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November 10, 2008

From laptops to The Lorax: a guide to greener gifts

Nina Winham
For bchydro.com

The gift-giving season should be about fun and getting just the right thing. Still, your inner eco-voice may be sounding the alarm. Aren't we supposed to be conserving more and consuming less?

Luckily, you can enjoy the spirit of the season and keep on track with going green. Take a look at the following tips and ideas for lower consumption and greener purchasing, along with our short list of cool tech toys. And have a merry eco-holiday.

Avoid meaningless stuff

Let's face it, most of us just don't need another combo potato-peeler/screwdriver/staple-remover. If your giftee is "the person who has everything," why burden them with more? Try these ideas instead – guaranteed never to hit the landfill.

Give a gift certificate to Kiva. This international micro-lending site lets you make loans to third world entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and alleviate poverty. When they repay, you can loan again and again. Gift certificates start from $25 and allow your giftee to choose who in the world they'll play banker to www.kiva.org.

On your giftee's behalf, give an anti-malarial mosquito net to a family who needs it. Or exercise books for a school. Or a box of toys for kids in a refugee camp. Go to Unicef Gifts of Magic.

Permanently inscribe your giftee's name on the Trans Canada Trail. For a donation of $50, you can put anyone's name placed in a kiosk on this 21,500 km trail. Click "donate" at www.tctrail.ca.

Give a gift of time or talent

You have a lot more to offer than a package from the mall. Promise a day of your time to help with a friend's neglected project. Take your giftee out for a special event. Or buy something second hand (reuse!) and spend time refurbishing it to make it green and special.

Choose greener gifts

Sometimes, a material gift is the right thing. In that case, put on your eco thinking cap and scrutinize your options carefully. You can find great gifts that are enjoyable – and help spread the word about conservation.

If it uses electricity, make it Power Smart

If your gift runs on batteries, include rechargeables and a charger. You'll not only reduce pollution, you'll save your gift recipient from constantly spending more money to enjoy your gift – you could save them as much as $1,000!

Choose green electronics where you can. They use less electricity, and contain fewer harmful materials and more recycled content than standard options.

Gifting a computer? Choose a laptop instead of a desktop. They're not only more versatile, they use only one-tenth the power. Learn more about green computing.

Make saving power a learning game. Give an energy monitoring device. Your young environmentalist can track down the worst power gobblers in your house and feel... um... empowered to make change.

Give a beautiful sweater, a cozy throw and a pair of funky slippers – make it easy to turn the thermostat down.

Avoid plastics

New plastic toys can release toxins for months, reducing your indoor air quality. The bigger the toy, the more offgassing there can be. Consider wooden or cloth toys when possible. Or buy second hand – more of the volatile chemicals in the plastic are already gone.

Choose eco-fabrics

Organic cotton is cool and comfortable – and eliminates the serious pollution caused by traditional cotton farming. Hemp and soy fabrics even lighter on the earth. And give bamboo fabric a try. Super-absorbent and cashmere-soft bamboo baby gifts are just one great option.

Giving travel? Go low-carbon

If you want to send someone on a vacation, explore options within the region to avoid the carbon emissions and pollution of jet travel. Instead of car or plane, how about a lower impact rail tour? Check Via Rail or Amtrak for ideas. Or choose a bike trip for a truly carbon-neutral vacation.

Green stocking stuffers

Get rid of disposable plastic water bottles by giving a reusable steel or aluminum option.

A wind-up flashlight is nifty – and it will never leave you in the dark.

Give fair trade chocolate, coffee or tea – and make sure the folks who produced your treats receive a decent cut of the profit. Ask for fair trade products wherever you shop.

Inspire a child – give The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. A simple but powerful environmental tale, with the lovable Seuss rhyme and rhythm.

Get awed by the beauty of the planet. Give the Planet Earth DVD series by the BBC – stunning cinematography and amazing stories from the most spectacular corners of our world.

Nina Winham is a Vancouver-based freelance writer and frequent contributor to BC Hydro Power Smart's Green Guides & Tips.

The views and recommendations in this piece are those of the writer's and not necessarily those of BC Hydro Power Smart.