1. Blue Bordered Napkins
Cost: $6 each
Why you need them: Admit it -- you'll need some nice linens when you're hosting dinner for your new in-laws. Why not register for these, that are handmade in India from sustainable fabrics. Best part? They’re only $6!
What's great about the company: Ten Thousand Villages is a company that specializes in handmade gifts that come from a range of countries, including Asia, Africa and the Middle East. They're fair trade and the sales from every product help pay for food, education and healthcare in third world countries. Because the items are handmade and come from sustainable communities, you can be sure they're eco-friendly and that the profits go to a good cause.
2. Italian Carafe and Wine Glasses
Cost: Carafe with 2 glasses, $272
Why you need them: During those romantic evenings you’ll enjoy as newlyweds, why not break out some nice glassware to enjoy just between the two of you? After all, your registry doesn’t have to be all about entertaining friends and family.
What’s great about them: Hailing from Portland, Oregon, these pieces are made from recycled glass rock and processed in an electric furnace powered by wind energy. If that doesn’t already have you hooked, the pieces are individually handmade to order, so no two will look exactly alike. How unique.
3. Organic Cotton Premium Sateen Bedding
Cost: $179-$249 for a sheet set.
Why you need it: Hello!? Why don’t you need this amazingly plush and comfortable bedding? It’s 350 thread count, silky to the touch and even has a subtle sheen. You’ll hit the snooze button, trust us.
What’s great about it: Unlike traditional farmed cotton, organic cotton is grown without using insecticides, herbicides, fungicide or anything else “-cide.” It’s also finished without chemical softeners or chlorine, so no need to worry if you’ve got sensitive skin. Gaiam, the company that makes the sheets, was founded in Colorado in 1988 and specializes in health living and environmentally friendly lifestyle products.
4. Bamboo Veneer Dinner Plates
Cost: 8 for $10.50
Why you need them: If you enjoy entertaining and don’t enjoy the clean up, these disposable plates are just the thing -- and way more eco-friendly than their paper counterparts.
What’s great about them: It’s the eco-friendly version of the paper plate. Designed for indoor and outdoor use, these light and durable bamboo plates contain no bleaches or dyes and are made from 100% organically grown bamboo. If you decide to wash tehm by hand, you can also use them more than once. And when you do toss them, they biodegrade in 6 to 9 months.
5. Salvaged Wood Nesting Tables
Cost: $258
Why you need them: If you’re starting fresh, you’ll probably want to register for a few furniture pieces together along with some accent pieces for your living room. Or, you could just eat your Chinese take-out off of cardboard boxes.
What’s great about them: These pieces have instant charm thanks to their unique look. They’re made from salvaged wood from old houses, so don’t be too surprised to see carvings from decades past etched into their surfaces. And just like their small eco-footprint, they nest, so when not in use, they’ve got a small space footprint in your house.
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Apr 19, 2010
See More: Registry