6 cool & affordable green gifts for eco-travelers

Looking for a holiday gift for that eco-conscious globetrotter — or a traveler you’d like to help “green up”?  Check out these creative yet practical gifts that won’t add too much excess weight to your credit card. And when you shop online, you lighten the burden on the earth by avoiding extra car trips.

1. Carbon offset gift certificate

Air travel is one of the biggest sources of CO2 emissions heating up the planet. How about a gift that helps your favorite frequent flyer become carbon-neutral? Perfect for the traveler who has everything else, carbon offsets can allow them to pursue their passion with a lighter conscience. For $50.60, Terra Pass will offset three medium-distance flights. A certificate to offset a year’s worth (12,000 miles) of driving in an average-sized car costs $71.40; for a hybrid or fuel-efficient vehicle, the figure drops to $29.75. Certificates come with a luggage tag and personalized card. Sustainable Travel International offers carbon offset gift certificates for purchase online. You can also donate to The Conservation Fund’s Go Zero carbon offset program when you shop Gaiam by offsetting the carbon impact of shipping your order (or just ordering a Go Zero certificate as a gift). Your purchase supports clean energy and other projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

2. Leaf travel journal

Fabulous travel memories deserve to be recorded in a journal as memorable as the journey. These exquisite fair trade travel diaries are handmade by a family in a village in Bali who have mastered the craft of turning nature’s litter into art. The family collects leaves, twigs and dried fruit from their garden to create pressed paper covers and pages using a kitchen blender. $19.95

3. Organic hemp travel accessories

Nubius Organics’ Ecolution line features travel accessories made from durable, sustainable hemp. The Organizer ($26.00) holds a passport, credit cards and travel documents in a compact zippered case. The Shaving Kit/Toiletries Bag ($9.95) is big enough to hold a razor, toothbrush, make-up and travel-size shampoo, yet takes up very little space in a carry-on bag.

4. Filtering water bottle

One of the simplest ways to look after the earth while exploring it is to take a reusable water bottle. Treat your traveler to a bottle that’s more than just a container — it’s a compact filtering system, too. This fuss-free water bottle has a built-in 0.3-micron microfilter that meets EPA standards for giardiasis and bacteria removal, and a final carbon stage that eliminates chemicals and off-flavors so that the only taste left is totally refreshing. No hassles: just fill it up and let the filter do its work. $45.00

5. Solar Cool Cap

Now this is clever! Just the solution to keep desert wanderers and jungle vagabonds comfortable in heat and humidity. This lightweight cap has a built-in fan that’s powered by six half-volt solar cells for daytime use. Two AA batteries can also be used whenever sunlight is insufficient or unavailable. With an adjustable headband, one size fits all. The silent operation system offers health benefits in hot climes: When it’s turned backward so that the fan blows cool air on the back of the neck, it cools the area where the central blood vessels of the brain lie. This complex of arteries that supplies the brain and nerve centers is the ideal spot to apply cooling to indirectly lower blood pressure or prevent it from rising in the heat. $16.99

6. Frommer’s 500 Places to See Before They Disappear

The ultimate guide to some of the most endangered places on the planet, this book by Holly Hughes profiles a multitude of threatened sites, yet notes that many are starting to receive the attention necessary to protect and preserve them.

Hunter describes one-of-a-kind landscapes, fragile ecosystems, rare bird habitats, places to see the last remaining species of big game in the wild, cityscapes in peril, vanishing cultural kitsch, petroglyphs, and more. She also advocates sustainable travel habits that will help secure the future of these and other destinations that face an uncertain future.  $19.99

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