But they still deserve something this holiday, right?

Let me take the guess-work out of buying for the environmentalist in your life, with a few eco-friendly gifts that even Captain Planet could love.

But first, a few tips:

Tip #1: Look for products with sustainable materials and processes.  Items made from recycled materials (there are tons of these on Etsy!) are very environmentally friendly, as well as unique!
Tip #2: Consider where the product was made.  Items made in your area require less fuel to reach store shelves, and therefore have a smaller impact.  It’s also good to know whether an item is fair trade.
Tip #3: Redefine what constitutes a gift and give to a charity in your recipient’s name.  Use Charity Navigator to make a donation to an environmental organization your tree hugger supports.
Tip #4: Think about how you’re wrapping the gift.  Gift bags can be reused, or you can reuse newspaper for a free way to wrap your present.

And now for some fun gifts!

Items Under $15

Zak! Confetti Dinnerware - Zak! dinnerware is made of recycled melamine. For $15 you could buy a couple dishes that your tree hugger could use on take-out night instead of those harmful paper plates
Little Concrete Planter with Airplant – A perfect addition for your tree hugger’s home, even if they inhabit a tiny dorm room!
Eco Recycled Card Holder – A card holder for your ecoholic’s bus pass or library card made from a recycled billboard banner

Items Under $30

Filtered Stainless-Steel Water Bottle – This water bottle not only reduces the amount of plastic bottles being tossed, but it also has a filter built in! Who needs bottled water now?
Greensburg DVD Set – Co-produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, this series follows the ‘green’ rebuilding of Greensburg, Kansas following a devastating tornado. It’s fascinating!
Burt’s Bees Gift Set – Natural beauty products to pamper your little tree hugger without harming Mother Earth.

Items Under $50

Love to Ride Set – Perfect for your bike-riding environmentalist.  It has accessories made from recycled bike parts.
Butter Nail Polish Pack – Your ecoholic can still look good with natural nail products.
Peeled Snacks – Nourish your favorite tree hugger with a gift tin full of tasty organic treats

Items Under $75

Surge for iPhone Case – This device is seriously cool.  It is a hybrid solar charger, meaning it can charge your techie-tree-hugger’s iPhone in sunlight.  A green-addition to this energy saving gift?  A green iPhone app.

Garden Stacker - This indoor herb garden is perfect for the tree hugger that loves to cook.  Bonus: there are different gardens at various price points.

Now, I’m not asking to start lighting candles in lieu of your desklamp, but there are lots of options that are sleek, convenient, and help make the change towards a greener lifestyle.  Here are some of my top picks:

IKEA solar desk lamp:  I was pretty sure before, but now I am absolutely certain, IKEA sells pretty much everything you could ever want.  Looking for a solar-powered desk lamp?  They got it.  Want some LED lights that consume 70% less energy than normal light bulbs?  Yep, they’re included.  But these babies aren’t just eco-friendly, they’re also super cute and come in every color of the rainbow.  Stick one on your desk and instantly feel the academic juices flow.

Belkin’s Conserve Surge Protector:  Recently I discovered something known as “phantom” power (who gave it that name, I don’t know.)  Phantom power is the standby power used when you keep your appliances plugged in after you’re done using them.  This “phantom” is estimated to take up as much as 15% of your overall energy use.  Eliminate your phantom by turning to this Belkin surge protector.  It comes with a remote so that you can turn off the surge protector (without having to crawl behind your TV stand) when you’re no longer using your appliances.  For those of us that need the essentials (i.e. blackberry and laptop) to be charged at all times, there are 2 “always on” outlets for your convenience.

The SodaStream:  The soda stream is a personal carbonator that makes your own personal-sized fizzy water in your own home (!).  Not only do you save plastic bottles from ending up in the landfill, but you also spare the energy used to synthesize and transport the bottles to your local supermarket.  Plus, “hand-made” fizzy water doesn’t contain any sodium, which can intensify bloating (ew) and water retention.  It’s a little pricey, but if you’re a soda water fiend like I am, it will definitely make up for it in the end.

The Snuggie!:  Okay, so maybe the Snuggie isn’t the best choice as far as eco-friendly fabrics go, but at least now I know I’ve gotten your attention.  As Autumn nears and the temperature gets cooler, we all run straight for our thermostats.  But why turn up the heat and your electric bill when you can snuggle up with your very own blanket (sleeves optional).  Of course, I recommend any blanket made from organic fibers, such as this throw made with regenerated fibers, but any old fleece blanket will to the job.

I first learned about Freitag, a Swiss company, and its products while flipping through a magazine during a flight. What kept me reading the whole article instead of turning up the volume on my headphones to whatever random movie was playing on that mini screen 10 rows up was how they made their products. This wasn’t just another ho-hum ad for a travel bag; Freitag was born from something bigger.

The idea came about when graphic designer brothers Markus and Daniel Freitag wanted a durable and waterproof messenger bag to carry their belongings in. They traveled by bike and when it rained, their designs would get ruined. They were inspired by the colorful trucks that would drive past their apartment, so they made the very first Freitag bag out of a truck tarpaulin with a used car seatbelt as the strap and an old bicycle inner tube as the edging.

And there it was: an awesome looking bag that was practical and eco-friendly.

Since its first production in 1993, Freitag has expanded from messenger bags of various sizes to tote bags, duffle bags, wallets, and even soccer balls, as well as many other items. They continue to use the same recycled materials, making it a very eco-friendly company. If you are able to afford the price tag, which may be a bit steep, you will get a high quality and unique bag in return. Each product is made from tarpaulins of different colors and designs, so your bag will be the only one of its kind! With so many to choose from, there’s sure to be one you’ll love.

I’ve been wanting a Freitag bag since I read that article over a year ago. If only I could stop making all those trips to frozen yogurt shops and Forever 21 to save enough for one.