Americans like to shop green. In the 90s, this meant buying Ben & Jerry’s. (Okay it may have meant more, but such as the perspective of a girl who spent graduate school in Vermont.) Now with cars to cleaners to organic meatballs, Madison Avenue is pushing the environment on everyone. And hey, we’re not complaining.

Okay, but maybe we do have a small point to make. A recent poll shows that many Americans don’t really understand what it means to buy green. According to a recent survey, 39% of Americans buy product that they think are “environmentally friendly.” But 48% believe that these products have a positive impact on the environment, while only 22% get that these words actually mean that the impact is “less negative.”

And between Thanksgiving and New Years Day, the United States alone produces up to 5 million extra tons of trash.

So what to do when you have the holidays coming up, along with three baby and two bridal showers, birthdays for friends in two different states, and a thank you gift for the person who once walked your dog? Gifting is expensive, and money aside, people are often at a loss on how to give with a green conscience.

But we can help you through it. Naturally, stop here at Greenopia first. We have the most comprehensive guide on the web for green products, eco-friendly stores, plus reviews, ratings and more.

Also, you can find great green product on the web. Nimli offers up fantastic clothes. Beautorium is a good source for organic beauty product. You can find great green gadgets at Cool Planet Store. Great Green Goods is a guide from every eco thing to art and household devices.

Don’t forget to look at labels. The EPA actually has an identifying system. If something is labeled DfE, it’s “designed for the environment.” If something has the Energy Star label, it’s good on energy. If a product is labeled USDA Organics, it has met the organic standards of the FDA.

Check out thrift stores. You can find fantastic second hand goods just around the corner. Not to mention, auction houses can be a good place to get cheaper fine products. You’ll find a lot of well-constructed, high-quality merchandise – and it’s always easy to add your own personal touch to any old-school item.

You can avoid materialism altogether by offering yourself up as a product. Good with babies? Gift your baby experience to new parents instead of that diaper set. Get those adorable newlyweds a gift certificate to your favorite organic restaurant; bring your kid’s teacher a certificate to their favorite teacher supply store; treat your neighbor to a week’s worth of lawn service. Let’s face it – in this economy, the best gifts are helping people save money. And if you can slip a green agenda in there, all the better.

You can also give the gift of nature. You can support conservation around the world by supporting various green organizations. The Nature Conservancy offers great programs like Adopt an Acre and Rescue the Reef, where you can give donations in people’s names.  Check out the World Wildlife Fund and Heifer International.