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Green Gifts: How To Make The Holidays Eco Friendly

With the holiday season approaching, finding the perfect gift for the perfect someone can be challenging. Use these green gifts ideas to inspire your holiday shopping list.

For the Design Nerd
Circuit Coaster Set

Price: $27.50 (Set of 6)
Motherboard Gifts & More, LLC

These coasters are repurposed from discarded circuit boards destined for the landfill. Colors and styles will vary as different circuits from old cell phones, computers and televisions are used.

For the Philanthropic Fashionista
Fighting Hunger Necklace
Price: $34
Half United

Made from used bullet shells, Half United will donate half of the Fighting Hunger Necklace's earnings to support and raise awareness for global hunger charities and foundations. The nonprofit sources materials locally, and jewelry is handmade at its Wilmington, NC headquarters. Choose from different styles on the website or at selected department stores.

For the Organic Foodie
2010 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir, Sokol Blosser
Price: $45
Sokol Blosser

Always an ideal gift for the holiday party, a bottle of 2010 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir will definitely be well received by the host and party guests. The Pinot Noir has been rated highly and possesses rose petals and dried sage notes with a red current palate and spicy mineral finish. Dedicated to sustainability and leading organic viticulture practices for the wine industry, the Willamette Valley vineyard is USDA Organic and LEED certified, features a solar array to power operations, recycles waste and reports carbon emissions.

For the Classy Gadget Guy
Seiko Solar Watch
Price: Varies based on style
Seiko

Since 1977, Seiko has been making solar-powered watches that use a rechargeable battery that runs on all different types of light. Thus, very minimal maintenance is required, which ensures the timeless, classic feel of the watch. Any Seiko solar watch would make a great holiday gift investment.

For the Beauty Hippie
Mōksa Lavender Avignon Organic Bar Soap
Price: $6.50
Mōksa Organics, Inc.

Perfect for the office Secret Santa gift, a bar of the lavender Avignon organic soap by Mōksa Organics is an excellent sustainable tchotchke. Mōksa Organics will donate 50 cents of every purchase to the Sierra Club's Suwannee-St Johns group. Certified organic, Mōksa Organics uses fair trade and chemical-free ingredients, never includes palm oil products and is committed to carbon neutral practices.

For the Wildlife Adventurer
The National Parks and Federal Recreational Pass
Price: $80
National Park Service

A National Parks Pass is a great holiday gift for the designated outdoors friend or family member. Valid for one year, the pass allows entrance to more than 2,000 recreation areas for one pass holder plus three other visitors and covers standard vehicle fees for one pass holder's vehicle with three adults at National Parks, National Forests and Bureau of Land Management and Reclamation grounds.

For the Crawling Toddler
Green Toys Stacking Cups
Price: $10.99
Green Toys Stacking Cups

A simple multipurpose toy designed to stack, scoop and pour, these six dishwasher-safe cups are made from recycled milk containers. Toddlers can also enhance their quantitative skills as cup one plus cup two equals cup three and so forth. The cups contain no BPA, phthalates or external coatings.

For the Comfy College Kid
Patagonia Diamond Quilt Snap-T Pullover
Price: $199
Patagonia

This classic rendition of the Patagonia pullover features organic cotton and recycled polyester to increase insulation and warmth for the customer. Patagonia is an apparel company that strives for environmental stewardship and corporate responsibility.

For the Green Entrepreneur
"The Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability — Designing for Abundance"
Price: Varies
Amazon

The pseudo-sequel to "Cradle to Cradle,"William McDonough and Michael Braungart deconstruct basic inventions and designs and suggest new, innovative approaches to material lifecycle processes, emphasizing positive anthropogenic impact for the environment in "The Upcycle." Available to readers in 2013, business and economic people will enjoy this thought-provoking read.

For the Eco-Friendly Christmas Tree
Bells of Hope & Joy Ornaments

Price: Varies
Amazon

The holiday gift guide list would not be complete without featuring a Christmas decoration. Fair Trade certified and featured on National Geographic, these beautiful recycled newspaper ornaments are made by people with special needs in Guatemala. They can be found on many online shopping websites.

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Isabel Sepkowitz is a freelance writer. She is an environmentalist who values sustainability, education, and innovation for the emerging green economy. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.

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