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What’s more relaxing than a Caribbean vacation? White sandy beaches, crystal clear water, and a cool island breeze work together to elevate your mind and body to a whole other level of leisure. If and when you emerge from your tropical stupor long enough to remember your loved ones who are stuck back at home, you’ll probably want to bring them the perfect Caribbean souvenir.
But where to start? Even though it’s a vacation, you still want to spend your money responsibly. For many people, part of responsible gift-giving means thinking ahead to consider the impact a gift might have on the environment. If you include yourself among them, take a look at these amazing eco-friendly Caribbean souvenirs.
1. Color-Changing Tee
While a T-shirt may seem like a generic gift, Del Sol’s color-changing tee is entirely original. The company uses organic photochromic dyes to create beautiful graphic T-shirts that bloom into color when exposed to sunlight. They’re reasonably priced at $25, which is a steal considering they’re both fashionable and novel. The best part? You can order them right from Del Sol’s website, rather than having to worry about fitting them into your already overstuffed suitcase.
2. Bamboo Coaster Set
Products made from bamboo are all the rage now within the eco-friendly textile market, and for good reason. Bamboo grows quickly and abundantly without the need for harsh chemicals or pesticides, and the final products are biodegradable. A beautiful coaster set created from bamboo, made by the Caribbean Trading Company of Palmer, Puerto Rico, makes an elegant gift to anyone who fancies themselves environmentally conscious.
3. Bamboo Cutting Board
That special chef in your life could use a durable, sustainable cutting board. This board comes adorned with a beautifully detailed seahorse icon and includes a cocktail fork in the shape of a spiral shell. Like the coaster set, a cutting board made from bamboo is gentle on the environment. Once the board has reached the end of its usefulness or simply gets replaced, it can go into a landfill and break down easily, or it can be repurposed into a totally new item.
4. Bamboo Clothing
Keeping with the bamboo theme, clothing made from the plant is a wonderful gift as well. Not only is it eco-friendly, but it’s kind to the wearer as well. Bamboo clothing is softer than the softest cotton, with a silky sheen for a luxurious flair. The material moves freely to complement your shape and is very durable. It’s hypoallergenic and boasts odor-resistant properties that aid in preventing the spread of certain infections and irritations. Our very own Cariloha shirts are high quality but affordable, and they come with all the benefits bamboo clothing has to offer.
5. Bamboo Picture Frames
This gift is ideal for anyone, including yourself. You can bring back these bamboo picture frames and use them to display your favorite vacation moments, or you could still gift them to a loved one. Either way, their rich detail and color will make them a standout among anyone’s picture collection. Like the cutting board and coaster set, this item is great for repurposing if you decide to replace it.
6. Bamboo Beach Towel
The bamboo plant is super absorbent, and that trait carries over when it’s processed into textile material. This makes a bamboo beach towel especially good at its job. It easily absorbs moisture and wicks away water so you can dry off quicker. A bamboo towel makes a great gift for anyone who loves to have fun in the sun by the pool or at the beach.
These are just a few examples of the kinds of souvenirs you can use to wow your loved ones without being harsh on the environment. Your loved ones will be grateful that you thought of them during your vacation to the Caribbean, and even more impressed by your concern for our planet.
Resources:
http://caribbeantrading.com/convention-group-gifts/product-category/eco-friendly/
http://www.rumsandandsea.com/
http://www.delsol.com/stores.html