Green Gifts

If you must purchase a material present, the greenest gift you can give is one that you know its recipient wants and will use. By finding out exactly what a person wants and needs, you can rest assured your green gift won't go to waste and will be enjoyed.

A particularly thoughtful green gift option is offering your services – friends with kids might appreciate a coupon for free babysitting for a night out, for example. In fact, giving the gift of a service or experience is one of the best ways to keep gifting eco-friendly. Giving a green gift certificate to a favorite environmentally conscious restaurant, spa, local movie theater, or even a museum or arts organization.

Or if you've got some craft talents, consider presenting friends and family with a hand-made scarf or baby blanket. Don't forget to check out do-it-yourself websites for green gift inspiration.

Chances are, the person you're shopping for probably doesn't actually need yet another item to clutter his or her space – so consider providing necessities for someone who actually is in need. Green gifts like these may be intangible, but have greater lasting significance.

If you're registering for gifts for a baby or bridal shower, give your guests green gift options by opting for a service that lets givers make a charitable donation to a range of causes, like Changing the Present.

Don't overlook – the packaging, which is usually thrown away. If you like the look of wrapping paper and the fun that comes with tearing it off, there is plenty of giftwrap made from 100 % recycled post-consumer content. You can even find biodegradable, soy-dyed ribbon for your green gift.