Eco-friendly gifts that require no batteries from The Handpicked Collection
(09/10/2009)

Over 5 billion batteries are used and thrown away every year at great ecological cost so let’s put an end to this battery slavery and embrace the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle rule by purchasing eco-friendly gifts that require no batteries from The Handpicked Collection.

How many times have you opened a great gift, been desperate to get playing with it but discovered it requires eight AAA batteries – which of course are not included and you can’t find in your junk drawer? This can cause meltdowns among kids and great disappointment in adults.

Bring some solar magic into your home with The Rainbow Maker (£24.95). This amazing solar powered gadget will project a wonderful rainbow into your home. Totally mesmerizing for kids and soothing for adults. Simply hang by the window and watch the rainbow forming from the rotating Swarovski crystals. A wonderful mood enhancer for the long winter months.

It sounds like magic but you really can capture sunlight in a jar. The Sun Jar (£19.95) will absorb and store the sun’s rays and then magically detect dusk to produce a soothing sunshine light for up to six hours in the evenings – perfect for a garden light or a child’s night light.

Men love gadgets as well as singing in the shower so how about this Roberts Solar Digital Radio (£79.95) – this won’t run out of batteries in the middle of a particularly good rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody. This genius solar-powered radio combines the renowned quality of Roberts with the most up-to-date technology. Keep it on any windowsill so the sunlight can top up the battery power – also includes an MP3 socket so perfect for camping trips as well.

For teens and ‘tween’s The Science Museum’s Cosmic Jet Racer (£10.95) and Cosmic Rocket (£9.95) are ideal and require no batteries. The Jet Racer is powered by sheer huff and puff, while the Rocket can shoot up nine feet using merely vinegar and baking soda.

For younger children, the Animal torches (£5.95) are a brilliant way to show them how simple it is to create power without batteries. Just pump the wings/arms and magically the torch will light up. A minute’s charging will produce hours of light for midnight feasts or under-the-duvet late night reading.