Easy Tips for Celebrating an Eco-Friendly Holiday
When you close your eyes and think of Christmas, you probably imagine an array of red and green decorations, but this year, your household can easily be a whole lot more green…green as in eco-conscious, that is! Here are ten simple ways to celebrate the holidays in all their glory while also minimizing the season’s environmental impact.
- Buy Less
One of the easiest ways to go green this holiday season is simply to buy less stuff. You don’t have to eliminate gifts from your celebrations altogether—obviously!—but think carefully before every purchase.If you’re part of a large family, for example, consider doing a gift exchange instead of buying something for every single cousin (and second cousin and second cousin’s wife). Everyone can draw one name out of a hat, meaning each person only gives and receives one gift.If you’re really into presents but still want to reduce the amount of new products purchased this year, consider some thoughtful regifting. Sure, lots of people are against it, but why does this stigma exist? So long as nobody gets hurt feelings, what could be more in the spirit of Christmas than passing on something you can’t use to somebody who will truly enjoy it? - Get Creative with Your Gift Wrapping
One big source of waste every year is all the material used to wrap your pile of gifts, including bows, ribbons, boxes, and wrapping paper. Luckily, you don’t have to forgo the festive trappings to stay green. Here are a few easy ways to reduce that daunting mound of wrapping paper carnage after you’ve opened gifts:- Buy recyclable wrapping paper. (Check with your local recycling service to confirm they take this.)
- Buy wrapping paper that’s made from recycled materials.
- Save wrapping paper, boxes, and bows to reuse next year.
- Make your own gift-wrapping material from cloth. Old pillowcases are particularly great for wrapping gifts. If a pillowcase seems too plain, make a fun activity of it. Using puffy paint or markets, deck the pillowcases out in trees, reindeer, snowflakes, presents, or any other holiday-themed items. (Don’t forget to involve the kids!)
- Bypass Store-Bought Gifts
It’s easy to get wrapped up in the commercialism of Christmas. (Who doesn’t love presents?) It’s important to remember, though, gift-giving is often about the gesture and the thoughtfulness behind the present—not the number on the price tag. Luckily for Earth lovers, that means it’s easy to still participate in present exchanges while being eco-conscious.Rather than rushing out to the store and buying new, consider gifting gently used secondhand items. If you’re a crafty type, you can also make your gifts this year. Homemade soaps, lotions, and bath bombs are always popular. For sewing enthusiasts, quilts make thoughtful gifts, and artists can create one-of-a-kind prints of beloved pets or family members.Possibilities abound. With just a little imagination and effort, your entire gift list could be checked off without ever stepping foot in the mall! - Read the Labels, and Buy Green
Give the planet a helping hand this year by reading labels. Many small businesses offer locally sourced or organic products, and some even sell gifts made entirely from recycled material. By avoiding gifts that need to be shipped halfway across the globe, you can significantly reduce your personal carbon footprint this year.
- Opt for Battery-Free Gifts
Batteries are particularly hard on the environment. They contain dangerous materials, such as acid, lead, nickel, lithium, mercury, and more, and when not properly disposed of, those harmful chemicals can find their way into soil or water sources. Battery sales skyrocket during the holiday season, so consider opting for games and toys that work without batteries.If you’re set on a certain gift that absolutely requires batteries, go for rechargeables. True, they eventually wear out, but they do curb your environmental impact.
- Use LED Lights
When you’re trimming the tree and lining your eaves in festive lights this year, make sure to use LED lights. These bulbs use approximately 80 percent less energy than their incandescent counterparts; they also last about ten times longer. (As an added bonus, the bulbs stay cool to the touch, so you can worry less about fires, as well as little ones or pets accidentally coming up against hot bulbs.)When you’re in the lights aisle this year, just look for the Energy Star seal. This means you’re getting the highest energy efficiency rating. Mother Earth (and your wallet) will thank you!
- Set Your Timer
You’ve done it. Your lights are all strung. Every tree trunk has been lovingly wrapped in alternating white and red lights, effectively converting your yard into a field of candy canes. All that’s left is to figure out how all those extra bulbs can still be eco-friendly. Easy! Make sure to put your lights on a timer. It ensures your decorations are only aglow for a limited amount of time each day, and never again will you accidentally go to bed with your house still ablaze in festive cheer.You can also limit how long your interior decorations are on by only plugging in the Christmas tree when everyone is around to enjoy it. - Send Christmas Cheer via the Internet
Few things are as synonymous with Christmas as the Christmas card. From families decked out in matching sweaters to annual holiday letters, the slew of Christmas cards you receive every year helps you touch base with your friends and family. Technology, however, has made this process easier, cheaper, and more eco-friendly than ever! Send e-cards over snail mail, and email out those Christmas letters letting everyone know what you were up to this year. You’ll save money on postage, you can send your messages of cheer to as many people as you want, and you’ll reduce fuel burned by not having your cards physically delivered.
- Ding Dong! Your Package Has Arrived
For all those out-of-town friends and family you aren’t going to see face to face this year, ship their gifts directly to their doorsteps. This saves the fuel required to ship the package to you first, to get you to the post office, and to deliver the package from you to the recipient.Most companies today have a “this is a gift” option you can select during checkout, which hides the price on the invoice and allows you to send a personalized note. Added eco-friendly bonus: you don’t have to use any wrapping paper on these gifts!
- Avoid Plastic Decorations
Bundle up, and head to your local you-cut tree farm. Even if you’re not there to purchase a tree, many of these farms will give away the boughs trimmed from the bottoms of sold trees, which you can then use to make your own wreaths. Add even more festive touches with pinecones, stones, holly, or other natural items you find. Grab the kids, and make a day of hunting down the materials and putting the decorations together as a family. At the end of the season, you’ll have avoided a bunch of extra plastic in the landfill!
The holidays are a time of good food, good friends, and the closeness of family, and few things make people think of home more than Christmas. If you’re looking to get into the real estate market, don’t hesitate to reach out. You could be celebrating this Christmas, making memories, and forging new (eco-friendly) traditions in your very own home!
