For the Little Ones

• Eco-friendly toys. Look for manufacturers who use organic materials and have strong ecological mission statements. The Apple Park line of toys, stuffed animals, and apparel are fun and eco-friendly all at once. Look for toys made of wholesome materials like wood instead of plastics, and make sure they don’t contain lead, BPA, Phthalates, or mercury – unfortunately, they’re everywhere, even in children’s items!
• Books that teach about caring for the world around us. Do a search on “eco children’s books” for lots of ideas.
• Movies (e.g. DVDs) about the earth. BBC Earth and Discovery Channel both have huge libraries of excellent films, and even the youngest children will be interested.
• Items that encourage outdoor exploration and learning like binoculars, a bird book, garden planting kit, microscope, bug catching kit for a bug safari, or a bird feeder and seeds. Think of your local ecosystem and give a gift that encourages exploring it.
• Other inspiration can be found from eco-focused lists at places like gifts.com, etsy.com, or similar sites.

For Grown-ups

• Gifts that don’t involve buying anything – like taking a special outing together, babysitting, a back rub, help with a chore, offering to teach something, etc. A memorable shared experience is one of the best non-item, eco-friendly gifts one can give.
• Donations. Give to a charity you both believe in and put the receipt in a card.
• Gifts that don’t involve “things”, like tickets to a concert, gift certificates to a restaurant, or paying for some other experience.
• Something for the garden, whether a plant, tree, or tool.
• Second-hand items can be top quality at a great price, whether antiques or newer items. Finding things second-hand may take more time and isn’t always reliable, but it is at the heart of the reuse principle, where we’re not bringing more things into the ecosystem unnecessarily.
• Gifts from eco-sensitive companies, who have committed to strong eco-friendly principles like using renewable energy, recycling, non-harmful chemicals in manufacturing, and minimal ecological impact from waste.