You may also want to look at TisBest Charity Gift Cards. The gift giver makes a charitable donation and the gift recipient chooses the charity that will receive the donation.

www.TisBest.org

TisBest Philanthropy offers the most beautiful charity gift cards, with over 50 different standard designs, or you can upload your own photo. And with TisBest cards, you can check the status to see when each is spent and on which charity. Cards can be sent by email, printed on your printer or printed on recycled plastic and sent by mail.

Sincerely,
Erik Marks
Executive Director
TisBest Philanthropy

As much as I love Threadless, they're not exactly environmentally responsible, and I don't think they should be on your list.

They manufacture their t-shirts from non-organic cotton in Bangladesh (I don't know how far their cotton travels to get there...), then they fly it from Bangladesh to Chicago, where the t-shirts are printed up. Though they have a Chicago store, the vast majority of their t-shirts are sold on-line, and are shipped all over the USA and the rest of the world from Chicago.

Although they're looking into making their manufacturing and selling more sustainable, at the moment they're hardly a golden standard for good environmental business.

And this is coming from a big Threadless fan, who has stopped buying their stuff for these very reasons.

Wow, I didn't know that 13strong. That actually changes it a lot for me. They should have stuck to using American Apparel to print on then I guess.

Also, you guys have done an interviewer with the founder of NEED magazine, which is a magazine that I think should definitely be on here.

Oh no, that's a huge bummer about Threadless. I've emailed them to see what the story is. I'll let you know what I find out.

Thanks for the NEED suggestion, Apexa. I definitely agree and will add them to the list.

My list includes bees and trees from Heifer International (where the trees do double duty as a carbon offset), solar cookers for Darfur refugees from Jewish World Watch, Bogolights which give away a solar LED light for every one you buy, and the FreePlay Companion solar/dynamo light/radio/cell phone charger.

My list with links is at http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/12/11/144434/25/316/671939

I personally would have recommended "VegNews" over "Vegetarian Times"... As their motto goes, they really are "More than just recipes" and are committed to world changing principles such as environmentalism and activism. And while recently, they have increased the number of recipes in their pages, they are all vegan!

http://www.vegnews.com/

"Good" magazine donates 100% of whatever you choose to pay for a subscription (the "Radiohead Model") to one of several non-profit groups of your choice. Their content is also licensed under Creative Commons. Plus they carbon offset... They provide information, commentary and ideas that not a lot of other media outlets commit time to.

http://www.good.is

-Branden
Magazine Dude @ a Reno, NV Big-box Bookstore Chain

I found some great green gift ideas and green holiday tips on www.greengiftguide.com!

-Kym

Dreaming of a GREEN Christmas

Rethink Gift Wrapping
Americans throw away 25% more trash during the holidays. You can reduce a portion of your holiday waste by using alternatives to wrapping paper. Tap into your creative side by using newspaper, magazines, old calendars or even fabric to wrap presents. You can also save money by reusing recycled paper or any other materials around your home to decorate wrapped gifts.

Send holiday e-cards, or print your card on recycled paper
You can save money and the environment by sending a free holiday e-card to your loved ones. Using recycled paper is another way to save the environment because recycled paper helps reduce demand for wood, conserves natural resources and generates less pollution during manufacturing.

Consider real, not artificial, when choosing your Christmas tree this year
Real Christmas trees are both renewable and recyclable. They are grown on tree farms specifically designed to produce trees for the holidays. Artificial trees may be the right choice for some people, and can be cost effective in the long run. However, some artificial trees are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a potential source of hazardous lead, and once those trees are thrown away, they’ll be in a landfill for a long, long time.

Recycle your Christmas tree
A real Christmas tree is 100% biodegradable. By recycling your Christmas tree, you can reduce 690,000 tons of materials that are dumped in landfills. Check your city’s local listings for curbside or drop-off locations for recycling.

Shop for Green Gifts
Browse www.greengiftguide.com for holiday presents for your family and friends. By purchasing eco-friendly gifts, you can do your part for the Earth and at the same time encourage your loved ones to reduce their carbon footprint beyond the holiday season. Also consider gifts, given in the name of friends and family, to environmental charities.

Recycle your beverage containers at all holiday parties
The holidays are filled with delicious dinners and festivities that generate a lot of waste. By recycling your bottles and cans, you can help reduce the 4.5 pounds of trash per person per day that Americans produce.

Source: Department of Conservation, Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Defense, National Christmas Tree Association

I think ETSY should be on your list.
Many of the artists are recycling, upcycling and using sustainable materials.
http://www.etsy.com/
it is a great place for hand-made.
EXAMPLE: just type in "organic cotton USA made tshirt" in the search engine.

You can also support creativity in your own town by shopping LOCAL:
http://www.etsy.com/shop_local.php

Esty is a great one for the list. We included it in a side post called Worldchanging Concepts for Alternative Giving: http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/009192.html.

It's snowing here in Seattle! I hope you are all having a wonderful winter.

For many of us, clean water comes with the twist of a faucet. But for 1 in 6 people, access to water requires hard work: hours of walking, waiting in line and heavy lifting.

Acknowledge someone special by giving a Hippo Water Roller in his or her name. We’ll send them a special thank you (via email or post) detailing the difference your thoughtful gift will make in the lives of a family in need.

http://hipporoller.org/08_emailtwo_firstseg.php

FYI: Threadless response to my inquiry about how/where their products are manufactured:

Hello Sarah!

Some of our Threadless Custom items are made in the US and some are made overseas. All Hoodies, Long Sleeve shirts, Kids & Baby items, and the Select Custom Color tees are all made in the US. Most of the short sleeve tees are made in Bangladesh.

The shirts made overseas are manufactured in an updated facility built in 1996. This facility is not a sweatshop. We understand that overseas manufacturing can bring up some concerns about factory conditions, but we have confirmed the labor conditions are 100% up to US standards. The manufacturing plant we are using is also a part of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (http://bgmea.com.bd/) and a member of the Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production Group (http://www.wrapapparel.org).

Have a wonderful day!

Carlie
Threadless Customer Service

Hope that helps! S

Check out Green gifts at Sortprice.com

www.sortprice.com

Looking for a gift with meaning? Why not give peace, social justice and equality this year? Donate to Give Something Big ( http://www.givesomethingbig.com ) and send out animated e-cards letting your friends and family know that a donation has been made in their name to help Inter Pares continue their international efforts for a more just world.

Help friends and family create green and healthy homes with the Eco Starter Kit. The kit is under $100 and reduces the greenhouse gas emissions of a typical U.S. household by 2.5 tons in the first year alone. That is equivalent to replacing a mid-size car with a Prius hybrid. Kit recipients can track their environmental impact online and generate a personal roadmap for future greening. You can order online and send directly with a gift message: www.ecohatchery.com

Well, a book is nice. But my wife has made ragdolls out of extra fabric for the children, and has made soap from the goats we milk to give as gifts to adults. Truly something special when it is handmade.