Green Gift Giving is Easier Than You Think....

 We are all concerned about global warming, pollution, deforestation and the wide array of threatened or endangered species. Yet it is not always clear how the average man (or woman) can help these important causes. The simple answer is to THINK GREEN. This means, recycling, using products that can biodegrade, limiting your reliance on products that harm the environment, and helping to conserve the natural resources of our planet.

HOW TO GIVE GREEN GIFTS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

As a first step in doing your part to save the environment, why not give gifts that meet all of the above objectives this Christmas or Hanukah? Here are some examples of earth friendly gifts that would make any recipient both happy and proud of your efforts:

SAMPLE GREEN GIFT - BENEFIT TO ENVIRONMENT

• Candles - Save electricity
• Antiques - Recycles (through reuse)
• Old silver/tableware - Recycles (through reuse)
• Homemade cleaning agent - Don’t contain toxic chemicals
• Food - Will biodegrade
• Pre-owned furs - Help curb future trade in endangered species
• Pre-owned leather goods -  Help curb future trade in endangered species
• Plants and seeds - Naturally remove toxins from air pollution
• Coffee press - Saves electricity
• Recycled products - Supports recycling programs by increases demand
• Old & rare books - Recycles (through reuse)                      
• Used/old & rare records - Recycles (through reuse)
• Used/old & rare movies - Recycles (through reuse)
• Energy Star-certified goods - High efficiency standards energy minimize  waste
• Solar powered gadgets - Save electricity
• Clothing from natural fibers - Will biodegrade; entail earth     friendly manufacturing; do not require dry cleaning
• Organic/hemp purse or cell-phone pouch - Will biodegrade; involves earth friendly manufacturing   
• Rubber wallet, brief-case, back pack, or shaving kit - Often made of recycled tires
• Public transportation pass - Spares air pollution by automobiles
• Plastic antiques  - Recycles (through reuse) period home furnishings, nick-knacks, Americana, curiosities, etc.; minimizes the contribution to landfills
• Pre-used appliances - Recycles (through reuse) while minimizing contribution to landfills

As an eBay shopper or seller, you are in a perfect position to buy and supply green gifts. eBay has many pre-owned, antique, recycled, recyclable, solar-powered, Energy Star-certified, organic and homemade products available to choose from. There is something green for everyone on your list. To find it, simply consider their personal interests and needs while keeping in mind the general concerns detailed below. For example, the best gift I have ever received was a 1st Edition of Charles Darwin’s Expression of Emotions in Man –a used book that my then boyfriend (and now husband) gave me on Valentines Day because of my interest in evolutionary theory. I don’t mean to say that Darwin’s precious book might have ended-up in a landfill had it not been for his intervention. This simply stands as an illustration of how a green gift can be customized to the recipient, according to their interests, needs, and tastes.

Buy and give something green today. Every little bit counts --Oh, and don’t forget to use recycled wrapping paper!

LIVE GREEN THROUGHOUT THE NEW YEAR!

Once the holiday season has ended, LIVE GREEN in the New Year by doing four things: recycling, using biodegradable goods, limiting your use of harmful resources, and acting like a conservationist. Simply follow these instructions to see how:

RECYCLE & REUSE

Recycling isn’t just about separating your cans and bottles from the rest of your garbage. Take it one step further by reusing objects that can not easily be recycled. Think of new ways to use an object that you might otherwise throw away. Or else, give it to charity so that it can be recycled to someone in need. It is important to limit the amount of waste that we create and dump into landfills, adding to the sickness of the environment.

USE BIODEGRADABLE PRODUCTS

Prevent future harm to the environment by purchasing items that are either (1) made of recycled components, (2) have been previously owned, (3) are recyclable, or (4) can easily biodegrade. Examples of things that can easily biodegrade are those made from natural products, such as wood, and thus can readily decompose without causing pollution.

LIMIT USE OF HARMFUL RESOURCES

Limit (and perhaps even reduce) the harm done to the environment by curbing our use of toxic chemicals and non-biodegradable products. For example, car pool, reduce your use of electricity and heating oil. Use household cleaning products that are made of all natural ingredients instead of those made of harmful chemicals.

BE A CONSERVATIONIST

Help save the environment by saving animal and plant species that are threatened or endangered. Often the remedies necessary for rescuing animal and plant species on the verge of extinction are the very same as those that will help to reduce global warming and pollution. For example, deforestation is a significant problem in tropical rainforests of Africa, where many primate species are threatened. Rainforest trees help to ‘heal’ the global environment by removing toxins from the air. As they are destroyed (often for the purpose of satisfying the appetites of Western consumers) we suffer because our environment suffers. By restoring these forests, not only would the threatened species that rely on them for food and shelter benefit but so would we.

*To continue a discussion of these issues and share your suggestions for earth-friendly gift ideas, please visit my eBay Blog: http://blogs.ebay.com/ssprimatologist/home/_W0QQentrysyncidZ74298010