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.