By Andrea McVeigh.

We may be dreaming of a white Christmas, but online, the festive season has had a green makeover.

If you're planning on buying eco-gifts this Christmas, it's best to shop local - that way, you're supporting local businesses or charities and helping to sustain the local economy too.

But if you are stuck for ideas for the prefect pressie, go online.

Just as internet shopping has taken off over the past few years, now it's the turn of internet eco-shopping to get ethical consumers switched on.

Luxury ethical on-line gift store Boutiko (www.boutiko.co.uk ) offers a great range of individually and sustainably-sourced gifts, including clocks made from recycled coffee cups (priced from £24.95 to £26.95 they're not as bonkers as they sound and actually very chic - they're handcrafted in the UK from vending machine coffee cups direct from the national Save-A-Cup scheme and have a lovely solid, earthy feel, like slate).

There's also handmade jewellery, recycled leather notebooks, soy candles and handcrafted Christmas decorations (or you could always go the primary school route and make you own paper chains!).

The site also features a key for different products, so you can tell at a glance whether an item is organic, recycled, Fair Trade, handmade or locally made.

London-based Boutiko has no problem delivering to Northern Ireland (unlike some online firms who insist on charging us more even when they deliver by Royal Mail - grrr!) and offers next day delivery where possible. Gift wrapping is free and gifts can be sent straight to the recipient.

The handmade, soy wax candles in particular are super-cute - made by a family run business in Cornwall, they come in biodegradable, recycled packaging.

"We think it's important that no one suffers in producing the products you love to buy," says the boutique's founder, Tara.

"We don't want to preach, it's just something about which we feel strongly.

"So we make sure that everything you see here comes from a good place; it might be made from recycled materials or organic ingredients, it might be Fair Trade or handmade locally.

"So you shop with a clear conscience, the producers benefit directly, and everyone is happy. Lovely."

And because they use as much recycled packaging as they can, you may find that your purchase arrives in a previously-used box or envelope - again, advancing the green cause.

Another fab eco-minded website is Love Eco, which recently launched its first virtual catalogue showcasing a range of inspirational, ethical and eco-friendly Christmas gifts.

Love Eco prides itself on hand-selecting stylish alternatives and you can shop according to category - clicking on various collections, including Fair Trade, organic and recycled ranges.

We particularly love the tweed indoor booties, the fairly traded cotton loungewear, the luxury organic skincare from Figs Rouge and belts made from recycled bicycle tyres.

There's also fairly-traded jewellery crafted from vegetable ivory and funky fridge magnets made from recycled bottle caps.

The homewear is particularly cool - check out the duvet covers made from organic and fairly traded cotton and dyed using natural dyes extracted from plants and minerals.

Shop with a conscience? That's an idea we really love!