Babies need a lot of stuff and that fact can make shopping for baby shower or newborn gifts seem all too easy, but parents sometimes get inundated with stuffed toys and soft blankets and end up without some of the more essential items. Like diapers. But if you want to give something that’s a touch more exciting than that, we recommend the Green to Grow Welcome Home Set, which features a full set of BPA-free baby bottles that will last from the first few months until solid food is on the menu.

The Green to Grow Welcome Home set features two five ounce baby bottles and two 10 ounce baby bottles, as well as beginner, intermediate and expert nipples that can be switched out as the little giftee grows up, and an organic cotton baby burp cloth for post-feeding moments. All the items are free of BPA, lead, PVC and nitrosamine (a carcinogenic substance sometimes found in latex products) making the Green to Grow Welcome Home set one of the safest baby bottle kits you can buy. Click here to read more

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Trying to give out something healthy on Halloween may feel a little like adding a single solar panel to a 5-bedroom home with two SUVs in the garage, but any healthier, greener addition you can make to the evening is worth a little extra effort. So instead of heading to the nearest Wal-Mart, where the universal green labeling system has yet to make its appearance and the sugary treats are far from Fair Trade, organic and healthy, try hitting up your nearest health food store or order online.

For the classically-colored Halloween appearance, we like Sjaak’s Dark Chocolate Orange Bites, which aren’t the cheapest option at $32.95 for a one and a half pound tub, but are well worth what you pay (they’re so good, in fact, that the hardest part will be giving them up to trick-or-treaters). These chocolates are 100% organic, which means you’re not only saving the environment from exposure to pesticides (which is often required in mass quantities for chocolate growing), but that you’ll likely notice a big difference in the flavor of your hand-outs, if taste tests that rank organic chocolate as better tasting are any indication.

Just as important as what you will find in Sjaak’s Dark Chocolate Orange Bites (organic chocolate and gourmet flavors) is what you won’t find in these little foil-wrapped goodies: GMO ingredients, preservatives, artificial flavors or colors, and animal ingredients. Click here to read more

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We probably don’t need to tell you that bringing your coffee (or other hot beverage of choice) with you in a travel mug is much better for the planet that picking up a cup at the coffee shop. You’ll eliminate the waste created by your disposable cup, sleeve, lid and the coffee filter (if you buy a reusable version). Plus, you can control what kind of beans you’re brewing (opting for Fair Trade and organic, hopefully). Even if you’re addicted to your local java supplier’s offerings, bringing a reusable travel mug will still cut down on waste and often save you a little cash at the register. Here are our five favorite green travel mugs:

FOR THE CLUTZ

Timolino Spillproof Travel Mug, $22.50

Anyone who shows up to work every morning wearing their dark roast should consider this stainless steel spillproof travel mug from Timolino. It’s got a steady base that won’t tip—even in a desk disaster—and a Press’N'Sip Lever design that means coffee can only escape when you want it to and only into your mouth.

FOR THE DESIGN FANATIC

I Am Not a Paper Cup Reusable Coffee Mug, $19.95

This reusable mug is a nice homage to the paper cups you’re trying to avoid and will definitely get a few comments. The mug itself is porcelain (with a silicone lid), so it’s a little heavier than most; using it as a mainly stay-at-the-office mug is a good idea. Unlike real paper cups this reusable version can stand up to the microwave (for afternoon caffeine reheats) and the dishwasher. Click here to read more

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We’re now well in the midst of wedding season and you’ve likely had your fill of Crate and Barrel registries and toasters (they may be necessary but they’re not a lot of fun to buy). Veering too far from the soon-to-be-couple’s list of desired items, however, can be dangerous—not everyone shares the same style—but one-of-a-kind gifts that are both green and functional are always a safe bet, and they allow you to inject some of your personality into a present. One of our favorite ideas is a great set of champagne flutes, which will encourage the happy couple to keep toasting their love (with others or when they’re alone) and celebrating every moment.

The Multicolor Specks champagne flute set from glass blowing duo Javier and Efren is a great option because it’s made from recycled glass that is then hand blown in the traditional Mexican glass blowing style by the creative team of two, who’ve been working together for 15 years. Click here to read more

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Here’s a mesmerizing gift for solar power geeks and bike enthusiasts alike. The Solar Bicycle Rider Lamp is a striking object d’art that uses the sun to provide soft light and to bring life to the bicycle rider. The lamp has an adjustable solar panel that you can swivel to catch the sunlight (or any direct light source). Once the sun hits the panel, the little biker will start pedaling and with a 40W bulb inside, you’ll get some extra illumination in the room, too.

How’s that for showing off the power of the sun? Kids are bound to think this rider is amazing. Use it as a teaching moment–explain how solar power works, why it’s important and throw in a plug for biking over getting there by car while you’re at it.

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