Are You Dreaming of A Green Christmas?

PRLog (Press Release) - Dec 06, 2007 -
Media Contact:
Amy Chilla                                                                              
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Amy.Chilla@corecubed.com                                                                        

Louisville, KY - Are you dreaming of the traditional white Christmas?  Try conjuring up a new vision this holiday season: think green.  When making that list and checking it twice, why not choose gifts that also keep on giving?  Set an example this year for your friends and family by turning your white Christmas into a green Christmas.  Forget the endless search for original gift ideas, your one-stop shopping list for the entire family is here.  ECO-CELL, a cell-phone recycling company and green fundraising company is encouraging everyone to give green this holiday season.  To help you get started, ECO-CELL has compiled a green shopping list that everyone from the youngest to the oldest members of your family will love.  

Holiday Essentials: To get you into the holiday spirit and ready to shop, here are two “must have” items:

•   Reusable Shopping Bags: Reusable shopping bags will save on all those plastic and paper bags from stores. Don’t think these are limited to just the grocery store either. Take them to the mall as well.  One of our favorite sources is Reusable Bags, which offers a wide range of reusable bags, including gift bags made from recycled foil juice packs by a women’s co-op in the Philippines.  Price: At a reasonable $11.95 per bag, you are also helping out a worthy cause when you purchase.  Web site: www.reusablebags.com.

•   Biodegradable ornament containing seeds:   The “Gift of Green,” is a biodegradable holiday tree ornament embedded with seeds that can be planted in your pot or garden.  Gift-givers can choose from organic cilantro or Serrano chili peppers.  With every Gift of Green purchase, BeGreen also will plant a tree on the recipient’s behalf that will help improve the environment by reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions for years to come. Price: $9.95 per ornament.  Web site: http://begreennow.com/gift_of_green  


For the Spa Lover: Do you have someone in your life that loves frequenting spas? Why not create that perfect spa environment at home by giving these green gifts:

•   MicroCotton towels: MicroCotton towels are 100% cotton.   In addition to being soft and absorbent, the towels are eco-friendly, using less water to wash and less energy to dry. A typical wash and dry cycle can fit 30 MicroCotton towels rather than about 20 regular towels. By using MicroCotton towels, each household can save 4,000 gallons of water each year. Web site: www.microcotton.com.  Price: Averaging about $6 for a washcloth to $20 for a bath towel.

•   Water Saving Showerhead: The new Water Saving Showerhead from Moen helps users to conserve resources while also preserving their soothing shower experience.  Its innovative spray formers concentrate the flow of water, reducing the amount of water used compared to standard showerheads, while still providing a satisfying shower.  Price:  starting at $33.85.  Web site: http://www.moen.com/pressroom/pressRelease.cfm?release=1681


For the Techie:  Traditionally technology buffs and eco-friendly items don’t always go together but we’ve found some great items.  

•   Wireless Headset: This solar cell powered Bluetooth wireless headset is the ultimate power-saving solution for users of mobile headsets: it charges itself.  Offering up to 12-hours extended talk time, able to charge in indoor and outdoor light, “green” alternative to standard charging.  Price:  $99. Web site: http://www.iqua.com/products_sub.php?navi_id=1476.

•   Solaris 16:  The Solaris is a foldable, compact iPod Solar Charger with a direct-connect iPod power cable. Price: $129. Web site: www.brunton.com.  


For the Clothes Lover: Whether you are buying for the youngest or oldest member of your family, those that love clothes can also help the environment with these innovative clothing ideas:

•   Greenbaby Gifts:  Greenbaby Gifts offers gift sets of all natural and organic nursery necessities for infants and expecting or new mothers.  Gift sets come in beautiful handmade bags and keepsake boxes comprised of sustainable materials.  Price:  $35 - $165 Web site: www.greenbaby-gifts.com.  

•   Baby Clothes Quilt:  Recycle your baby’s clothes into a keepsake baby quilt.  You can purchase the kit that contains everything needed to make a quilt from a child’s baby clothes, or you can send them your cut baby clothes squares and they will make the quilt for you.  Price: $29.50 for the kit or $59.50 for them to make the quilt. Web site: www.TiccheandBea.com.  

•   BrittaWear:  BrittaWear offers robes made from organically grown cotton, and uses eco-friendly fabrics in the designs. They donate 10% of their proceeds to charities which support the same philosophy and beliefs, such as The Humane Society of the United States, Surfrider Foundation, and The American Society among others.  Price: $78.00-$118.00 Web site:  www.brittawear.com.  

•   CoCoNa™ Run Jacket:  CoCoNa™ is a natural technology that utilizes charcoal (or activated carbon) derived from coconut shells. This charcoal is then combined with polyester fibers to create a garment with enhanced performance properties, including evaporative cooling, odor resistance, and added UV protection to keep you comfortable in any environment. CoCoNa™ fabrics are lightweight, comfortable, and retain all of the conventional product features, such as stretch and washability. Price: $70.00 Web site: www.newbalance.com.  


For the Bookworm: Have someone that loves to read and is interested in learning how to go green?

•   The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Green Living:  In this book, you will find an overview of global warming and environmental degradation of air, water, and soil; what sustainable living is and how to do it; how to cut down on carbon output (the cause of global warming) with alternative cars and fuels; and environmentally friendly home and lawn care products.  Price: $16.95 Web site: www.idiotsguides.com.


For the person who has everything: We all know and love them, those people who seem to want nothing or need nothing. Here are some great service gift ideas:

•   Maid Brigade Green Clean Certified TM System:  An alternative to the average holiday gift is the new Maid Brigade Green Clean Certified TM System, budget and eco-friendly for a quick and green house clean before those holiday guests arrive! Not only does this gift take the guesswork out of green cleaning, but it also provides the recipient with a unique gift because Maid Brigade is the only national housecleaning service to offer green cleaning products and procedures that are certified by Green Seal, Inc. Web site:  www.greencleancertified.com for more info on green cleaning.  Or Maid Brigade’s site is www.maidbrigade.com.

•   Green Dimes: An innovative service that gets your name off direct marketing lists and reduces your junk mail by 90%. For each subscription purchased, they plant 10 trees.  Price: From $15 - $36 depending on whether you purchase standard service or get the GreenMe pack which contains the service, compact fluorescent bulbs, a T-shirt, and a tote bag. Web site: www.greendimes.com.  

•   Donate: The best gifts come in small packages (or no packages!) Try something really different and get your family together to give the gift of a healthier environment. Start a campaign within your family to recycle old, unused cell phones. Get more than 10 phones collected and ECO-CELL, www.eco-cell.org, will pay for your shipping.  Your donation will go toward the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund AND you will help the environment by recycling.  Your family will feel really good about doing something positive and it is a way to get everyone together at the holidays.

Tips Provided by ECO-CELL