Green Eco Services

Planting Trees- Sustainable and Eco Friendly Gifts

Welcome back!

Photo:blog.thesietch.org

Going into the Gift Giving Season- what do you give someone who has everything? What can you do to help your friends and relatives get out of the conspicuous consumption mode and into the Green and Save mentality. Why not give them a Gift card from Plant Your Tree a very easy to use program, just click and sign up. Not only that, no waste of time, gas and expense buying gifts- save on your carbon footprint!

I Just Gotta Tell Ya

• For every tree planted allows 2 people to breathe clean air for a lifetime.
• A tree absorbs 48 lbs of CO2 per year.
• 500 trees counteract the negative environmental effects of one car for one year (source: The Nature Conservancy in the US).
• Properly placed trees can lead to nearly 60% savings on daytime air conditioning. The evaporation from one tree can produce the cooling effect of 10 room size air conditioners running for 24 hours/day.
• Hospital patients with a view of trees out their window recover faster and with fewer complications than patients without such views.
• 343 trees in a kilometer square decreases asthma rates by 29% in young children (source: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health).
• Trees use nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium – byproducts of city living – which can pollute our streams.
• In 50 years, one tree generates $31,250 worth of oxygen, provides $62,000 worth of air pollution control, recycles $37,500 worth of water and controls $31,250 worth of soil erosion (source: US Forest Service).
• Trees provide habitats for species
• Trees stabilize soil and prevent erosion.

Other Tree Planting Gift Resources

• Trees For the Future
• Dolphin Blue
• Arbor Day
• The Green Balance (UK)
• Tree Givers

Recycling Wetsuits Into Surfboard Records and Other Cool Stuff

OVNY Recycled Neoprene Records

At Action Sport Retailer Show

Did you know 150 Tons of Neoprene are thrown into the trash every year? Many people are reusing the scraps to make wallets and shoes but OVNY- is taking the neoprene from wetsuits (rubber and non-biodegradable) and making it into surfboard records (dividers for surfboard racks) and other things like hot plates and coasters.  What I really like the records are larger than a traditional hot plate and could be used for a variety of other things such as planters (they are waterproof) and heavy furniture sliders. Anyone could use them whether or not you need for surfboards, paddle-boards, kayaks and even skis.

In addition- they will take your old wetsuit, gloves and boots and recycle them for you. The mission is to save all that non-biodegradable rubber out of landfills and reuse them into purposeful items.  And they are a member of 1% for the Planet- which means they give back!

Check out them out- I’m thinking great gifts for the holidays! You can order online or they have a store locator on the site

Recycled Panda Poo Paper

Panda Poo Paper

These eco-friendly and innovative goods are made from real poo collected from Giant Pandas in China. Natural and quite lovely for a piece of poo, these panda accessories are 100% recycled, odorless and sure to be a hit with anyone who loves recycling and/or potty humor. Sold individually or as a set. $8.00- $24.00

Rescued Paper Notebook for Back to School

These notebooks come in various colors and made from recycled paper, such as gift wrap, posters. Made in India. Don’t want to buy- make your own, great gifts, a diary, to-do lists- why not!

Available from Great Green Goods

Nikon Eco Friendly Binoculars

Father’s Day Gifts, Boating, Birding, Hunting, People Watching, Travel and whatever- I don’t know what I would do without my binoculars! Now there is a great green gift Eco Option! Niko Ecobins- Sustainable and Green Binoculars. 

Why’s It Green? 

• Lead and arsenic free Eco Glass lenses
• No harmful dyes or inks are used 
• Non-chloride rubber eyepieces
• Biodegradable case and strap (Tencel) 
• Eco Friendly packaging – 85% post consumer waste, printed on recyclable FiberStone paper. 
• Waterproof, fogproof and weigh 12.9 oz. 

Available from Amazon Nikon Ecobins 10×25  $163.00-$169

Fathers Day Gifts- Crocs Sandals- 50% Off

I forget about Fathers Day- as my Father passed away 10 years ago. But if he was still alive, this is a great Eco Friendly Gift-that I would give him. Now through June 22, 2009, your customers will receive 50% OFF when they purchase two or more pairs at Crocs.com. 

Buy Two or More Pairs at Crocs.com and Get 50% Off! Offer ends: 6.22.09

Costa Rica Eco-Tourism

Fair Trade and Eco Gifts for Grads

Now I’m checking out Gaiam’s Fair Trade Gifts- and you can receive Free Shipping on any order over $49. Use code AFGRAD. Expires 6.15.09. 

LaChamba Casserole Bowl Round

• From La Vida Verde, a fair trade group Clay cookware has a unique ability to produce succulent foods loaded with flavor. Handmade from natural black clay by Colombian artisans using techniques passed down for centuries. Each lead- and glaze-free piece is polished with river rocks before being wood fired. Imported by a fair trade organization, they???re works of ancient culinary art from the region that???s home to the Americas??? oldest pottery. Colombia.

• From Au Lac Designs, a fair trade group Dramatic hand-dyed silk taffeta is embroidered and stitched by a collective of struggling farmers who have been taught tailoring skills. 16″W x 9″H; 9″ strap drop. Vietnam. 

• From Mitra Bali, a fair trade group Traditional Jawan Bali Silver Pendant and Hoop Earrings are made exclusively by five women artisans thriving in a male-dominated society. 1??”-diameter pendant hangs on a 20″ chain with 2″ extender. Earrings are 1??” long. Sterling silver. Indonesia. 

Recycled Gifts for the Grad

My niece is graduating from college and what do I give her? The easiest thing to do is of course give money- but I do 1.) Want to give something that she will remember me by 2.) Get her into ‘green products’  3.) Get her a something really different. 

So went to Uncommon Goods- which has a great selection of green and eco friendly products. 

Some Ideas

A Cool Recycled Messenger Bag- they have several style available- for when and if she ever gets a job!

As much as I love this- she would never wear it!

I wonder if these kids even know what a typerwriter is?


I’ve given her necklaces before- Jewelry is always good:



What about Recycled Kitchen Gifts for her new home?- If she ever moves out of Mom and Dad’s

Love this ‘Protect Our Air Glasses’

So many choices- and what do I know! I think I should start her hope chest- if they even have Hope Chests anymore.

Eco Friendly Pencils-Smencils

New Fun Eco Friendly Pencils are on the market. Smencils a Gourmet Scented #2 Graphite Pencil.  Smencils are made from recycled newspapers and comes packaged in its own tube to maintain their scent for two years. Plus they have a biodegradable easer at the end. Available in scents like Bubble Gum, Blueberry, Cinnamon Candy, grape, Pineapple, Raspberry, Green Apple, Cherry, Orange and more. 

Available from Amazon