Step away from the ties, stinky cologne and golf-themed tchotchkes, kids. Your dad is sick of getting that crap for Father’s Day, and you’re sick of buying it. Eco-friendly gifts are, of course, the way to go – but don’t fall into the same old trap. Here are some fun green Father’s Day gift ideas that any hip dad, treehugger or not, would by totally psyched to receive.
Organic Home Brewing Kit by Breworganic
Any dad who loves beer will love to brew beer at home – and all the better when they can do it organically with an eco-friendly beginner’s kit from Breworganic. This glass kit contains all the equipment needed to get started with home brewing, from a five-gallon carboy to sanitizers and a how-to book. Choose from a wide variety of beers including pale ale, ESB, Scottish ale, stout and dark lager.
Voltaic Solar Charger Messenger Bag
Palm-sized personal solar gadget chargers are cool, but bags with bigger solar panels that can supply more energy are even cooler. The Voltaic Messenger Bag is perfect for carrying a laptop around town, soaking up the sun’s rays to power a variety of gadgets including cell phones, PDAs, iPods and cameras. The included battery pack stores power until you need it, providing 4 watts of power after 4-6 hours of exposure to direct sunlight.
Strida Go Anywhere Folding Bicycle
What could be better for getting around town in style than the angular, brightly colored Strida 5.0 bicycle? The Treehugger ‘Best of Green’ winner is super lightweight and folds up quickly and easily so you can easily load it in your car, take it on the train or stow it in a closet. It rolls while folded and has the smallest footprint of any full-sized folding bicycle.
Livity Recycled, Organic Hemp, Raffia & Cotton Hats
Modern, fun and green, these hip hats from Livity are made from eco-friendly materials like organic hemp, organic cotton, raffia and recycled plastic. Livity’s fedoras come in a wide range of styles and colors, and they also have a newsboy-style cap.
Blow-Out Recycled Inner Tube Wallet
Bicycle inner tubes are durable and waterproof, so it’s no surprise that they make such a great recycled material for wallets. The Blow-Out wallet is vegan and made to last with six pockets for cards and IDs along with two full-length bill pockets. The interior is made from 100% recycled PET plastic.
Benromach Organic Malt Whiskey
So maybe it’s a bit of a cliché that all dads love whiskey, but we’ve yet to meet a guy that doesn’t. And if you’re gonna drink whiskey, you might as well drink the first malt whiskey to be certified by the Soil Association. Benromach Organic Malt Whiskey is hand made by just two men using traditional processes and working methods, with pure spring water from the Romach Hills of Scotland.
Heather Black Organic Bike Hoodie by 20twenty
While your dad may not ever specifically ask for something “softer than the mane of a unicorn”, which is how clothier 20twenty describes this organic cotton hoodie, he’ll enjoy it nonetheless. And secretly stroke it when he thinks nobody’s looking. It’s printed with a bike, because hey, who doesn’t love bikes?
Why power a watch with a battery when you could just use the sun? Unless your dad’s a vampire, he’ll easily rack up plenty of solar power to keep the Casio G-Shock Solar Watch going. It’s shock-resistant and water-resistant with a 30-page databank, world time, stopwatch, countdown timer, four daily alarms and an auto calendar.
Tuba Organic Cotton Sneaks by Simple Shoes
Everybody needs a good, durable pair of sneakers. The Tuba style by Simple Shoes is made of organic cotton with a heel and toe cap made from recycled inner tubes and recycled PET laces. The sole and bed are made from recycled car tires, and water-based glues are used to hold the whole thing together. Simple Shoes are totally vegan. Get the Tuba in gray-blue, brown or green.
Handmade Organic Bay Rum Shaving Kit
Yes, we know that shaving kits are normally on the list of stereotypical ‘dad gifts’. But most dads, Yetis and mountain men excluded, do shave and they might as well have some awesome-smelling, organic shaving soap and aftershave to do it with. This gift set by Flying Bird Botanicals contains herbally infused rum and witch hazel for a spicy-sweet scent and smooth, soft skin.
