Good and green... to go
Ecowise gifts hit the road
HOLIDAY | Anna Sachse
Conserving resources, eating organic, using non-toxic cleaning products and recycling everything humanly possible – it’s 2010 and it seems like every household has gone green. The next step? Taking the eco-friendly lifestyle on the road – literally. From stylish bags, outerwear and outdoor dining accoutrements, to sun care, portable toys and transportation devices, this holiday season there’s something truly useful to please all the busy environmentalists on your list. Get ready to take green into the next decade.
People movers Help your favorite guy, gal or techie teen go green and get fit with a folding bicycle. Perfect for commuters, these ultra-flexible peddlers have all the economical, ecological and health benefits of a standard bike and
they’re easier to store or transport via car, train or plane. New this summer, the full-size Dahon Ios XL ($1,499 at bike shops) has 24inch wheels, an eight-speed Shimano Alfine hub, hydraulic disc brakes and punctureresistant tires. The Ios weighs about 33 pounds and takes just 15 seconds to fold down to less than half its original dimension. A dynamo in the front hub uses pedal-generated energy to juice up a battery that powers an LED headlamp and can even charge a phone, iPod or GPS.
Bike Friday, based in bicycle-obsessed Eugene, Ore., also produces high-end folding bikes, including a wide range of built-toorder models (from $898 at bike shops) If your gift-ee isn’t a serious gear head, Kent, Schwinn, Polaris and F-160 make simpler folding bicycles with smaller wheels and fewer speeds (from $150 at retailers).
And what if your list also includes a little squirt who yearns for their own two-wheeler? Made from sustainable birch wood and nontoxic varnish, the award-winning pedal-free Skuut ($90 at sporting goods and toy stores) is perfect for tykes between two and five years old. Riders kick off the ground as if running, thus gliding or “skuuting” themselves forward and learning balance and coordination. There’s a new metal version available, with adjustable handlebars, hand brake and a bell.
Outside eaters Your loved ones can always dine alfresco with
a picnic basket made from sustainable materials like bamboo or rattan wicker. Opt for a classic hand-woven willow Picnic Plus eco picnic basket for two and you’ll also get recycled glass wine glasses, natural cotton napkins, and bamboo plates, flatware, cutting board and cheese knife, all packed in a chemical-free cotton insulated lining ($109.99 at sporting goods stores).
If you’re more inclined toward eco-chic, it’s tough to beat the all-new cardboard (yes, cardboard!) Boxsal Picnic Boxes. The three graphic styles were inspired by a boom box, a briefcase and color-by-numbers paintings ($35 at specialty stores and boxsal.com). Each reusable and recyclable box comes with a compostable trash bag and four sets of compostable cornstarch cups, trays, bowls and utensils. Even with a cardboard handle it can carry more than 20 pounds. Consider pairing a picnic box gift with a luscious bottle of Amity Vineyards’ 2007 Eco-Wine Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. No synthetic sulfites are added during processing, making it one of the few truly organic wines to be produced in the U.S. ($20 at wine shops).
To-Go Ware RePEat bamboo utensils will reduce your fork print. The reusable place setting (bamboo fork, knife, spoon and chopstick), rolled in a handy utensil holder made from plastic bags ($11.95, upscale gourmet stores and groceries, outdoor retailers), would make a perfect stocking stuffer.
Hi-tech totes You’d be hard-pressed to find someone on your list who couldn’t use one of the latest green bags.
Active women will love the Sherpani carryall collections, which feature clean silhouettes and fresh feminine designs, and are made with 67-percent recycled nylon, aluminum hardware and non-toxic dyes.
Depending on her needs, consider the new Tupelo cycling backpack with hydration ($55.95), the uni-sex Rumba child backpack carrier ($229.95), or the Meridian expandable upright wheeled carry-on luggage, which is small enough to use as a carry-on when zippered, but expands to offer more room for long car trips ($199.95, see sherpani.com for a list of retailers nationwide).
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