Amy Wood
If you're looking for a green gift idea, look no further. Our showcase of eco friendly gift ideas can be purchased at your local natural health store.
Seeking a simple solution to holiday shopping this year? Lower your carbon footprint and do a one-stop shop at your local natural health store. You’ll find tons of unique gift ideas, many of them organic, fair trade, or made of recycled materials.
From cookbooks to world music to natural skin care products, here are some suggestions for the people on your gift list. All items can be found in natural health stores across Canada, but not all stores stock every item, so check the websites provided to find a retailer near you.
 Eco-culture home gardens are the perfect gift for anyone on your list. Each kit comes with everything needed to grow a variety of non-GMO plants, including herbs, tomatoes, sprouts, and chili peppers. eco-culture.ca |
For the eco-fashionista
She’s so hard to shop for! Luckily, we’ve got the perfect gifts for the fashion-forward, environmentally conscious gal on your list.
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This versatile organic cotton T-shirt dress is domestically produced by a company that employs ethical working conditions and donates 50 percent of profits to charity. Your style-savvy eco-girl will look great in this, and feel good about supporting Me to We’s responsible clothing line. metowestyle.com |
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Wrap your fashionista’s gift in one of these winter-inspired, 100 percent organic cotton tote bags. Save the paper and give her something she can use afterward—for shopping, for groceries, or as a fashion statement. greenoneventures.com |
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Made from 100 percent certified organic cotton, this extra-long scarf is both stylish and fair labour certified. Cranberry-coloured socks to peek out of the top of her boots will complete your style icon’s look. maggiesorganics.com |
 Make your own natural sugar-free sparkling water in delicious fruit flavours such as lime, berry, or orange. Turn tap water into your favourite carbonated beverage! With refillable CO2 containers and refillable soda bottles, waste is significantly decreased. sodastream.ca |
For the tea steeper
For some, there’s nothing better than a hot mug of tea on a cold day. Give the tea steeper on your list something to warm the hands and the soul.
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Sweeten up your friend’s day with some 100 percent natural gourmet honey from Nectaflor. Choose the flowery-sweet flavour of wild flower honey, the mild creaminess of acacia honey, or the intense, spicy flavour of forest honey. nectaflor.ch |
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Sustainable, certified fair trade ingredients make Vastu Chai the perfect present for any tea lover. From chai to rooibos to green tea, each blend has been perfected to produce a satisfying cup of soul-warming goodness. vastuchai.com |
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Avoid potentially harmful plastics: the Libre glass ’n glass tea transporter is beautifully crafted with double glass walls to keep tea at optimal temperature. The removable stainless steel filter lets you put loose-leaf tea directly in the glass, to enjoy teatime anytime. libretea.com |
For the spa-goer
Does your loved one revel in massages or float after a facial? Give her something she can pamper herself with at home.
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These beautifully detailed candles are made with 100 percent pure beeswax. Scented with a blend of only the finest essential oils, each aromatherapy pillar has therapeutic properties, whether to calm, increase vitality, or strengthen the spirit. bigdipperwaxworks.com |
 With a few candles lit around the bathtub, the spa-goer on your list can relax in a bath full of naturally scented Dead Sea salts, known to provide healthy, skin-soothing benefits. eco-culture.ca |
 Use this scented wrap warm or cold to relieve muscle aches and pains or just to relax after a hard day’s work. The aromatherapy wrap is filled with 11 herbs, flaxseed, and calming lavender buds—and it’s washable! scentualsbodycare.com |
For the music lover
This person on your list is one cool cat. Keep your music lover in tune with these great eco-friendly, health-enhancing, or just plain fun musical gifts.
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These self-powered, foldable speakers made of recycled materials can be hooked up to any music device with a headphone jack. Get them in a variety of cool designs to suit any style. origaudio.com |
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This high-energy two-disc set will get the body moving. The first disc features guided meditations, yoga sequences, dance, chanting, and meditations. The second disc is music only, allowing the listener to move in whatever way feels good. soundstrue.com |
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A fantastic collection of Jamaican-influenced albums, Tribute to a Reggae Legend features artists from around the world paying homage to the one and only Bob Marley, while African Reggae commemorates his would-be 64th birthday. Putumayo has contributed over $1 million to various international charities working in areas where the music on its CDs originates. putumayo.com |
Stocking stuffers
Fill your loved ones’ hearts with joy and their stockings with treats, straight from the shelves of your local natural health store.
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These gourmet chocolates will satisfy the chocoholics on your list. With distinct flavours such as Vanilla Bean-Scented Maldon Salt with Sesame Wakame Brittle Praline, these melt-in-your-mouth creations are like edible pieces of art. dcduby.com |
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Made with only the finest, ethically sourced organic cocoa beans, these rich, melty bars are great gifts—if you can give them away, that is. greenandblacks.com |
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Made with organic ingredients and featuring intense flavours such as Chai and GingerMint, VerMints are the perfect stocking stuffer—and they come in a cute tin! vermints.com |
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These moisture-rich balms made from 100 percent natural ingredients are the perfect remedy for chapped lips this winter; try Tangerine Dream or Vanilla Mint. scentualsbodycare.com |
For the green kid
Yep, you can even find gifts that will make the child on your list beam with excitement.
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Made from natural, nontoxic ingredients and packaged in 100 percent post-consumer recycled materials, you can feel good about the child on your list getting a little messy with art. clementineart.com |
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Everyone loves a flying disc. And who wouldn’t love one made from 100 percent recycled plastic grocery bags? Although the kids might not notice the greenness of this disc, you can feel good about giving it, knowing that you’re reducing the carbon footprint of the holiday season. greentoys.com |
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The lucky recipient of this alien-print lunch kit will look forward to lunchtime every day. Complete with alien carrier case, bento containers, water bottle, and a copy of The Laptop Lunch User’s Guide, this eco-friendly, kid-friendly lunch kit will ensure that the child on your list comes home with a full belly and a big smile. laptoplunches.com |
For the pet lover (and the furry friends)
Do you ever notice how some people enjoy the company of their animals more than that of other people? Here are some great gifts for the animal lovers on your list.
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Yet another use for bamboo! The charcoal bamboo is excellent for keeping birdcages smelling fresh, and the room deodorizer will help with the not-so-nice smells that come with owning any animal. everbamboo.com |
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These natural dog and cat kits are perfect for pet lovers. The dog kit comes complete with chemical-free flea and freshening spray and dry shampoo. Also includes recipes and a cookie cutter to make your own natural dog treats. The cat kit comes stocked with similar products, including a kitty litter freshener. eco-me.com |
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