Green gift guide

Are you usually among the last-minute holiday shoppers traipsing through the mall in a desperate search for (possibly useless) stuff? Give gifts the environment will like this year with our green gift guide. We’ve tried to find gift ideas for that are Canadian made, totally organic, made from repurposed materials or a combination of all three. Stop stressing and start shopping with a conscience - after all, isn’t healing the planet a gift we can all enjoy?

For her:

• Bentwood coffee cuff. This innovative and beautiful wooden cuff bracelet might be the coolest gift on our list this year. Made in Vancouver from reclaimed architectural veneer cutoff, the cuff can double as a heat sleeve for your to-go coffee or tea cup.
• Under the Canopy v-neck hoodie sweater made sweatshop-free in India from 100% organic cotton. Under the Canopy believes that pollutants and harsh chemicals don’t belong in the production of clothing. We couldn’t agree more.
• CARGO PlantLove botanical lipstick. Not only is CARGO’s lipstick made without mineral oils or petroleum, it comes in a tube made from corn and an outer carton made of flower paper embedded with real flower seeds. Plant in soil and add water and this gift will grow - literally.
• Ashley Watson recycled leather bags. Vancouver-based Watson has been handcrafting her one-of-a-kind leather products using exclusively recycled material since 2005. Inspired by the original features in a leather jacket purchased from a charity shop, Watson began incorporating them into each bag and wallet design. Her designs are practical, sophisticated and distinctive.
• Lululemon yoga mat. Made from environmentally-friendly Thermal Plastic Elastomer (TPE) without latex, PVC or rubber. Lulu’s Eco Align mat won’t hang around if you don’t want it to - its cellular composition allows it to break down in landfills.
• greenKarat recycled titanium earrings. Handmade from recycled titanium with created sapphires inlaid in recycled silver. greenKarat offers a carbon offset tax with purchase, allowing you to offset the emissions generated in the process of making the jewelry.
• Bamboo Salad Utensils These handshaped bamboo salad servers are highly durable, will not scratch cookware and easy on the planet. Bamboo is one of the earth’s most sustainable crops, harvested from controlled stands with an astounding growth cycle of three to five years.
• Zerofootprint carbon offset gift card. Give the gift of offsetting a tonne of carbon dioxide.
• Dr. Hauschka lavender bath oil. Dr. Hauschka supports sustainable, ecologically sound agricultural practices by obtaining as many of their ingredients as possible from certified organic sources. Eco-conscious packaging and natural botanical preservatives help keep products fresh without the use of chemical additives. Plus your girl will smell amazing after a soak in the lavender bath oil.
• Grace + Cello recycled wool jacket. Made from 75% recycled wool, this stylish red coat with a funnel collar and asymmetrical opening will look hot on a cold winter day. Montreal-based Grace + Cello weighs the pros and cons of every fabric they use to minimize their impact on the environment.

For him:

• Oom Ethikwear black hoodie. Made sweatshop-free in Quebec from 100% organic cotton, this hoodie has the words of Martin Luther King Jr. printed inside the hood for an inspirational year.
• Zerofootprint carbon offset gift card. Give the gift of offsetting a tonne of carbon dioxide.
• Recycled birdhouse. Handcrafted from salvaged materials including copper from the roof of the old city hall in Toronto, this backyard birdhouse will delight the ornithologist in your family. Plus it looks cool.
• Citizen Eco-Drive watch. Your man will be on time for Christmas dinner with an ultra-chic watch powered by light from Citizen’s Eco-Drive collection.
• Planet Earth coffee table book. With jaw-dropping photos of the earth’s poles, forest, plains, deserts, mountains and ocean, this offshoot book from the Discovery Channel/BBC’s hit documentary series with be a feast for your family’s eyes and soul.
• Avalon Organics aloe unscented moisturizing shaving cream. Appraised as safe and non-toxic by the Environmental Working Group’s cosmetics safety database, Avalon’s soap-free moisturizing shave cream provides lift and glide, rinses clean and soothes sensitive skin for a perfect shave.
• Timberland Earthkeepers footwear. Let the man in your life trudge through the snow in style with Timberland’s Earthkeepers footwear, made with 100% organic cotton waterproof canvas, 30% reclaimed rubber soles and 70% recycled material linings.
• Organic Lifestyle makes a pretty decent organic version of the ever-popular boxer brief for eco-conscious dudes, and for less than you’d pay for designer brands.
• Levi’s organic cotton jeans. Conventional cotton is responsible for the use of nearly $2.6 billion worth of pesticides annually and uses more carcinogen-laden, toxic insecticides than any other crop per unit. The iconic denim designer maintains its cool (and the planet’s) with these skinny trouser-style jeans made from organically grown cotton.
• Matt & Nat Dirty Harry laptop bag. Give vegan with Matt & Nat’s cruelty-free laptop bag and prove that animal-friendly can still be fashion forward.

For the mini-environmentalist:

• SIGG kids’ bottle. SIGG bottles are durable, non-toxic, safe from leaching and 100% recyclable after their long lives. SIGG is a proud member of One Percent for the Planet, an alliance of businesses committing 1% of all sales to environmental causes.
• Bamboozle bamboo fitted diaper. Bamboo is an eco-friendly and renewable fibre with a very short, fertilizer- and pesticide-free growth cycle. Naturally antibacterial, breathable and cool, bamboo fiber absorbs 60% more than cotton.
• Natural rubber ducky. Make a big splash with this all-natural latex rubber duck. That’s right - natural, herbicide-free rubber, sustainably-harvested by tapping the sap of Hevea brasiliensis (the common rubber tree).
• HABA Walker Wagon. Let your tot tote his own toys in this sustainably-made wagon colored with non-toxic food-grade dyes and finishes.
• Organic cotton onesie. Sweet red ladybugs printed on organic cotton will feel supersoft on your little girl’s skin.
• Sector 9 bamboo pintail skateboard. Your green tween can shred the streets with a conscience on Sector 9’s bamboo skateboard.
• Preserve Jr endangered species toothbrush. The Preserve Jr’s unique life cycle is a fun way to teach kids the importance of good oral health and efforts that preserve our earth and its endangered species. The handle is made from repurposed plastic from yogurt cups and is completely recyclable. Introduce your child to endangered animals such as the African elephant, Karner Blue butterfly, Utah prairie dog, cheetah, koala and grizzly bear.
• Earth Book for Kids: Activities to Help Heal the Environment. Filled with with ideas for arts and crafts projects, experiments and experiences that encourage children to enjoy and heal the environment, teach your children about acid rain, endangered wildlife, pesticides, energy, recycling, pollution, landfills, rain forests and water conservation with fun and creativity.

More on greening your holidays:

• Deck the halls in eco-friendly style
• That’s a wrap
• Free LED lights
• The Christmas tree debate
• Organic buzz
• Setting an eco-friendly holiday table

Or check out Living Green Vancouver for more great green gift ideas:

• Green gift guide FOR HER
• Green gift guide FOR HIM