Christmas Gift Ideas 2011: Go Green This Holiday Season (PHOTOS)

The holiday season is fast approaching and many of us are wondering how we could possibly top last year's gifts. But come December 26th, how much plastic packaging and gift wrap will get thrown away?

Recycle Works suggests half of America's paper consumption comes from wrapping and decoration on consumer products. In fact, the U.S. reportedly generates four million tons of trash from gift wrapping and shopping bags annually.

An extra million tons of waste is created each week between the period of Thanksgiving and New Years, the Clean Air Council writes. Through the year, enough ribbon is thrown away to tie a bow around the Earth.

This year, we've created a green gifts guide to get you thinking about options that might be more sustainable. Eco-friendly and recyclable gifts that you can feel good about giving. You can even pledge a commitment to give a green gift through The Nature Conservancy, which also offers more tips on how to create a greener holiday season.

Check out some of our suggested green gifts below, and list any of your own green gift recommendations in the comments.

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Comments

[duckinatub]

02:35 PM on 10/23/2012

Hi there,

Let's talk about 2012.

Some Outstanding , Unique Homemade Christmas Gift ideas that won’t hurt your pocket-
Duck In A Tub; Home Of Natural Bath and Body Products Made In Timmins,ON,CA.

Christmas is coming, and people start thinking about Christmas gifts they’re going to give each other this year already.

This Year, achieve maximum relaxation with Duck In A Tub's Natural Aromatherapy Products!!! All of our products are proudly made in Timmins, ON, CA.

Duck In A Tub has the highest-end bath and body product collection that was created to moisturize and smooth your skin to perfection! Our famous natural soy candles, scrubs,shea body butters,massage oils and natural homemade soaps are available in our store including our famous, best-selling Bath Bombs and Bath Salts. We use the most natural ingredients available including soothing and conditioning oils such as almond oil, coconut oil, and vitamin E oil and all Duck In A Tub's products are proud to be free of paraben preservatives and also sulfate detergents.

If you are looking for the best Outstanding , Unique Homemade Christmas Gift ideas that won’t hurt your pocket on the market in 2012, you have come to the right place! Our bath and body products are designed specifically to give your skin everything it craves and deserves, including vitamins and essential oils.

Are you ready to see what all the buzz is about? You can buy our bath and body care products online at duckinatub.net - just shop by product!

[Grace Dy]

10:50 PM on 12/09/2011

To try to being "green", I wrapped my gifts with beautiful and colorful scarves.They're not only useful, but adorable as well.

[Siiri Morley]

11:54 AM on 12/06/2011

Thank you for featuring Prosperity Candle's work in this guide! It's great exposure for a young social enterprise making an impact on women's lives. We have a great collection of repurposed vessel candles (old coffee cans, repurposed soda bottles) and have also introduced a beeswax/soy candle that we're really excited about. Learn more at http://www.prosperitycandle.com

[jerkchickn]

03:30 PM on 12/04/2011

the person receiving the wallet will definitely stop loving you

[akintogreen]

02:22 PM on 12/02/2011

Peaceloveswap has a point that the greenest thing to do is to re-gift. But the next best thing is to give something that is made from recycled materials or is 100 percent biodegradable. I have some examples of products made from recycled materials on my wish list here http://akintogreen.com/blog/2011/12/02/must-haves-your-holiday-wish-list

[RGoldschlager]

10:45 AM on 12/02/2011

If you're looking for eco-friendly jewelry, check out http://bynataliefrigo.com She designed our wedding rings and uses only recycled metals and conflict free gems. And all of the work is done in NYC by artisans who receive living wages, so you're supporting our economy instead of paying factory workers overseas. Support US small business and Happy Holidays!

[peaceloveswap]

11:39 PM on 12/01/2011

I was reading your article about green gifts for the holidays - I just wanted to mention that the 'greenest' gift of all is to 're-gift' something - or give a recycled gift. How much packaging from those green gifts ends up in our landfills? Even if the gift is "green" it still comes in packaging right? Giving a service gift or better yet a gift that has come from a swap (peace. love. swap www.peaceloveswap.com has 49 locations across the US and 1 location in India) - or from Consignment or Thrift stores - now THAT is truly green. :) - then, wrap those gifts in your kid's artwork, or the Sunday funnies, or recycled paper etc.. It's easy to be trendy and call a gift 'green' but does that really make it good for the environment?
We are getting the majority of our kid's gifts from our swaps, consignment, and thrift stores this year, they don't know the difference & are just as happy to not have all that plastic an cardboard to cut through to get to their gift. thanks for listening : )

[JenJen25]

09:01 PM on 12/01/2011

Here is a direct link to see the pet like TickeMe Plant
http://www.ticklemeplant.com

[JenJen25]

09:00 PM on 12/01/2011

OMG love that TickleMe Plant Greenhouse. Who knew you could grow a house plant that moves and closes its fern like leaves when Tickled. Search TickleMe plant I found it on line

[Moose Luck 99]

04:07 PM on 12/01/2011

REAL GREEN GIFTS!

INCREASE MPG 30% ON THE CAR YOU OWN NOW!

Decrease NOX and unburned hydrocarbo­ns.70%!

Fitch Fuel Catalyst

Sonic Spark Plugs (Piezo) or Halo or Pulstar

Tornado Vortex Generator

Even More Mpgs Torque & HP.
http://www.hydrogenboostnow.com/HHO-Dry-Cell.htm

Biofuels: Thinking Outside the Barrel
Why a positive energy future could be closer than you think
http://www.brasschecktv.com/videos/energy/biofuels-thinking-outside-the-barrel.html

[Jennifer Kline]

12:50 PM on 12/01/2011

Neutrogena naturals isn't green if you look at the ingredients which contain the usual petroleum based toxins found in most personal care products (but kudos they have recycled packaging).

My favorite pick for holiday stocking stuffers are Microlites - tiny LED lights that stick anywhere - perfect to give to anyone who lost power this year (like us!!!).

Also, the owners are using the money to fund conservation work. www.microlitetech.com is where you can buy them, and shipping is fast if you are slow to get gifts order like me, har har...

[Gottlieb]

11:14 AM on 12/01/2011

I recommend just buying books such as Living Green: A Practical Guide to Simple Sustainability by Greg Horn. This list is still too commercial, materialistic and not very green in my opinion. If you want to save a tree, you can get the electronic edition of a book or buy a used book. I just avoid the hype of America's major retail marketing season to be green.

[John Edward Byrd]

01:07 PM on 12/01/2011

electronic version are actually arguably worse due to the chemicals and toxic metals used to make the e-reader...a paper book on the other hand can be easily recycled

[MrBIgp]

01:42 PM on 12/01/2011

Take a look at the chemical processes that go into the manufacture and recycling of paper.

[Gottlieb]

09:55 PM on 12/01/2011

I just use my desktop PC to read e books but I agree about those stand alone e readers. I like a paperback or a book from the library for reading on the bus, streetcar or light rail. A paperback is good on a hike or the park.