With the holidays right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start shopping for green gifts. Sustainability, recyclable products, and anti-consumption are on the rise in the design world—from solar-powered portable speakers for music-lovers to “decomposition” journals for aspiring writers, you are sure to find something special for anyone on your list.
Let’s take a look at five sustainable gifts to make your holiday season a little greener.
[Photo: Courtesy of Back to the Roots]
1. Water Garden 2.0
Even if it’s cold outside for the holidays, you can bring a little garden indoors. The Water Garden 2.0 by Back to the Roots is a self-sustaining, mini aquaponics system. You can grow organic herbs and microgreens on top of the tank—the fish waste fertilizes the plants and the plants clean the water, creating a low-maintenance little ecosystem with minimal water changes required. It’s a perfect addition to your home decor and it even comes with a free online course on aquaponics. Each 3-gallon fish tank comes with fish food and a coupon for a betta fish along with a three-month supply of organic microgreen and wheatgrass seeds to get you started on your water-farming journey. You’ll be able to start harvesting the organic microgreen seeds in just 10 days, giving you fresh ingredients. You can use the code GBD15 for 15% off any regular-priced Indoor Gardening Kit. The code will expire Dec. 31. $99.99, backtotheroots.com
[Photo: Courtesy of Touch of ECO]
2. RAYJAM
Jam out in the sun with the Touch Of ECO® RAYJAM™, a solar-powered portable speaker with Bluetooth. The speaker’s solar panel generates energy from the sun—a single charge can last up to six hours. You also have the option to charge the speaker via mini-USB, and RAYJAM can also scan FM radio stations. The attached carabiner clip allows you to take this lightweight, weather-resistant speaker anywhere you go. You can get 25% off your order with the discount code BGD25. $49.99, touchofeco.com
[Photo: Courtesy of Chicobag]
3. Vita rePETe Bag
Consider this: Plastic is designed to last for thousands of years, but the average lifespan of a plastic bag is only 12 minutes. Currently, eight million metric tons of plastic waste pollute the ocean each year—ChicoBag wants to change that by helping humanity “bag the single-use habit.” ChicoBag’s Vita rePETe is a trendy reusable bag made out of 99% recycled materials. Designed to wear over your shoulder, this foldable tote bag is easy to bring with you on any shopping trip. As a Certified B Corporation, ChicoBag advocates for waste reduction and supports efforts to implement policies that limit single-use bags. Use the code choosereuse for 20% off your order. This discount excludes sale items. $13.99, chicobag.com
[Photo: Courtesy of Solight Design]
4. SolarPuff
The SolarPuff is a foldable, pop-open, cube-shaped lamp engineered for extreme weather. Perfect for camping trips or a picnic by the beach, it is solar-powered, lightweight, and waterproof, too. Solight Design used PVC-free recyclable PET material to diffuse the LEDs, making the SolarPuff not only beautiful, but also brighter and more visible. With several color options, you can choose the right shade to set the mood—from the multi-colored SolarPuff Merlin to bright or warm white. There are three settings: low, high, and blinking. The best part is you only need to charge it for one day in the sun and it will last all night. $30, solight-design.com
[Photo: Courtesy of Michael Roger, Inc.]
5. Decomposition Book
Write your next composition in a notebook that can decompose! Decomposition Books by Michael Roger, Inc. are made in the U.S. using 100% post-consumer waste, chlorine-free recycled paper. The notebooks are printed with soy ink, which allows them to be recycled again. You can choose spiral binding or the traditional composition notebook style. Featuring a variety of lively cover designs—from rainforests to cats in space—this clever take on the traditional school notebook is a great gift for an aspiring writer or college student. You can even wrap it in Decomposition Gift Wrap. Use the promo code gbd10 for 10% off your order—the discount expires Dec. 31. $5 and up, bookbinders.com
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