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Business & Tech

10 Ways to Give Green for Christmas

A list of eco-friendly holiday gift ideas for every type of person you know.

It's never been easier to give eco-friendly gifts. With stores throughout Morris County offering everything from fair trade coffee to hemp dog beds, there is a green gift for everyone on your list this year. To keep with the theme, skip the wrapping paper this year. Try a colorful canvas bag instead.

  • Frequent Traveler—To-Go Ware Bamboo Utensil Set. Think of how many plastic knives, forks, spoons and chopsticks are tossed in the garbage every day. Help your eco-traveler stay green with these stylish bamboo utensils. I bring them on the road with me all the time. They're easy to wash and the cloth holder fits in every bag. Look for them at .
  • Pets/Pet Lovers—Eco+ Hemp Oval Dog Bed from Bowsers. The soft shell is made from super-sustainable hemp, while the fiber inside comes from recycled plastic soda bottles. Look for these, and other eco-friendly dog beds, at Pet Center or Madison Feed & Grooming in Madison or Morris Animal Inn in Morristown.
  • Fashionista—Custom recycled jewelry from Appeal Jewelry in Morristown. Two of the designers featured at Appeal use recycled materials, including glass and aluminum, in creating trendy (but not flashy) pieces suitable for women of all ages. A word of your choice can be elegantly etched into an 80 percent recycled glass pendant that hangs on a recycled sterling silver chain.
  • Entertainer—Antique China. How better to start a conversation than an eclectic collection of antique dinnerware? When each guest has a different place setting, there is sure to be a story behind each one. Everything old is new again at the many antique shops around Morris County. The Whistling Elk and Chester Antique Mall, both in Chester, offer a great selection.
  • Caffeine-Crazed—Coffee beans from SmartWorld Coffee. The local shop—there are locations in Morristown, Denville and New Millford—offers exclusively 100 percent fair trade organic coffee.
  • Movie Buff—One-touch Video Rental. Forget NetFlix or Blockbuster—those old-school video rental services require postage or trips to the store. To save the movie lover's time, energy and gasoline, gift a subscription to the Amazon or iTunes video on-demand services. There are options to rent or buy, and no late fees to worry about. Start off with "Avatar," a movie full of eco-friendly undertones.
  • Book Worm—iPad. If you're really committed to going green, it's time to get over the fear of giving up paper books. While the Nook Color and Kindle are receiving rave reviews, the iPad will likely stay hot much longer. It is an extremely green product, free of PVC, arsenic, mercury and bromine and the outer shell is made of recyclable aluminum and glass. There are even several cases made of recycled materials.
  • Athlete—Bobble Water Bottle. The clear water bottle contains a bright carbon filter, available in six colors. It filters chlorine and organic contaminants from regular tap water. The water bottle can filter enough water to equal 250 plastic water bottles. These trendy but purposeful bottles are available at tons of retailers. Locally, look for them at Bloomingdale's, Bed Bath & Beyond, Container Store, Hallmark Gold Crown, Harmons, JCPenney, Macy's and Wegmans.
  • Kids—"Water, Weed and Wait", written by Edith Hope Fine and Angela Halpin, with illustrations by Colleen M. Madden. Make it a complete project by taking a day trip to a local farm, adding supplies for an offering to help plant their own vegetable garden. The book is available at the Barnes and Noble; the gardening supplies are available at just about any home improvement store or gardening center.
  • The One Who Has Everything—Donate to a local charity, such as the community garden or food pantry. Not sure what charities accept donations? Call the high school—chances are there is always a club soliciting donations for an upcoming charity event, clothing drive or food collection.

Not finding what you're looking for in these stores? Check out freecycle.org to see if someone else has what you're looking for. The free network connects neighbors who are looking to give away items that others may love.

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