The Atom

"The Atom is a lightweight, highly efficient bicycle generator and rechargeable battery pack designed to power virtually any of your electronic or mobile devices via USB."
If your teen rides a bike, what could be a more perfect gift?

Image from sivacycle.com/blog

Eco Bags

 For your teen or grad who will be leaving the nest, here is a great idea!


Buy eco shopping bags and then include perhaps:


Recipes of yours for easy, healthy meals (familiar foods stand more chance of being prepared)
Cookbook
Membership to local food co-op
seasonal produce subscription
A few healthy staples or treats. What about dried nori seaweed or some organic chocolates?
Cute fridge magnets
Gift card to someplace they can only buy healthy food

I got this idea from greendeals.org                             Image is from Eco Bags

Swallowtail Farms

 This site is mostly geared towards weddings, but if you are looking for an unforgettable party for someone who enjoys butterflies you must take a look. How does a butterfly release at the climax of the party sound to you?
They also have plantable wildflower paper invitations for baby showers and other parties.  Plantable confetti, too.  There are live butterfly growing kits and other products for kids. I won't mention the beautiful butterfly cookies because you don't want to know about sugar cookies, right?                                                                             Image from Swallowtail Farms

Environmentastic

Consider green stocks/mutual funds as a gift. This link should take you to the archive for the 'investing' category on environmentastic.com.

Here are some other sites that you might find helpful.

http://www.socialfunds.com/

http://www.sharebuilder.com/ type "gift children" into search on site

http://www.environmentstocks.com/Enviro_Stocks/

http://www.checkthemarkets.com/index.php?Itemid=98&id=650&option=com_content&task=view

http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=79fc6f690f4b4a8fb62fa074310b5641&siteid=nwhpf&sguid=wSnoVn_d5E-8Da2mvhu7_A

http://www.portfolio21.com/?_kk=green%20energy%20investment&_kt=07268c7e-060b-4db8-98b3-00aef20091a0&gclid=COTrvdrwypcCFRsRagodvhAFSw

uncommongoods

  This store offers a selection of suggested graduation gifts and there are categories for  recycled materials  or handmade.
They also have a jewelery section and watch section with a handmade category.


                                                                              Image from uncommongoods

Eco-Friendly travel

Give a gift that will always be remembered!                                                    Image from Responsible Travel.com

Hotels
http://www.itsagreengreenworld.com/public/worldareas.html?gclid=CNDPh52M35YCFRlRagodpSZ23A
Hotels
http://www.istaygreen.org/index.cfm
Green B&Bs in USA and Canada
http://www.bnbscape.com/

"Here you will find select Ecolodges and other eco-friendly hotels, tours
as well as ecotourism-related services. Best rates & DIRECT Contact-
We charge no commission to either tourism providers or tourists."
http://www.ecoclub.com/lodges.html

"...share your previous eco experiences and research your next ecovacations"
http://www.ecotrotters.com/?gclid=COmj8v-I35YCFQ0xawodZBkI4A

"Hand-picked holidays from over 270 tour operators, and 100s of unique places to stay"
http://www.responsibletravel.com/

Travel within the USA or Worldwide
http://www.ecotourdirectory.com/ecotours/united_states_of_america/

"eco tours and eco tourism destinations in the United States"
http://ecotourism.gordonsguide.com/united-states.cfm

"bike tours and multi-sport adventures found right here in the national parks, mountains, and deserts of the untamed North American backcountry!"
http://www.escapeadventures.com/sustainable_vacations.htm?gclid=CMCH-riI35YCFQMCagodFhBN2Q

http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/national/ Sierra Club Outings

"decades of experience designing exotic international family travel, including active family adventures, family safaris and family cross-cultural explorations. "
http://www.journeys.travel/tags/family/?gclid=CLzrnsmH35YCFQ0xawodZBkI4A/


"Educational travel offers unique perspectives on nature and culture."
http://www.expeditions.com/Live_an_Issue301.asp

Low Impact Sustainable Travel
http://www.gapadventures.com/?gclid=CKr3lauH35YCFRs-awod5yh22w

