Ask Bonnie: Tips for Going Green Gracefully (Green Gifts)

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A reader recently emailed us with the following question:

Hi, Bonnie, I would like to encourage my conservative mother-in-law to embrace eco-friendly products. But I also don’t want to come off as being preachy. Her birthday is coming soon – can you recommend any gifts that are green but not "granola"?

Why not think of a gift for your mother-in-law as a way to treat her to something she wouldn’t buy for herself? There are so many terrific choices available for personal accessories made from recycled or reclaimed materials.

Stylish, colorful handbags created from the collected scraps leftover in garment manufacturing that would normally find their way into landfill are just one example of a surprising eco gift. Other wonderfully playful options are bags made from folded excess candy wrappers that will take her on a nostalgic trip back to her childhood favorites.

You can also choose shawls or sweaters knit or woven from green fibers such as lambs wool, alpaca, line or silk. Just be sure that the dyes used are eco-friendly. What does that mean? Simply stated, the colors adhere to the fibers by a minimum of 80% to prevent them from turning up in the waste stream. 

Jewelry made from recycled glass beads, bottle tops or silver are another option. You’ll be pleasantly surprised (as will your conservative mother-in -law) at how easy it is to be green without sacrificing style.

Image: VivaTerra

Note: EcoSalon is sponsored by VivaTerra