Worldchanging board member, Andrew Zolli, has just launched a new online service with his company, Z+ Partners, that addresses the spirit of holiday giving -- specifically, the overzealous spirit of gifting baskets full of stuff nobody wants.

No Baskets, Please is a guide to selecting alternative corporate gifts that might withstand the fateful regifting process and actually be valuable to the intended recipient. The #1 recommended gift, for example, is the Worldchanging book (thanks, Andrew). We think it's more useful than a cheeselog, too.

But it's not all material goods. No Baskets, Please also offers ideas like contributions to Heifer International and the Solar Electric Light Foundation. And if you must give fruitcake, they offer ways to be sure even a cake can offer some greater and more lasting benefit.

If you have clients or coworkers who you're planning to shower with gifts this holiday season, you might want to check it out. Andrew tells us that you'll also enjoy the added bonus of a downloadable holiday song called "Gift Basket."

I'm putting together a basket of sorts that with all things "green" including compact fluorescent lights, organic cotton socks, a native plant, and recycled note cards and an explanation with the hope that people will consider their choices every time they shop. Thanks for helping to push these ideas forward!

Posted by: Diane on December 9, 2006 9:38 AM

Thanks for the kind words about Heifer International. I joined Heifer as new media director last year and really appreciate it when someone blogs about us.

We have a new BlogRaising program that lets bloggers like you help us get the word out about Heifer and raise the money we need to do our work. To learn more, just go to www.heifer.org/onlinecommunityfundraising

I hope you are able to take part.

Again thanks for the good words.

Posted by: Dave Patterson on December 11, 2006 2:03 PM

Hi,

I live in one of the biggest consumer societies in the world, in the UK.
I am really upset about that the average person here still does not have a clue how much waste they cause every single day/minute to the environment just by leading a "normal, disent" life.
I wonder who is going to tell them? Who is going to say here that we can not do business as usual any more?
Or is everybody stupid?

Posted by: sylvia on December 27, 2006 11:57 AM