• Give an eco-friendly wedding gift to help the environment.Recycle Logo The Bigger Picture image by Sophia Winters from Fotolia.com
  
  Most couples receive dozens, if not hundreds, of gifts on their wedding day. These gifts usually range anywhere from money to kitchen gadgets to home decor. However, few gift-givers consider the environment when giving a wedding gift.
  
  Guests wrap wedding gifts in paper and packaged in cardboard and plastic foam. After the gifts are unwrapped, all of the packaging ends up in the trash. If you're eco-conscious and invited to a wedding, consider giving an eco-friendly gift that the couple will enjoy while helping the environment in a small way.
  
  

Seedling Trees

• Giving the newlyweds a seedling tree as a gift is a great way to help the environment. The trees also help symbolize their new life together---as the trees grow, so does their love.
  
  You can purchase seedling trees inexpensively from your local greenhouse or online through various organizations like the National Arbor Day Foundation. Be sure to consult with an arborist or tree expert before purchasing to make sure you're buying the right kind of tree for the climate where the couple lives. You don't want to get a couple who lives in Minnesota an Arizona Cypress, it won't grow there, and your gift will go to waste.
  
  

Organic Cotton Bed Sets

• Traditionally, guests give newlyweds practical gifts like bed sheets. If you want to keep with practicality but also want to give an eco-friendly gift, then consider giving organic cotton bedding.
  
  Organic cotton is grown and harvested without harsh chemicals or pesticides. The lack of harsh chemicals means that organic cotton bed sets are great gifts for couples that suffer from allergies or have sensitive skin.
  
  When considering organic cotton bed sets for a wedding gift, be sure that a third-party organization certifies the manufacturer as organic. This certification ensures that you are purchasing true organic cotton.
  
  

Electric Scooter

• If you have the budget, consider giving the ultimate in eco-friendly wedding gifts: green transportation. Electric scooters make excellent gifts for couples that enjoy the outdoors and want to avoid using their cars as much as possible.
  
  Electric scooters work like gas-powered scooters, except the obvious difference: a home's electric supply chargers them rather than with gas. For the environment, this means that the scooter consumes no oil, meaning fewer toxins enter the air. For the couple, this means they're saving money on gas while helping the environment.
  
  Electric scooters range in price anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000 in 2010, depending on the size and added features built in to the scooter. If purchasing, make sure you buy from a company that offers some sort of warranty in case there are problems with the scooter in the future.