1. Sustainable
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Green Gift Guide for Business
The Holidays are the one time of year companies of all sizes consistently reach out to
their prospects, clients and partners. Have you ever stopped to think about the message
your choice of card or gift sends?
The holiday season has a built in opportunity to create good will with holiday wishes,
cards, and gifts why not let your contacts know what you stand for; customers and
consumers want to know about a company’s environmental policies. Consider going
Green for the holidays and beyond. Outlined here are some tips and top picks for great,
green holiday gift giving.
What does it really mean to be Green?
Green is often used as a catchall phrase for things that are environmentally friendly and
may be sustainable as well. Sustainability encompasses three pillars, one of which is
environmental [planet/ green ]
Sustainable
Green
People Reduce
Planet Reuse
Recycle
Profits
“Green businesses operate in ways that solve, rather than cause, both environmental and social
problems” according to Co-op America, publisher of the National Green Pages. “These
businesses adopt principles, policies, and practices that improve the quality of life for their
customers, their employees, communities, and the environment.”
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http://www.seasonsgreenings.net

2. Factors to consider – before you purchase a card or gift:
How the product is made: Is the manufacturing process harmful to the environment or
the community in which it is made?
What is it made out of: Is the material sustainable and will it break down and recycle
easily? Is it already made of recycled materials?
Where is it made: Locally, or does the product travel miles across the globe to reach
us, creating a larger carbon footprint?
How are the workers treated: Are they paid a living wage? Do they work in decent
conditions?
Consider products from renewable resources: A natural resource qualifies as a
renewable resource if it is replenished by natural processes at a rate comparable or
faster than its rate of consumption by humans or other users. Bamboo, Cork and
Hemp are renewable materials. As natural products, they are easily recycled.
Cork is harvested without harming the tree [it is actually the bark of a cork oak]
Hemp grows rapidly [can be harvested 3 times a year]; it requires little to no
………..pesticides and replenishes soil with nutrients and nitrogen
Bamboo grows up to 4 feet a day; the root is not removed in harvesting allowing
………..the plant to continue to grow
Green is now Gorgeous.
Until recently, the mere mention of green or earth friendly products was enough to conjure up
images of itchy, unattractive clothing and products. Not so anymore. Green products have
evolved to be of great quality and beauty. It’s no longer necessary to compromise good quality
and aesthetics to adhere to your personal values.
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http://www.seasonsgreenings.net

3. How can I tell how green a product is?
When looking for green products, we want to know more about the company, product,
manufacturing product and process. One of these ways to get these questions answered is to
find out if the company has a Green policy or any sustainable certifications.
Certifications and standards are still evolving and are a rather complex matter, and often can’t
be compared to each other, as they don’t use all the same point of measure.
This information should be readily available on the company website and on the product display
or packaging; however this is not always the case.
A few Certifications to look for:
Fair Trade - is a model of international trade which promotes the payment of a fair price as well
as social and environmental standards in areas related to the production of a wide variety of
goods, particularly exports from developing countries on products such as handicrafts, coffee,
cocoa, tea, bananas, honey, cotton, wine, fresh fruit etc.
Rainforest Alliance is a non profit organization whose mission is to protect
ecosystems and the people and wildlife that depend on them by transforming land-use
practices, business practices and consumer behavior. Their three programs promote
sustainable forestry, agriculture and tourism. Farmers, cooperatives, companies and
landowners who are certified by the Rainforest Alliance are required to meet comprehensive
social and environmental standards.
Green Seal is an independent non-profit organizations dedicated to safeguarding the
environment and transforming the marketplace by promoting the manufacture,
purchase, and use of environmentally responsible products and services.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a non-profit whose mission is "to promote
environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management
of the world's forests". It carries out this role by certifying sustain ably managed
forestry operations and printers, and tracking their timber and paper through the supply
chain to the end products which can then carry the FSC ecolabel.
Green washing is a term used to describe the perception of consumers that they are being
misled by a company regarding the environmental practices of the company or the
environmental benefits of a product or service.
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http://www.seasonsgreenings.net

