CULTURE | Green gift guide.

Our favourite things: Vancouver Sun holiday season green gift guide.

ETHICAL GIFTS | Wondering how to reconcile the true meaning of the holidays with the urge for decadent consumerism? Go green.

Remember that episode of Seinfeld? The one where George is presented with a gift card that reads, “A donation has been made in your name to the Children’s Alliance?” Remember the response?

“I got him Yankees tickets!” George wailed. “He got me a piece of paper saying ‘I’ve given your gift to someone else!’”

Photo by Nils Stahl on Unsplash

Funny? Yes. Fictional? Not entirely.

It sounds cynical, but there’s a lot of truth to the idea that holiday giving is as selfish as it is selfless: We give because we want to get.

Many people find the holidays a largely stressful time, filled with obligations and endless situations in which they’re forced to measure up. Or to pony up the perfect gift. And more often than not, the response to all this pressure is an increased desire to Buy More Stuff.

Feeling guilty yet?

Not to worry. Even in our market-driven consumer culture, the Seinfeld “crap gift” has finally found its niche.

Only now we call it enviro-giving, or green giving.

Those of you whose consciences give a little twinge when you think about the consumer bent of the holiday season can take heart. Green giving is trendy. And if you’re already one of those lucky, morally superior people who give to feed your soul (or someone else’s), better still. A green gift may just take your goodwill to the next level.

From products that give a portion (or in some cases all) of their profits to charity, to vegan-friendly fashions, enviro-options abound – and there’s more out there than the traditional “donations in lieu.”

Of course, there’s something about a gift – even a gift wrapped in newspaper or a recycled bag – that gives us the warm fuzzies like no envelope can, so we looked for things that would let you have your cake (or rather, vegan soy-cake with a portion of proceeds benefitting a good cause) and eat it too.

Here are just a few green gift guide ideas to get you started.

Matt and Nat Daisy Clutch in Bordeaux, $55.

For the Fashionista: Vegan bags and wallets from Matt & Nat

The Matt & Nat collection of vegan (that’s non-leather, non-harmful to any living thing) totes, purses, handbags, shoulder bags, weekender bags, and wallets, are designed and made in Canada. Each bag unobtrusively features the lengthy Matt & Nat motto: Choose life, choose positivity, choose to be at peace with yourself … (it goes on from there). Matt and Nat bags are available at Briers, 2070 West 4^th Ave., 604-730-0379, and at Living Elements, 1919 West 4^th Ave., 604-733-8880.

For the Organizer: The Islands Trust Fund Calendar

Produced by and for the regional land trust for the Gulf Islands, the perpetual, reusable calendar celebrates the trust’s 50^th ecologically protected place in the Gulf Islands. Featuring local photographers, the calendar showcases the beauty of these protected places. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to a new Opportunity Fund that will provide grants to conservation projects in the Gulf Islands. The calendar sells for $17.95 or two for $29.95. It is available on the Islands Trust Fund website.

For the Caffeine Fiend: Fair Trade Coffee and a reusable Travel Mug

Fair trade coffee is the ultimate ethical hostess gift. In the Vancouver area, Capers and IGA supermarkets carry fair trade coffee. Funky, fashionable travel mugs are available practically everywhere – from indie businesses to Starbucks to Walmart.

For Kids and Animal Lovers: Adopt an Animal

The World Wildlife Foundations’ Wildlife Adoptions program is particularly kid-friendly. Whether adopting a polar bear, tiger, gorilla, or wolf, a $40 donation equals a lot. You get a plush toy, an adoption certificate, a letter identifying the gift-giver, and a $30 charitable tax receipt – and the program helps save endangered species and habitats as well. More information on symbolic wildlife adoptions available at WWF Canada, online.

Photo by Joanie Simon on Unsplash

For Global Thinkers: World Vision Animals

Rather than “adopt-a-highway” style donations, World Vision Canada shows donators exactly where their funds are going. $50 buys two hens and a rooster (in your friend’s name) for a developing community. The birds can produce over 500 eggs a year, and thrive anywhere. Other animals such as pigs, sheep, goats and bunnies are also available, or you can opt to purchase warm clothing and/or medical supplies. See World Vision online for more information.

For Those Too Busy to Shop: Green Earth Organics

Fresh, organic produce can be delivered right to a Greater Vancouver area friend’s door weekly or bi-weekly. Boxes range from about $34 to $45 a week, so it’s a fairly pricey option, but budget-conscious consumers can also opt for a Green Earth Organics Gift Basket – with customized contents, of course. Gift baskets range from $30 to $60. 10 per cent of the profits from every delivery goes to charitable organizations such as Greenpeace.

A fire log made from used coffee grounds.

For the Homebody: The Java Log

Made of recycled spent coffee grounds, this log produces an attractive, long-lasting flame. It provides more heat energy and burns cleaner than wood. A five pound log burns for roughly the same time as other manufactured logs, but decreases landfill waste and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. They cost $3.49 for one log, $17.99 for a box of six, at Home Depot and Home Hardware.

For the Active and Environmentally-Minded: Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC)

From organic cotton clothing to durable camping equipment and stocking stuffers, MEC develops and manufactures all of its products with the three Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) in mind. It’s involved in both the local and national environmental communities, and since 1987 has contributed over $5 million to its Environmental Fund, a program of environmental conservation, wilderness protection, research, and education. Buy pretty much anything at MEC and you’re contributing to a good cause. MEC is at 130 W. Broadway in Vancouver and 1341 Main St. in North Vancouver.

For the Information Junkie: An Online Subscription

Subscriptions are always a great gift idea – and now environmentally conscious consumers can get most of their favourite newspapers online, as well as magazines like Salon.com. Even the Vancouver Sun is available electronically. It gives readers an exact digital copy of the paper by 5 a.m., is interactive, searchable – and no recycling required.

When You Want to Give Green But Aren’t Sure What to Choose: GiveMeaning

The GiveMeaning organization offers a card that allows the recipient to decide which non-profit or charitable organization to give to. GiveMeaning cards can be purchased to wrap and place under the tree. Or they can be sent online by e-mail (for even less waste). [2018: GiveMeaning.com is defunct.]

For other green gift guide ideas, including instructions for great home-made options, visit www.buynothingchristmas.org or www.plantetfriendly.net.

A version of this green gift guide originally published in the Vancouver Sun, November 29, 2004.

2018: It turned out that this would be the last piece I’d write for the Vancouver Sun as a baby writer-journalist. Over the holiday season, I was recruited for a full time writing job at another publication.

Published November 29, 2004 in The Vancouver Sun, 1/2.

Published November 29, 2004 in The Vancouver Sun, 1/2.