The holiday season is quickly approaching. Most of us still enjoy the tradition of exchanging gifts with our family and friends. For many of us, holiday shopping can be challenging.

Production and transportation of all manufactured goods, including gifts, requires material and energy which results in some level of pollution. One of the best ways to ensure the resources related to your gift don't get wasted is to make sure your gift doesn't end up gathering dust in a closet.

A good approach that works well between family members and close friends where social protocols and rituals can be more easily adjusted is to ask for a wish list. While this reduces the surprise factor, it does guarantee that the person will use the gift that he/she receives.

Another approach that works well in big families is to set a gift price limit and draw names so that each person gives gifts to only one or two people, rather than each person giving a gift to every other member of the group. This reduces the overall amount of resources related to presents and will reduce your holiday stress level as well.

If you are passionate about the environment and want to find some unique gifts, recycling or eco-friendly gift giving is the way to go. Here are a few suggestions for becoming a little greener during the holidays.

1. Shop online. Let your fingers do the walking. Many big retailers have online shopping sites with simple search functions to help find that special holiday present. Their delivery trucks are already making a round trip for others so you are also conserving energy.

2. Send e-cards instead of printed greeting cards. Or make a phone call instead! This saves time, trees, and postage. If you do send holiday cards, look for ones made of recycled paper. Avoid cards with glossy, shiny or gold foil coatings since these cannot be recycled.

3. Recycle/reuse gift wrap. Use gift wrap that can be reused one or more times, such as gift bags. Avoid using paper entirely by using reusable decorative bamboo baskets or card boxes. If you do buy gift wrap, look for recycled paper. Finally, unwrap gifts carefully and save the gift wrap to use next year.

4. Go Organic. A gift basket of food is a typical holiday gift that's even better if at least part of the basket is filled with organic goodies. Organic soaps and natural bath and body products are luxury items many people would really appreciate. Organic cotton clothing and bedding are also becoming popular.

5. Make your own gifts. One of the best gifts that I treasure was a knit sweater hand made by my mother. If you are too busy to make your own gift, buy items made by indigenous peoples. This helps the creators sustain themselves without resorting to environmentally unwise practices such as clear cutting forests. Whether it's art, soaps, carpets, or hand-knit clothing, buying such items lets you avoid purchasing gifts that were produced by companies that use exploitative labour practices.

6. Send honorary gifts. Once we reach a certain age, getting more "stuff" is as much a storage problem as anything else. Donating money to a person's favourite charity or cause in their name is a nice substitute for material gifts and is the perfect gift for someone who has everything.

7. Give eco-friendly gifts. Look for toys and games that educate children on environmental matters. Examples include board games that teach children about endangered animals and resource conservation, and use buttons, paper clips or other household items to reduce manufacturing costs and wastes. Avoid computer and electronics games that waste time and encourage violent behaviour.

8. Give gifts of your time and talents like homemade treats or certificates for babysitting, walking the dog, and gardening. A gift of your time can be tailored specifically to the recipient.

9. Be energy conscious. Cut back on your Christmas lighting. It's tempting to want to share your Christmas spirit with the neighbourhood, but consider the ways in which the energy might be better spent. Buy toys that use solar power instead of batteries to reduce pollutions.

10. Skip the gifts. Instead of buying gifts that no one really needs, why not spend the money on a family vacation instead? The Caribbean, skiing, or how about a cruise? Instead of gifts, enjoy a family meal together and some fun outdoor activities.

A nice holiday get-together with family and friends, full of good cheer, warm conversation and wonderful memories, is as good a gift as many of us really need.