A Green Holiday

Environmental sustainability focuses on finding ways to reduce consumption by using renewable resources and reusing or repurposing objects. These values can fit in line with holiday celebrations, making it a time of sustaining traditions as well as helping the environment. Here are some fun ideas for “greening” your holiday season.

Decorations

• Use LED lights.
• Reduce the amount of lights or strands used. Use a timer on your lights to save electricity.
• Make table centerpieces and other decorations out of collected natural objects such as acorns, holly or oak trimmings, berries, or other harvested fruits and vegetables.

Gifts

• Wrap gifts with brown paper bags, newspaper, or reused wrapping paper. Create personal wrapping paper with stamps, collages, or drawings on paper bags.
• Avoid wrapping, and tie a large bow around an item instead. Alternatively, make the wrapping part of the gift such as using reusable tins, planting pots, or new dish towels.
• Give presents or gift certificates from local businesses.
• Focus on homemade or non-traditional gifts such as baked goods, plants, fishing licenses, dance classes, travel mugs, local art, or battery chargers.
• If giving appliances or electronics, make sure they are Energy Star certified.
• Make donations in someone’s name to charities or conservation organizations.
• Give "time." Help older relatives with difficult chores, take children to a park, or teach someone a skill or talent you have.

Food

• Check local farmers markets for specialty sauces, jams, cider, and meat.
• Use local produce in holiday recipes.
• Use cloth napkins in your place settings.
• Serve organic beverages at meals and parties.
• Buy in bulk to reduce grocery trips and packaging.
• Compost your food waste.

Trees

• Instead of a traditional tree, use locally grown live trees that can be planted outside after the holiday. Possibilities include trees such as cedars, palms, or even citrus trees.
• Be aware that even though artificial trees can be reused each year, they often contain toxic materials such as PVC and are made overseas.
• Check for local tree recycling programs that will turn used trees into chip mulch.

Miscellaneous

• Send cards made from recycled paper or e-mail if possible.
• Carpool or walk to holiday parties.
• Carpool with friends or family for shopping trips.
• Set out recycling bins for bottles and cans at holiday parties and events.

Having a "green" holiday can benefit much more than just the environment. Creating homemade gifts and decorations or reusing items from previous years also means spending less money than buying new items. Investing time and creativity into the holiday can help make it more fulfilling and meaningful for you and your family and friends.

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