The following are some of the key words we look for when buying gifts:
Photo by Sarah Parrot/Courtesy flickr
1. Natural or nontoxic: grown or collected from natural sources
2. Low embodied energy: doesn’t require large amounts of energy to manufacture, gather or transport
3. Sustainably harvested: didn’t compromise health of source
4. Recyclable/biodegradable: can be made into new products or fed back into the earth
5. Recycled content: contains a high percentage of materials that used to be something else
6. Local: traveled less than 500 miles to reach you
7. Durable: built to last and doesn’t require ongoing maintenance
8. Vegan: not derived from an animal or animal byproduct
9. Organic: grown without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, hormones
10. Cruelty-Free: doesn’t contain any part of an animal; wasn’t made with child labor or in a sweat shop
11. Fair Trade: company policies and standards include a fair living wage for all factory employees and a safe work environment