Gift guide: 11 eco gifts

Lindsay Coulter, David Suzuki's Queen of Green, reminds us that it's easy to go overboard throughout the holiday season. "A lot of waste is generated in homes across the country over the holiday season as gift wrap is torn open, boxes and packaging are set aside and we replace the old with the new," she says.

But don't worry, there's no need to give up gift giving. This year, try to look for gifts that have a positive effect on the environment. Vintage, fair trade and organic gifts and items made from reclaimed materials are all hot choices.

You can also lessen your load on the environment by changing the way you wrap your gifts. "Apply the three 'Rs' here - reduce, reuse and recycle," says Lindsay. "Pass on the gift wrap altogether and look for reusable gift bags, or repurpose material you already have in the home." Things like scrap fabric, gently used tissue paper, boxes and brown paper bags all look great when tied up with a fabulous piece of ribbon.

Stuck on what sort of environmentally friendly gift to look for? Here are 11 eco-friendly gift options that will suit anyone on your list.

1 Reindeer cocktail napkins, set of 9
Any avid entertainer will love the opportunity to add a festive touch to their holiday party with a set of these 100 percent cotton reindeer cocktail napkins. Eschewing paper serviettes in favour of cloth will lighten the load on the environment. $34, Pottery Barn.