The Best Earth Friendly Gifts

A Green Christmas
Our environmentally conscious columnist takes a look at some of the best earth friendly gifts this season.

ABOVE: Caldrea’s White Collection is aroma-therapeutic and features biodegradable cleansers and lotion.

All I really want for Christmas is a Prius.

Short of that, I would happily settle for a Vespa (especially if the helmets were a little cuter).

As for my gift-giving plans, the holidays are unquestionably the best time of year to introduce eco-resistant friends and family to innovative green gear. Although some remain leery of my gifts, most have cast aside their skepticism and appear to enjoy a healthy provision or two. I’ve even caught a few toting their own organic chocolate bars and checking out unleaded, aromatherapy candles.

My favorite gifts follow – a group of environmentally sound products with which to ring in the New Year – from basic soaps and kitchenware to luxury linens and silk. Enjoy – in whatever spirit, eco-aware or otherwise, stirs you.

Basic Kitchen & Bath

The White Collection from Caldrea
Ivory Cloverleaf Sink Set: Aroma-therapeutic, biodegradable cleansers and lotion. Hand soap liquid, dish soap liquid, and hand lotion in an ivory, clover-shaped caddy. Combining the benefits of aloe vera gel, olive oil, and soap bark extract, these products are both soothing and effective. $42.50 at Tango Zango or www.caldrea.com.

Flip Flop Mats
Soft, brightly colored mats are made of woven flip-flop remnants. Durable and waterproof, they are ideal under the sink, by the back door, or in the laundry room. They are available in small and large sizes. $23.99 to $36.99 at Green Living.

Recycled Newspaper Trivets
Round or square, these trivets withstand heat and will blend with any kitchen decor. Made of braided recycled newspaper, they are great replacements for plastic and composite materials. $6 to $16 at Green Living.

Soy Candles
Most candles add significant amounts of soot to your home, contributing to indoor pollution. Soy candles, made of food-grade vegetable wax, will burn for 85 hours, have cotton wicks (no lead), and are completely soot free. Ergo soy candles $4.95 to $22.95, Voluspa 10 oz. candle $22, both at Legacy Trading Co., www.voluspacandles.com, or www.ergocandles.com.

Green Glass Glassware
The bases from a wide assortment of bottles, including Perrier and vintage wines, have been recycled into beautiful glasses, goblets, and tumblers. Save the landfills, and set your table with this uniquely transformed glassware. $7.50 to $12 at Green Living or www.greenglass.com.

The Jardin Collection from Anna Sova
Hand wood blocked, 100-percent organic cotton duvets, bed skirts, and pillow shams. No toxic dyes or sizing, either. Pomegranate or Indigo. $29 to $198 at Anna Sova Luxury Organics, Voyager Trading Co., Dallas Yoga Center, and Tango Zango.

Silk Dupioni Drapery from Anna Sova
Free of dioxin bleaches, heavy metal dyes, silicone softeners, and formaldehyde sizing, this drapery is safe for use in bedrooms and intimate areas. Available in 7-, 8-, and 9-foot panels and seven colors. $129 to $149 at Anna Sova Luxury Organics, Voyager Trading Co., and Tango Zango.

Natural Baby Alpaca Bedcovers
Natural baby alpaca comes from Peruvian pesticide-free pastures. These fibers are much warmer and softer than sheep’s wool. Matching bedcovers, duvets, and pillow shams in a variety of sizes. $110 to $825 Anna Sova Luxury Organics, Voyager Trading Co., and Tango Zango.

Organic Cotton Bath Sheets
Also known as bath blankets, these are luxuriously thick and heavy towels. Eight vibrant colors and an assortment of washcloths, hand towels, and bath mats coordinate within the collection. Bath sheets $48 to $60 at Anna Sova Luxury Organics, Voyager Trading Co., and Tango Zango.

Bamboula Chandeliers
Hand-forged iron and recycled glass chandeliers. Ideal for use in powder rooms, bedrooms, and other casual areas. $49 to $89 at Green Living or www.bamboulaltd.com.