Shopping and Shipping for the Holidays

I'm not good with crowds or long lines so even doorbuster deals aren't enough to get me out of the house the day after Thanksgiving and into a mall parking lot. What I will do is log on and do some early holiday shopping online. From fair trade crafts from around to world to homemade gifts, you can support sustainable enterprises and please everyone on your shopping list. Not only is shopping online more convenient, it's more efficient and can even qualify as good for the environment. Especially if you give one of NRDC's special "gifts from the wild." Starting at just $10 dollars to plant a rainforest tree, you can afford to be generous and share your values with a long list.

NRDC has selected an assortment of holiday gifts from the wild. You can make a donation online to safeguard wolves, plant a rainforest tree, and protect polar bears or newborn whales. The recipient of your gift will receive a beautiful certificate acknowledging that a gift has been made in their name. Or send a copy of NRDC President Frances Beinecke's book, Clean Energy, Common Sense, a small book with a big agenda recommended by Robert Redford.

Your gift will support NRDC's work all year long.

Other bright ideas for gifts -- consider giving something that won't end up cluttering the closet like a fun activity, subscription, class, service, trip or something edible. NRDC staff share some of their favorite gift ideas in our gift guide on NRDC's green living site, SimpleSteps.org.

If that's not enough for everyone on your list, here are a few of my favorite websites for unique, sustainable and fun gifts. But no matter where you purchase your gifts, select ground shipping -- it's six times more efficient than overnight air shipping which means less pollution. So be sure to order early and allow enough time for packages to arrive by ground.

etsy.com
An online marketplace for anything and everything handmade, Etsy is the place for find lovingly crafted items from hundreds of thousands of artists. From traditional crafts made hip to housewares and fine jewelry, Etsy is a wonderful place to find custom and one-of-a-kind items for anyone on your list - especially those hard to shop for people who are too cool for anything mass-produced. Find a gift made from recycled materials.

tenthousandvillages.com
Ten Thousand Villages works with with artisan groups in Africa, Asia and Latin America to bring you fair trade jewelry, home decor and the perfect handmade gift. Check out the selection of recycled treasures.

Overstock.com's Worldstock
Worldstock features thousands of items made by skilled craftspeople around the world, shipped directly to you with the artisans receiving an average of 60 percent of the sales price. From furniture to clothing, Worldstock has an assortment of beautiful handcrafted items.

What better way to show your love than with a gift that gives back?

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