Shopping for Socially Responsible Gifts

A green holiday by no means means abstinence and austerity. Far from it.
We can choose gifts for friends and family that are natural, earth-
friendly, from indigenous peoples, artisans, and/or made from renewable
resources.

Here are four great resources for buying sustainable
gifts online:

1. Care2′s GreenHome Store

Care2 has one of the largest online shopping centers for natural, organic, earth-friendly alternatives to almost everything you could think of for the home. Giving your friends and family safe, healthy, nontoxic, earth-friendly gifts for their home is a loving gesture, and in my experience one that is always hugely appreciated. Soft organic comforters help the body breathe more easily, and don’t emit toxic vapors to breath all night long. How wonderful a gift is that? Alternatively, a water filter can help loved ones reduce their exposure to heavy metals and pesticides.
Care2′s GreenHome Shopping.

2. The New Green Pages Online™
Brought to You by Care2

There are over 2,000 businesses offering over 25,000 products and services listed in the New Green Pages Online™ . Co-op America’s Screening Team — which is appointed by and reports to Co-op America’s board of directors — investigates each applying company to determine: 1) its familiarity with and commitment to social and environmental responsibility, and 2) significant action in terms of this commitment. The research team also seeks independent data to verify company information.

Browse through America’s premier directory of qualified green companies — companies with demonstrated commitments to social and environmental responsibility.
Green Pages OnlineTM.

3. Novica.com – Bringing the World’s Artist’s to You

In association with National Geographic, Novica today serves as an online arts agent for more than 1,700 artists in countries around the world!

Novica wants to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity. And, they want to provide us with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow. At the deepest essence of the Novica philosophy, they want to create a
bridge between you and the many talented artisans across the globe. They want you to know about the artists you’re buying from, and to feel attachment to the product and to the hands that created it. In the spirit of the Internet, Novica wants to bring us together!
Novica.com.

4. Worldstock – Global Artisan Goods – at Overstock Prices

With the goal of connecting artisans directly to the American market, Worldstock reaches to indigenous peoples around the world, and offers us these global goods at great prices. For example, the site offers Peruvian blankets, about which they note: Handwoven in the remote villages of the Peruvian Andes mountains, these alpaca blankets are as warm and luxurious as the alpaca robes made for Incan nobility centuries ago. Alpaca is prized worldwide in the fashion industry for its insulation and drape. Take a look for yourself.
Worldstock.