I try to buy used or make all my Christmas and Hanukah presents (yes, I get to celebrate both; I’m lucky). Sometimes this works great—a sequined sweater from Thrift Town for a best friend who’s stuck in the 80’s (or some other place/time), a collaged box, a handmade frame, a really beautiful old copy of a favorite book for a bibliophile friend. Sometimes, this gift giving technique doesn’t work so well. Hanukahs and Christmases past reveal a few mistakes—“Umm, but Grandma, I thought you would love this ‘70s collared shirt and bowling bag. They’re so you.”
When I can’t make or buy used gifts for these family members, I turn to green gift options. After all, environmentally friendly presents are a great way to remind people to be more conscious of the earth in the coming year, as well as a great way to help people get turned on to products they might not have thought to buy on their own. I’ve listed a few below (some of these, especially the compact fluorescent bulbs, I’ve personally had a lot of success with) , but if you have any other ideas, why not post a comment below?

- A cloth handkerchief— A great way of getting people into the K-C campaign! (If you want a special Kleercut hankie, go to http://kleercut.net/en/, and click the link for the Kleercut handkerchiefs.)
- Recycled paper notebooks
- Compact fluorescent bulbs—Conventional light bulbs waste 85 percent of their energy in heat; compact fluorescent bulbs will save your giftees energy and money on their electric bill.
- A power strip—I know this sounds a little weird, but think about it—energy is used even when appliances are plugged in to sockets (phantom energy), though the appliances may be turned off. A power strip lets you easily eliminate phantom energy.
- Organic clothing—more expensive, but really nice . . .
- Organic foods—Yum.
- A membership to an environmental group—May I suggest Greenpeace?