Green Gift Ideas for Your Mom

If you’re planning on gift-giving, we have some great socially conscious and fair trade options that we beg you to consider. Fair trade products let you know that people who grew, created, or manufactured them were treated justly and got a fair price for their efforts. So here’s some inexpensive, socially conscious gifts for your favorite someone.

1. Guilt-free Chocolate

What woman doesn't love chocolate? The chocolate industry is notorious for child labor, especially in the Ivory Coast, which supplies nearly half the world’s chocolate. If you buy this gift pack, you get organic chocolate for your mom that's locally grown and proudly packaged in 99% recycled, eco-friendly boxes. And each box includes a full color informational postcard about Fair Trade. [more fair trade choco]

2. Café Please

Does mom have a cup of moccha in the a.m.? How about giving her some fair trade java so she smiles knowing she's helping someone while she sips her favorite blend. For coffee farmers, fair trade means education, healthcare, environmental stewardship, and community development. [fair trade coffee] 

3. Never late again

Alternative Outfitters’ vegan watches are strictly non-leather and cruelty-free. And it doesn’t hurt that they’re under $35!

4. Frame your face

This dried-flower picture frame is handmade (at fair wages) by artists in the Philippines, using all natural fibers, including a weed that interferes with local agriculture. Put a pic of you and your mom, reminding her of home much she means to you ... and what a beautiful child she brought into this world.  [more pic frames]

5. Flowers are so last year

Organic flowers are expensive and they die after a few days! So why not buy your mom an organic window box. It comes with organic seed packets and soil. [more window boxes]

6. Give her jewels

Global exchange has tons of jewelry for mom at decent prices. And she will enjoy the piece even more knowing that Fair Trade benefits the craft workers, their families, and their communities.

7. Meaningful Tees

In our research we found some great companies producing t-shirts for a cause. Here are a
few under $30:

• Because: These special-edition shirts depict heroic people in history – From Gandhi to the “unknown rebel” in Tiananmen Square. A percentage of sales is donated to nonprofits.
• StatAttak: Beautiful infographics reveal compelling statistics about Africa. 20% of sales go toward building an orphanage in Mozambique.
• Part of It: Artists submit designs inspired by their favorite causes; proceeds go the cause each shirt represents.

8. The Gift that’s all Heart

What to give to show you care? Chocolates? Flowers? Dinner for two? With this gift you can give them all - to people who really need them. So go ahead and show your mom that you really are all heart!

9. Fire those plastic bags

Ecoist handbags are handmade using recycled commercial packaging. For every bag sold, they plant a tree in an area rendered environmentally sensitive by either natural or industrial changes.

10. Good Readings

Good Magazine a smart bimonthly magazine that encourages and inspires conscious global citizens to band together and “give a damn." Printed on recycled paper, the $20 subscription cost goes entirely to the non-profit of your choice.

11. Don't forget about the outside

Native Leaf Gift Bags are an environmentally friendly way to give a gift in a gift. Made in the Philippines; dyes used are certified non-toxic and low impact on the environment. Native Leaf is a fair trade business working closely with producer partners in the Philippines. [more earth-safe gift wrap ideas]