Make it a green Christmas with eco-conscious gifts

The holiday season may be the one time of year when you can force your political agenda on others. Not by commandeering the dinner table with election-year talk or causing a tiff around the tree, but by what you give.

This year, think globally, and give eco-friendly gifts that will influence the habits of your family members and friends. Environmental products have come a long way since grainy paper and hemp clothes. Any gift you might want to bestow -- jewelry, clothes or pampering treats -- is most likely available in a more ecologically or socially advantageous form.

Here's something for everyone on your list, regardless of whether they'll recycle the gift wrap.

BRITT OLSON

Paul Smith organic cotton men's shirts at Ian
Every girl's crazy about a smart-dressed man -- particularly when "smart" refers to eco-conscious. Paul Smith men's button-up shirts ($175-$195) at Ian are the collared favorites dads, brothers and boyfriends have come to expect at Christmas, except they're made entirely from organic cotton. Even the most conservative dresser would don these classic cuts and prints.

BRITT OLSON

Lush beauty products
Introduce your friends and co-workers to the Lush life. Lush beauty products are handmade, animal-friendly and use ingredients acquired with fair-trade practices. Other reasons to sing the praises of these soaps are the scrumptious scents and quirky titles affixed to each treat. Get a Christmas Massage Bar ($6.95) for your uptight cubicle mate, the Bling Crosby Bubble Bar ($5.95) for your chatty gal pal and a Jingle Spells Bath Bomb ($5.75) for your office manager. For the last-minute shopper, Lush also has prepackaged gift boxes made of recycled materials at a variety of prices.

BRITT OLSON

Rescued Paper at the SAM Shop
Stage a colorful rescue mission for pulp. Rescued Paper ($12-$14) from the SAM Shop is a great substitute for kids' construction paper or your co-worker's boring lined notepad. Discarded paper -- everything from office memos and posters to school notes -- was collected and bound by workers in India in these colorful, quirky note pads. Kids will love to scribble on the vibrant pages, and your office mates will grin with pride at their (and your) good deed done: Rescuing paper from the dump is an act of heroism.

NEAL SCHINDLER

Metro bus passes
Your teenage nephew is constantly on the go, but he still hasn't passed his driver's exam, leaving your sister stuck transporting surly 16-year olds. Give her a break and buy him a Metro bus pass, a wonderful gift for anyone and, ultimately, everyone. It supports public transportation, lessens carbon emissions and relieves traffic congestion. Give co-workers, friends or the kids in your life the gift of stepping out -- without leaving too huge a footprint. Your generosity determines the price: Bus passes range from $5 to $1,900. Buy passes online, by phone at 206-624-7277 or visit Metro's Web site to find a retail location near you.

ECO-LOGICS

Reusable grocery bags
They may not be Prada or Kate Spade, but reusable grocery bags have become absolutely chic -- and essential to the environmental crusade. Using cloth bags lessens our dependence on foreign oil, decreases the amount of toxic litter in animal habitats and eases the burden on overwhelmed landfills. Reusable bags can be found at most grocery stores, but the online store Green Kit has cloth bags ($12) and a gift box of four totes ($45) so cleverly stylish that your fashionista friends won't need to consider how purposeful they are.

TERRY HERMAN/DOUG'S FRUIT TREES

Mature growth trees
Washington may be the Evergreen State, but our arboreal options don't end there. Mature growth trees are perfect for the perennial people in your life. Gift Mom and Dad a lovely oak, or your brother and sister-in-law a Leyland cypress. The Forest Service estimates that mature trees absorb roughly 13 pounds of carbon dioxide a year while replacing nearly the same amount of oxygen in the atmosphere. And there's no better way to spruce up a yard. $80 to $3,000 at Big Trees and Fruit Tree Nursery.

CAROLYN BOYLE/NEW ROOTS ORGANICS

New Roots Organics
Give family members nourishment for the new year. Carolyn Boyle of New Roots Organics (206-261-2500) will deliver the season's bounty directly to their door. Boyle strives to use local growers as sources for each week's plentiful organic bin. Bestow a week's worth of luscious fruits and crisp vegetables ($25-$35 per week), or continue your gift through the month or year. Boyle's assortment always contains staple items such as apples, pears, leafy greens and alliums, plus several seasonal surprises.

CHAD BOUTIN/SAMEUNDERNEATH

Wardrobe basics from Sameunderneath
Show your spouse or younger sibling that you're in touch with the times. The hip Portland-based clothing line Sameunderneath features beautiful casual wear done with a conscious approach to sustainability. The company's "street organic" T-shirts and jerseys ($65-$68) use a bamboo-cotton blend, and their cashmere sweaters ($200) are achieved by a combing process that aids the goat's natural shedding. Excess material from production is recycled or reused. Available at Zebraclub and La Rousse.

STUDIO 5 

Denim from Certified Jean Co.
Seattle's Certified Jean Co. uses a natural enzyme to treat their 100 percent organic cotton dungarees ($74-$88). These comfortable jeans come in styles that flatter every body. Choose a boot or classic cut and a mid- or low-rise waist. Every pair is made in the United States, so although they look hot, these jeans have never seen a sweatshop. Your friends and siblings will agree: there are so many reasons to be thankful for good jeans. $74 to $88 online.

EZEE KINETICS TECHNOLOGY CO.

eZee bicycles
Perfect for your significant other who likes to get around -- town, we mean -- an electric bike promotes pedaling while providing motorized relief during the uphill climb. eZee bikes use top-shelf bicycle components, paired with advanced, yet quiet, electric motors to achieve the right amount of get-up-and-go (maxing out at 20 mph). The bikes come in a variety of models, all done in classic, polished aluminum, so your honey can be choosy but carbon-free for his commute. Starting at $1,075 at Electric Bikes Northwest.

BEN BRIDGE

Ikuma conflict-free diamonds
Diamonds were a girl's best friend until she learned how horrific mining practices are. But perhaps it's time to patch things up. Ben Bridge Jeweler's Ikuma diamonds ($995-$6,595) are mined in Canada's Northwest Territories using sustainable practices sanctioned by the region's native communities, and incorporating the highest standards of labor safety. Ben Bridge is also a pioneer in the No Dirty Gold movement, an alliance of jewelers attempting to attach stricter environmental standards to the procurement of gold.

ARI SOLOMON/SCENT OF SCANDAL

Scent of Scandal candles
Your girlfriends can be so shameless. Reinforce their sassy mouths with equally brazen scents. Scent of Scandal makes 100 percent soy candles with all cotton wicks in dozens of fragrances. Bee-Otch smells like honey, Tighty Whities of fresh laundry, and D-Cups wafts of sweet melon. Every candle has a naughty name and burns for 30 to 35 hours, outlasting your longest gabfests. $15 at Reputation.

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