Environmentally friendly shopping online

The Environmental Store
plovers.net
You'll find a wide selection of books (on water conservation, growing organic foods and other socially conscious topics) and some of the items are, well, a bit kitschy (briefcases made from recycled coke and beer cans, for example), but keep scrolling through these offerings -- you'll be rewarded with a few gems from this Halifax-based website. Need a stylish bag for shopping (those unbleached cotton ones are so ho-hum)? How about something in fuchsia or electric blue? Made from recycled packing tape -- so much prettier than it sounds -- these bags are perfect for the beach or shopping, $25 each. For patio containers, gardens or walkways, pick up a few solar stakes. Each one comes with two decorative toppings -- one for the summer, one for the winter (there's a Lotus flower and Santa combo that's especially cute), $45.

Greenfeet.com Eco-Friendly Products for Everyday Living
greenfeet.com
Shop by category (baby basics, pets and wellness, to name a few) or for gifts by price (there are categories from "under $10" to "over $150"). It's not the prettiest site but it more than makes up for that in practical offerings. For the kids' rooms, there are beanbag chairs with hemp or unbleached cotton, around recycled filler; naturally dyed, hand-woven hemp area rugs (from $15) are a steal. If you're looking to outfit your backyard or deck, outdoor furniture made of eucalyptus, a sustainable, plantation-grown hardwood, is worth considering -- a dusty rose colour, it ages to a subtle grey. At US$210, the two-seater Adirondack chair is steeply-priced, but so romantic!

Read more in Decorating & Design and Green Living