This holiday season consider gifts that are good for people such as fair trade products and good for the earth – such as gifts made from upcycled or recycled materials. There are a multitude of sources to find, discover and purchase from. While not everyone on your list may “get” this type of gift I’m sure when you explain the meaning behind your choice, they will appreciate and possibly use this inspiration for their next shopping adventure.
I have listed a number of sites below, however, for additional sites simply add key words such as eco-friendly gifts or fair trade products into the search box. Once you become familiar with sites that use the eco-friendly or fair trade model for their business be sure to save them in your favorites so you can go back and visit anytime.
· These reusable shopping bags from Reuse It are perfect and fold up to drop into your purse. They come in a set of there so you can either divide and conquer or gift someone with all three. · A resusable glass bottle can seem a little delicate but this one from Reuse It has a silicone sleeve that protects the bottle. What I love about this product is that you do not have a metallic or plastic taste that you often get from metal or plastic bottles. · Kantha quilts are quilts made from used sari’s that are cleaned and dissembled then stitched back into quilts. These are crafted by artisans in Calcutta where they are given a fair price for their craft. These quilts are pricey but the money goes into villages that are impoverished and this creates an opportunity for them to leave poverty and achieve a degree of financial stability. I found this beautiful blue one on Connected Goods. · Hand carved salad servers from Connected Goods have inlayed shell handles and are made of palm wood by artisans in Bali. Once again…this fair trade item contributes to financial stability in impoverished areas. · Coffee lovers on your list? Peets Coffee offers a line of fair trade certified coffees. Add a ceramic travel mug as well? · How about a farmers Market bag crated from old feed bags? I love this one from the Etsy shop of Farmtown Totes. Comes with chickens! Well – pictures of chickens at any rate. · A necklace made from recycled vinyl records? How elegant! From the Heddy Lynn Etsy shop. · There are so many online sites to find fair trade products. In one quick Google search I found Fair Trade Market Place, Gifts with Humanity, Trade as One and Ten Thousand Villages. · Celebrating The Festival of Lights? Here’s a menorah crafted from stones. I unearthed this beauty on Eco-Artware. · During your shopping excursions look out for words like ethically sourced. If you see this, you can feel good about what you are buying-knowing that respect for the planet was taken into consideration. I found a number of ethically sourced items on World of Good including spa collections, tea, coffee, chocolate and soap. · Consider soy based candles and vegan soaps. These are animal free products and soy burns clean so you don’t end up with a soot stain on your wall.
The idea that these types of items are made from pinecones and hemp by people living in yurts in the mountains is so 1970’s; eco-friendly and fair trade products have come a long way. Products made with good ethics are easy to find, make you feel good when you purchase them and ultimately help others. Enjoy and happy shopping.