4. Green
These are a few of our favorite ^ things
Green or eco- friendly products have been around for years. In addition to better quality and
beauty, they are becoming easier to find from major retailers who are responding to your
[consumer] demands.
Of course, some of the best gifts are not those that come in boxes. Please consider other
options such as giving the gift of service [donating your time], or making a donation in the
recipient’s name. These make little or no carbon footprint and usually benefit multiple recipients
simultaneously!
We asked an early adopter, the wonderful online gift retailer Uncommon Goods who has had
an entire category dedicated to recycled goods since the business launched in 2000, about this.
“Why do we feature recycled products? I think it is the right thing to do and it is good business.
Recycling can have a positive impact on the trash and energy issues we are facing and
customers are increasingly aware of that, which helps spur sales of these products. We are
working with our suppliers to increase the amount of sustainable products that we offer - we
have a long way to go, but are taking small, positive steps.”
David Bolotsky, CEO
Gift Recommendations:
Chocolate
Verē Goods (pronounced "very") - pure, healthful, hand crafted chocolate
Ummmm!! Manufactured in the heart of NYC, they offer a factory tour on Fridays!
Rainforest, Fair Trade Certified, http://www.veregoods.com/
For the VIP
Uncommon Goods features unique gifts for everyone fashioned from recycled materials
[including authentic baseball stadium seats from Yankee Stadium to Fenway Park]
http://www.uncommongoods.com/fam/fam.jsp?pageId=148
Your Company and Sustainability
Has your company adopted policies or commitments to the environment, social responsibility,
your local community? If so let your customers know- consumers are increasingly interested in
knowing about the companies they do business with; they are also making buying decisions
based on good corporate policies.
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http://www.seasonsgreenings.net

5. Stocking Stuffers
Nerdy Books latest jewel is Just the tips, man for Protecting the Environment.
This is the save-the-planet book for everyone - from your youngest client to the most
senior manager, in Tip a Day format. http://www.nerdybooks.com/books/envhome.shtml
iTunes gift cards - music movies, audiobooks, podcasts, tv shows, ringtones. Have
it sent via email for near-immediate delivery, or print on your own printer and deliver
it to the lucky recipient in person. http://www.apple.com/itunes/store/gifts.html
For extra greenness, download the digital version
Holiday cards – for your business
Season’s Greenings [from Plain Jane], a unique, beautiful eco friendly cards printed on
recycled stock with vegetable ink. [ok, we are totally biased, these are our own creation – but
we think you will agree, they aren’t like any other cards on the market!]
http://seasonsgreenings.net
The Gift of Giving – making a difference
Volunteering your time is a wonderful gift- some of the best gifts we give don’t come wrapped
in pretty paper. This will bring at least 3 smiles – to the recipient, to you and to your contacts
who you share these projects with.
Eco Friendly Donations
World Wild Life Fund helps save endangered species, offering symbolic animal adoption with
donations. Imagine donating in honor of a client and then sending them pictures of their animal!
We think the good feelings will last a lot longer than that box of chocolate you sent last year!
https://secure.worldwildlife.org/ogc/
Nature Conservancy Plant A Billion Trees program is working to restore 93% [ 330 million
acres]of the Atlantic Forest of Brazil among the biologically richest and diverse forests in the
world inhabited by many species that can be found nowhere else on Earth. They offer a
selection of ecards to send the recipient. http://www.plantabillion.org/
Volunteer Match - a leader in the nonprofit world dedicated to helping everyone find a great
place to volunteer. http://www.volunteermatch.org
It's easy to make a buck. It's a lot tougher to make a difference. Tom Brokaw
You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give. Winston Churchill
No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor is given by what he gave. Calvin Coolidge
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http://www.seasonsgreenings.net

6. The Green Gift Guide for Business was written by Jane Tabachnick creator of
Stand For Green™, Marketing Tools for Better Business* www.standforgreen.com
SeasonsGreenings – Eco Chic Holiday Cards www.seasonsgreenings.net
Jane is also an Marketing Mentor for Green and Creative Businesses, as well as the founder
of the top Green Marketing group on Linked in. She remains a concerned citizen
www.janetabachnick.com
“Some of the best moments in my life have been spent giving the unwrapped gift of giving back;
those smiles are priceless!”
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http://www.seasonsgreenings.net