Toughbook

Thinking of a computer as a gift? "Toughbook laptops are manufactured with the environment in mind and are compliant with some of the strictest environmental standards in the world. "

Image from Panasonic USA

Citizen Watch

"A Solar conversion panel and energy cell are the power provider for these Quartz Watches. "

National Parks Pass

"A pass is your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. Each pass covers entrance fees at national parks and national wildlife refuges as well as standard amenity fees at national forests and grasslands, and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation."
                                                                                                         Image from U.S.National Parks Service
Also check State Park passes if your state requires them.

Best American Arts

 
 Artist-made jewelery, handbags, and scarves,
leather satchels and leather bound journals, etc 

Image from Best American Arts -Hydrangea earrings by Michael Michaud

Sci Fi/Fantasy convention

Consider giving an older teen tickets to a local sci-fi or fantasy convention.  These are popular events with fans.                          Here is more info about these sorts of conventions.

                                                                        Image from scificonventions.com

Dress Clothes

Here is a list of eco-friendly and fair trade clothing companies which feature dress clothes.  What about setting up your grad with a really nice outfit for interviews and life's special occasions?

Men's organic cotton dress shirts

 Hempworld , Rawganique have hemp dress clothes for men and women, including suits for men. Want more vegan options for suits?

Nau has men's and women's "urban" clothing

Mountains of the Moon ,  Elecante ,  Frock 
&  Faeries Dance   have women's dress/business clothing   

Children's dress clothes here                                                                                            
                                                                 Image is from .hempworld.com

Beau-coup

 

 Online party supply store for many sorts of occasions.  In the 'theme' category to the left you can choose eco-friendly. Then you can search by occasion, price, and type of product.
Image from beau-coup.com

Brenthaven

Here is a green company which makes high quality bags and cases with a lifetime guarantee. I still use and love my bags I purchased thirty years ago...
Choose from phone cases, laptop cases, camera cases, messenger bags, courier bags for cyclists, backpacks, TSA- friendly cases, more.




Image from Brenthaven

ebags

 Just about everyone needs luggage at some point in their lives. This is a gift which would last a long time. There is eco-friendly luggage available.  (PVC-free, recycled materials...)  Perfect for an older teen who is leaving the nest or for any kid who travels.



                                                                         Image from all-free-download.com

Good Greetings

Invitations, greeting cards, and announcements made from 100% recycled FSC certified paper. 
"Beautiful, Customizable, Earth-Friendly Photo Cards, Invitations and Stationery"

                                                                               Image from Good Greetings

 

tinyprints

 Greeting cards made from high  quality paper which is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified or made from 30% post-consumer waste. Not as green using digital cards, but certainly one of the greener places to shop for paper cards. Cards, invitations, and announcements for all sorts of occasions, including Eid-ul-Fitr, Diwali, and Chinese New Year


                          
                                                                              Image from tinyprints

Used Telescope

  Depending on your recipient's personality, they might appreciate a used telescope as a gift. Choosing a used telescope is a way of recycling, and you can get a better deal for the money.
Some telescopes facilitate both stargazing and activities such as birdwatching.
Search in your local classifieds or try Astromart's classifieds.
The title link "Used Telescope", above, will take you to a page on EBay entitled, "What to Look for in a Used Telescope".
This is also the source of the image at left.

Resources for Green Computer searches

Green PC ~This blog is a GREAT resource for shopping for an environmentally-friendly computer
http://green-pc.blogspot.com/2008/02/eco-button-for-green-pc-users.html

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool ~ This is a site that will give you information about the performance and environmental attributes of various computers.
http://www.epeat.net/

see also my computer category

Alternative Fuel Vehicle

If you are considering a set of wheels for the graduation present, think about a hybrid electric car.
In addition to saving your grad some fuel costs and reducing the impact on the environment, your grad will be a bit safer from roll-over accidents as these vehicles tend to have a lower center of gravity.                                                                                                                  Image from all-free-download.com