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Started toting a reusable bag back in 1999? Sick of seeing "bring your own bag!" blog posts a decade later? Then here's a green gift guide for you -- a Reuse 2.0 guide with new eco-items you never knew were available in reuse versions. Get them now and waste even less in 2010 --
BYO tea glass: Libretea. Organic tea lovers -- Now you can enjoy loose leaf tea everywhere. If you've had to stick to bagged teas because you sip on the go, get a Libre glass ’n poly tea glass and enjoy a slightly less wasteful caffeinated brew.
This tea glass is made of a BPA-free polycarbonate exterior, with a stainless steel filter that traps tea leaves. Basically, you just need to pour water in the exterior, put tea in the filter, then screw the two together and turn upside down to steep. Twist the lid and filter back off and voila -- brewed tea on the go!
I'm not a big tea drinker myself, but my friend Esther of e*star LA recommended Libre to me. Each glass holds about 9 oz of tea. Get it for $24 at Libretea.com. For those who shun all plastic, an all-glass version's also available -- but may be too fragile for to-go use.
BYO hand towel: PeopleTowels. Thought you were green for using the hand dryer instead of a paper towel? Uber-environmentalists in the know are a step ahead of you with PeopleTowels, a reusable alternative to dry your hands in public bathrooms.
I'll admit -- Getting in the habit of using these organic, fair trade cotton towels hasn't been easy for me. They're thin and lightweight, but a bit of a chore getting in and out of my purse. Still, I'm working on working this reuse habit into my life. So consider this gift just for already-eco-enthusiasts who are up for a new green challenge in 2010.
Each towel costs $8 -- but you can get a free towel with the purchase 2 or more towels until Dec. 31. Get them in PeopleTowels' online store.
BYO soup: Citizenpip. Packing a waste-free lunch in reusable containers will save you money and reduce trash -- and probably be better for your health too. That said, if you want a hot soup for lunch during the winter months, Zojirushi jars were about your only option -- until now. A new company called Citizenpip's come out with lunch kits -- complete with an insulated food jar!
Citizenpip offers a full line of waste-free lunch kit products -- from food containers to a water bottle to utensils to a set of napkins (unfortunately not organic) -- all free of lead, phthalates, and BPA. The one main downside for local labor advocates is that this kit's made in Taiwan and China.
You can opt for the whole Soup to Nuts kit for $55 -- or just buy the insulated food jar for $12 -- on the Citizenpip website. If you order before the new year, use the code GREENLAGIRLgives to get a free fork and spoon set with every order over $50.
Curious what bloggers are saying about these products?
>> Esther of e*star LA on Libretea: "I’ve already explained the glass to those at my local Coffee Bean and they pack the tea leaves inside my Libre cap without having to use a tea bag or cup of their own. Studly."
>> Tanya of Mommy Goggles on PeopleTowels: "I will be honest and say that I thought the price is a little on the high side, but when you consider that you are saving so much by not buying paper towels, the good outweighs the price."
>> Hyla Waldron of Green Earth Journey on Citizenpip: "They are light weight so children can use them but you wont feel ridiculous as an adult using them either! ... All in all I love the kit from Citizenpip, though I could live without the plastic."
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.
Images via Libretea, PeopleTowels, and Citizenpip
