Greener and Less Expensive Christmas Gifts Under the Tree

According to the Seattle Times, “A fifth of U.S. consumers plan to buy more environmentally safe gifts this holiday season.” That’s about as many green shoppers as last year, although Seattle locals were a little more green with about 24% of consumers noting that eco-friendly gifts are on their list this year AND astoundingly 55% of Seattle respondents say they’ll pay more for greener gifts.

Luckily, although most people think green gifts cost more, they don’t have to. You can find greener holiday gifts for about the same price, sometimes even less than conventional gifts. Since December is right around the corner, below are some green gift ideas to get you started. None will break the bank but all will please the eco-conscious folks on your list.

• NRDC: Simple Steps Deck: A Healthy Home. A Healthy Planet. 50 Easy Actions - just $8 and packed full of green tips, plus it’s small size makes it the perfect green stocking stuffer.
• Dirt Candles – Handmade candles with cotton wicks, organic soy and essential oil blends free from phthalates, artificial dyes and carcinogenic ingredients. 10 ounce soy candles with recycled packaging. $15 each.
• CITIBLOCS Original Wooden Building Block Set – an awesome gift for kiddos and with sets starting at just $28 every family can afford them.
• Lavender Caramel (6-piece) – a beautiful organic gift box of lavender infused caramels with Fleur du Sel salt and made even better at just $16 a pop.
• Eco-Friendly Tea Set from Green Toys – made with recycled milk cartons and under $25!
• vedaDUDE Glide – I think this is the best organic shaving gel ever created. The gel smells amazing and is made with organic aloe leaf juice, bilberry extract and organic orange fruit extract. $20 and worth every penny!
• Rosette Journal – The cover of this $18 eco-journal is made of sustainably harvested birch wood, and it contains 75 blank pages of 100% recycled paper for jotting down memories.
• Bamboo Grow Box Gift – Chocolate Amaryllis – All components of this lovely bulb grow boxes unite to conserve the earth’s resources. Each box is hand-crafted and the lacquered lid becomes the drainage saucer for the leak-proof reusable grow box. Lacquer is hand-applied and  all-natural. Even the ribbon is sustainable, made from recycled plastic bottles. $40 but will last a good long while.
• EarthLust water bottle – only $18 for a reusable, beautiful, stainless steel water bottle – nice!

Are greener gifts on your list this holiday season?