Giving Green

When the holidays were approaching last year, I made a point of browsing the online shops of fellow designers and artists like myself who make a living (or part of one!) selling handmade items. I even took the Buy Handmade pledge, which encourages you to steer away from mass-produced goods found in those big box chain stores. This year, I am embracing the same do-it-yourself ethic, buying a few handmade things from others and making the rest of my gifts myself. But, in addition, I’m adding the “going green” spirit to my holiday shopping.
 
It’s not enough to buy handmade or shop locally, as it’s important to also consider the impact on the environment, the usefulness of the gift and the energy or materials that went into it in the first place. How green are those gifts? Another factor, of course, is the financial strain placed on many this year, and how that affects the giving and receiving process. We are thinking extra hard where our money goes, which isn’t necessarily a bad change!
 
Treehugger, the all-things-green site, has put together a Holiday Gift Guide 2008, “a blueprint for the best affordable, low-impact, and wonderful prezzies for everyone on your list.” They have broken it down into fun categories like “Fashion Buff,” “Foodie,” “Do-it-Yourselfer,” “Green Geek,” and “Wee-Hugger,” the latter of which is for the kids! So, for example, maybe the green geek in your life would be interested in a hybrid PC. Did you even know there was such a thing?! Or perhaps a DIYer you know wants to make his or her own bath products and the Eco-Me Body Kit would be perfect for getting started!
 
What’s on your holiday shopping list for others? What would you like to receive this year?

—Alicia Kachmar