Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas for Black Friday Shoppers

It's almost here! "Black Friday" is just around the corner, and millions of shoppers will hit the street (and web) this weekend to get great deals on gifts for the holidays. But why not "give green" this holiday season? Giving green is a great way to show your community that you really care. It can also inspire others to think eco-friendly as well. It's also unique. People can get a little tired of receiving toys, gift cards and kitchen wares every year. Giving a green gift is a great way to spice up your holiday gifting - and do a good deed at the same time!

So what are some green gifts you can give? Here are some ideas to consider when you hit the stores this weekend:

1. Soap Nuts

Green Will Soap Nuts on Amazon.com

Huh?? Yes, you read that right. Soap Nuts are tiny nuts that work more or less like soap. They come from the Sapindus tree, more commonly known as the soapberry tree. Just throw these nuts in your washing machine and they'll clean your clothes just as well as laundry detergent. They are safe, bio-degradable, and contain no harmful chemicals.

This gift is unique, saves people money on detergent and helps them adopt a green lifestyle with zero effort. It also is great for those who are sensitive to fragrances or chemical sudsing agents commonly found in commercial laundry detergents.

2. The Gift of Life

One fantastic gift you can give is seed packets. Before you buy these packets, take a walk through your friend's gardens. What kind of plants do they have? What colors do you think would do well in their garden?

Once you have a sense for what your friend might want, go online and buy a few different kinds of seeds you think they'll appreciate. You can also buy trees and shrubs, or gift certificates for companies that sell them. In a few years, you might just see your gift spreading its leaves in your friend's backyard!

Home-made chocolate chip cookies. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

3. Home Made Organic Food

Giving someone homemade organic chocolate chip cookies, or perhaps a raw vegan snack bar is a fantastic way to promote green culture while giving someone a gift they can really enjoy.

If you don't enjoy cooking, you can also buy many incredible eco-friendly snacks online.

4. Green Clothing

Did you know there's an entire sub-culture dedicated to creating dazzling clothing made entirely from eco-friendly materials? Some of the materials are recycled, others are bio-degradable, others are petrochemical-free.

Support these designers by purchasing from them this holiday. Make sure they look great and make sure you let whoever is receiving it know that they just received a green item. It makes a great dinner party story too!

5. Recycled Wine Glasses

What happens to glass that goes in the recycling bin? You see recycled paper and recycled plastic everywhere, but you seldom see labels for recycled glass.

Recycled glass looks and feels more or less exactly like normal glass. But by buying recycled glass, you support the recycling industry as well as giving your friend something unique. Recycled wine glasses come in all kinds of shapes and sizes.

There are a lot of incredible green and eco-friendly gifts out there, just waiting to be found. These gifts will wow your friends and family and bring a smile to their face, not just because of what they are but also because of their story. Give a green gift this holiday season, and you're giving to the environment as well!