Everybody is talking about being “green” these days and with the holidays approaching, it’s time to think about how to green up your festivities…and we don’t just mean with a tree. Gift wrapping, decorations and entertaining can add up to a lot of excess. According to TreeHugger.com, the average American’s trash output goes up 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. How do you still enjoy the holidays while making sure to leave a minimal footprint? Here are a few tips to get you started.
Décor – make your own holiday decorations for your tree and your home. Cranberries and popcorn make great holiday garner and the leftover branches from the bottom of your Christmas tree work wonders elsewhere in your house.
Cards – instead of sending out holiday cards, consider an email card. If you like the idea of sending a card, be sure to use cards made from recycled paper. And if you are really crafty and save all your old holiday cards, make your own “new” cards from last year’s holiday cards.
Tree – Every year, more than 35 million live Christmas trees are sold in the United States. Buy a live tree (native to your area) that you can plant in your backyard after the holidays.
Recycling – make sure you set aside a separate trash can for recycling at your holiday gatherings. Using your own dishes and silverware is the greenest route but if you don’t want the hassle, select bamboo utensils and earth-friendly plates, cups and bowls. You can usually find a good selection at Whole Foods or online at www.greenfeet.com.
Wine – many wineries and vineyard growers are starting to tout their sustainable, organic and biodynamic farming practices. Our favorites include Patianna Organic Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc from Mendocino, Frog’s Leap Zinfandel from Napa Valley and Clif Family Winery The Climber white wine blend. All made from organic, sustainable or biodynamically farmed fruit, these wines are sure to please your conscious and your palate!
Food - Make a pledge to buy local produce from the grocery store or your farmer’s market. Buying local saves on fuel costs, supports your local community and just tastes better! For a list of Farmer’s Markets and local farmers in your area visit www.localharvest.org.
Giving – your local food bank is in need of food this year. Help others put a warm holiday meal on their table by donating canned and dry goods. Visit www.feedingamerica.org to find a food bank near you.
Wrapping – gift wrap is probably one of the most wasteful parts of the holiday season. You can still get a festive look and feel without buying a bunch of new wrapping paper. Start by wrapping your gifts in newspaper or brown bags. Then use images from magazines and other things around the house to decorate. You can also give your gifts in reusable items like baskets, tote bags or a pretty decorative cloth that can be used as a kitchen towel later.
Travel – help to offset the greenhouse gas emissions from your holiday travel by purchasing carbon offsets from a company like NativeEnergy. Use NativeEnergy’s handy travel calculator to figure out what you need to offset to be carbon neutral.
Written by Linzi
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