Canadian Gift Guide

April is for sure the ‘greenest’ month of the year. With the blooming trees & promise of summer in the air (hopefully), we all start thinking about our planet a little more closely, particularly on April 22nd when Earth Day comes around. Today’s gift ideas are all around the theme of living a little more sustainably, and as always, they’re under $10 (not including shipping or tax). Happy perusing!

Travel-Size Bamboo Games – $7.99 @ Grassroots
Green doesn’t have to equal boring. These pint-sized games are a great way to keep the kiddies occupied when on the road, and they’re all made out of bamboo; one of nature’s fastest-growing renewable resources.

Recycled Chopstick Pen / Toothbrush Cup – $9.99 @ Great Green Store
Hold on a tick though. While you might feel all warm & fuzzy about buying bamboo (see above), keep in mind it takes 25 million trees & bamboo plants to sustain the billions of throwaway chopsticks we use on an annual basis. This simple gift takes used (and thoroughly sanitized) chopsticks and refashions them into a multi-function cup; you can even use it as a drink koozie on your back porch this summer.

Yetty Bag in Fan – $4.95 @ State of Green
Everyone knows that plastic shopping bags (and plastic and general) are enviro scourges. Never forget your reusable shopping bag again with this purse & pocket-friendly bag that folds up to 7 cm x 7 cm and can be fastened with a band. Keep it in your car or your bag and say no to plastic.

Pup-PIES – ~ $8 each
Going green isn’t just about stuff for people – choose all-natural goodies for your pet to ensure your furry friends are staying lean & green. These cute-as-pie mini cakes are made strictly from human-grade ingredients – meaning you’ve got a healthier product that seriously cuts down on processing waste. Bonus points for the recycled / recyclable packaging. Find a local retailer by clicking the link above.

Spotless Stain Remover – $5.95 @ Rocky Mountain Soap
Want to steer clear of chemicals on your clothing? Skip those stain-removing pens and use this all-natural bar instead to scrub out tricky grease spots and other stains. You can also grate it for use as a super gentle laundry detergent for sensitive skin or little tykes.

Recycled Chain Bottle Opener – $9.95 @ Sustainable NYC
A must-have idea that combines two forms of sustainable thinking in one little gift: the avid cyclist on your shopping list that bikes into work everyday will love the eco-friendly recycled chain on this funky bottle opener. Just make sure you recycle those brewski bottles when you’re done.

Matchstick Gardens – $3.99 each @ Botanical Paperworks
How’s this for a cute party favour at your next shower? Each booklet contains 20 ‘matches’ that can be planted indoors or outdoors for either a beautiful wildflower garden or an edible herb garden.

Recycled Bottle Light Kit – $9.95 @ Indigo
Spend time with your kids on Earth Day teaching them about upcycling / reuse with this fun art kit. Simply take a used plastic bottle, and use the kit to turn it into a light + decorate it.

Believe Napkins – $5.95 @ CB2
If you’re going to serve up cocktails and appetizers with napkins, make sure they’re eco-friendly. These cheeky napkins are as green as their colour; they’re made from 50% recycled material and 50% sustainably sourced, and use water-based inks. Makes a swell hostess gift.

Retro Arcade Poncho – $7.95 @ Fred Flare
Eco can be chic – or geek chic as it were – as demonstrated by this quirky rain poncho perfect for festival goers looking to make a splash. It’s actually made from recycled plastic, and chances are you’ll hang onto it way longer than a makeshift garbage bag raincoat.

SANUK bonus entry: tell me in the comments, what’s your favourite frugal find?