“Green Shopping” is a bit of an oxymoron.  I mean, one of the fundamentals of going green is to reduce consumption, right?  So what’s a green retailer to do on Black Friday?  One of the reasons I started EcoPlum was to give shoppers the option of buying high quality, stylish goods, while knowing that they are made primarily of recycled, reused and earth friendly materials, using the most sustainable practices possible.  So, while it would be best if we all gave gifts with an almost zero footprint – like a backrub or an original song or something like that, here are some green gift ideas for those of us who aren’t blessed with songwriting or other creative skills.

So while you may not be certified in giving back massages, you can still pamper your partner with a beautiful gift basket of green body care products from Zosimos Botanicals.   I’ve already sung the praises of this natural, and mostly vegan line of safe cosmetics and skin care, and for the holiday season you’ll love their Christmas Stocking for $40, the Hannukah Theme Gift Basket for $95, the Holiday Theme Gift Basket for $60 or any of their other lovely basket selections.  They even have a New Year’s Gift Basket for $30 – for those of us who are a little late with the gifts sometimes.

Looking for something a little more personal?  How about some beautiful fair trade jewelry from Shanti Boutique?  I absolutely love the Seven Chakras Dangling Earrings for $89 and matching Well Being Necklace for $58.  If you really want to go all out, the Good Vibes Chakra Charm Bead Bracelet for $329.80 is absolutely stunning.

Another item that makes a really unique gift is the one-of-a-kind hand-made handbag from Basmati Bags.  We are carrying two right now – the Autumn Gold Standard Shoulder Bag for $80 and the Red Accents Compact Shoulder Bag for $66.  I have a standard size shoulder bag which I use every day – I can’t tell you how many compliments I get about this bag.  Basmati Bags are so stylish, unique and quite light and comfortable too!

Looking for something for the athlete in your life?  Look no further than Atayne’s high performance athletic wear made of recycled plastic bottles.  These wonderful shirts are made for biking, hiking, running, climbing and even paddling and they come with clever recycle-themed graphics.  Starting at $39, these shirts for men and women really rock – and while it’s hard to pick a favorite – I would probably go with the “Recycler” graphic on the bike shirt in Arctic Sea (get it? re”cycle”r?),

And now for something completely different – TOYS!  Global Green Pals makes a wonderful set of eco friendly dolls, and with names like “Carbon Offset Chet,” “Clean Air Kate,” and “Recycle Kyle,” they are educational too! These award winning dolls ($27.95) are made with organic, natural and tested fibers and low impact dyes and are stuffed with 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic PET bottle stuffing. Each doll comes with its own imaginative character tag printed on recycled paper, using soy-based ink that tells each character’s story and offers kid-friendly green tips on how to help the Earth. My 8 year old daughter Talia has been having a lot of fun with “Pink Coral Laurel” – she can dress and undress her, play pretend snorkeling, and also cuddle up with her at night.  (Unfortunately the dog likes Laurel too – but she hasn’t succeeded in chewing her up quite yet).   Another great selection of educational, eco-dolls is Pepe & Sherina designs’ Sock Monkeys.  These dolls, also on Talia’s play list, are made of 100% upcycled materials and come with their own inspiring stories.

Finally, if you want to give a gift for the home, Glass Dharma makes an ultra chic line of glass straws.  Spruce up your holiday party with these handsome looking straws that come in three different styles – beautiful bends, decorative dots, and simple elegance – and a whole range of sizes and combinations starting at $6.50.  They are dishwasher and microwave safe and even come with a lifetime guarantee against breakage!  Handmade in the U.S.A. and free of toxins, these straws keep thousands of plastic straws out of landfills and make a truly fun conversation piece!

All these items can be wrapped in reusable decorative cloth, reusable gift bags, or recycled wrapping paper from Earth Presents.

Wishing you all a very happy Thanksgiving!  Enjoy 15% and FREE SHIPPING starting at midnight on Black Friday with code GREENFRI.