible and you can indicate your preference for supporting specific projects.
• “Tools for Self Reliance” supports grassroots development projects in Africa by providing practical help to practical people. Working with partner organizations, they deliver effective, targeted aid to people in poor communities. This allows people to start up or expand their small businesses, giving them the means to afford a living, send their children to school and build a better future for themselves and their families. With every tool shipment, “Tools for Self Reliance” moves one step closer to putting the rural poor of Africa on the path to prosperity and self-reliance. To give to this cause, click here.
• H2O Africa Foundation. Give a village in Africa the gift of the resource we all take for granted, clean water. A gift to this partnership not only goes 100% directly to providing clean water in Rwanda, but every dollar donated will double their grant matching relationship.
• Give the gift that keeps on giving. Donate money to a needy family with anything from a cow to a flock of chicks. A gift from Heifer’s Gift Catalog will provide animals and training to help families build a better future for themselves and their communities.

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• “Oxfam America” is an international relief and development organization that creates solutions for poverty, hunger, and injustice. Together with individuals and local groups in more than 120 countries, Oxfam saves lives, helps people overcome poverty, and fights for social justice. Your support fuels “Oxfam America’s” work in poor countries, where local community groups help people lift themselves out of poverty.
  For info visit oxfamamerica.org.

I hope this has been helpful and I hope that we all take the time this Holiday season to think about what’s important to us, how we can help the planet, our communities, or people in geographical locations were we’re far removed from.

Even with these tough economic times, we are a nation that has much more then many other countries around the world. A little bit of effort on our part goes a long way in other parts of this world. Remember we’re all under the same sun, the same moon and the ever present changing times.

Make a small purchase… make a big difference! That’s the concept behind the new “I’m Tired” eco-friendly bracelets. The bracelets are all made from recycled tires and metals and retail for only $10. Half of each bracelet ($5 each) is donated to charities, supporting one of 10 causes, from world hunger and global warming to cancer and AIDS, issues in the world that we’re all “tired” of.

The “cause” bracelets are inexpensive so everyone can afford them. They’re called ‘I’m Tired’ for two reasons. First, they’re made from recycled tires and second, everyone gets to pick and support causes they’re tired of.

Each bracelet represents a different cause. In these difficult financial times, they’ll make great, meaningful eco-holiday gifts.

Imagine how we could change the world if we each helped build a community of millions of people wearing the “I’m Tired” bracelets!

That’s how this effort will succeed. We have the potential to raise millions of dollars to help fight the world’s issues. What are you tired of?

Head on over to I’m Tired and read their “about us” page, it’s inspiring and heartfelt. Then choose the “I’m Tired” charities you want to support. Let’s get this going!

This year have yourself a low carbon, eco friendly Christmas. Rather than buying your holiday decor on impulse at the mall, why not make some greener decorating and entertaining choices that also help keep our planet healthier and more beautiful. Leave the planet a little better than you found it this year. Choosing solar powered lights, recycled holiday decorations, cards and gifts, doesn’t mean you’ll have to compromise on quality or your Holiday spirit!

Here are my favorite eco-friendly holiday decorations for this year. Let’s move away from the plastic wreaths and into a festive eco-friendly holiday that’s about gratitude, especially towards the environment.

Birch Bark Tree

The bark leaves of this birch holiday tree are the perfect festive winter decoration. The contemporary natural design flows out above their wooden stands and they look great grouped together on a table.

Click here to buy or see more details

Mini Temple Bell Ornaments

Fitted with metal clackers and made from rustic brass-plated steel, these ornaments, suspended from rope, shimmer like burnished gold and resonate harmonically when hung from your tree.

Click here to buy or see more details

Tin Can Angels

Made in Guatemala by a cooperative, these bright, ornaments are sure to add a festiveness to your holiday decorations. The best part is they’re made from recycled cans. Bottle tops become angel faces, while the sides of the cans are robes and wings. These happen to be one of my favorite decorations.

Click here to buy or see more details

Card Tree

Season’s Greetings cards may not grow on trees, but they sit on this one very happily. Made in Honduras under a rural work program to benefit local villagers, the tree elegantly displays cards from metal limbs that fan out from a reclaimed wooden base.

Click here to buy or see more details

Stone Runner

Smooth white stones add a bold dimension to a traditional Holiday dining table. The white stones evoke fields of fallen snow. They bring the outdoors inside without the chill.

Click here to buy or see more details

More …

• For some great eco holiday decorating tips, head on over to Gaiam, they’ve got some great tips.

• Eco-Artware has a great list of eco ways to gift wrap your presents. There are truly some great ideas here. Head on over and see for yourself.

Autonomie Project is a great new Fair Trade modish company innovating stylish sweatshop-free & eco-friendly footwear, clothing and cool accessories.

Autonomie works completely with small, substantive cooperatives and Fair Trade certified amenities located in developing areas all over the world. The ingredients they use are all organic cotton, natural FSC rubber, and other eco-friendly materials.

The Autonomie company personally assists their workers with the development and marketing of their products so that they flourish and lead sustainable, equality filled lifestyles. Due to these really great practices, families around the world are introduced to US consumers and can become empowered to become thriving participants in a reconfigured sustainable global marketplace.

These really cool “Fight Global Poverty / Warming” tee’s are made from 100% organic cotton. Stylish and ethically made make for a great fashion statement and they’re produced right here in the US.

I have been wearing converse for years now, love um and always will! However, these 100% Fair Trade-certified organic cotton canvas converse “look-a-likes” make quite a statement. The tough rubber sole is produced and stamped with FSC-certified all natural and sustainable latex. That means the rubber was actually tapped from a tree in a well, instead of being made from chemicals like other rubber products. Plus, dyes are PCP and AZO free. Keep up with the Autonomie idiologies. A Fair Trade premium is paid to both the rubber producers in Sri Lanka and to the shoe stitchers in Pakistan. Equality, style and fashion all around!