How to Enjoy Environmentally Friendly Christmas Choices

The holiday season is a wonderful time of year. However, it is one of the most wasteful times of year. People buy gifts that may or may not be used ever again, but the gifts are beautifully (and wastefully) wrapped in metallic paper with plastic bows, only to be ripped open and all of the packaging thrown away to forever sit in a trash heap. With a little planning, you can make a difference for the environment this Christmas. Here are a few tips for a greener holiday season.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Purchase gifts wrapped in green packaging. Amazon.com, for example, has unleashed a new set of products packaged in frustrating free, environmentally friendly packaging. No more taking a hack saw to hack through the packaging to get to the product. The packaging is made from recycled material and reduces the frustration when trying to get to the product.

2. 
   Recycle

   Create your own wrapping paper. Instead of purchasing environmentally unfriendly Christmas wrapping paper (which cannot be thrown in the fireplace and burned safely), try purchasing a large roll of brown recycled paper. Get a bunch of crayons, markers and edible candies to decorate each package as you wrap it in the brown paper. It’s not only an environmentally friendly alternative to metallic paper, but it is a great way for children to express their creativity in making the wrapping paper attractive. Grandma and Grandpa will probably save the decorated wrapping paper forever.

3. Illuminate your house with solar Christmas lights. Decorating the outside of the house doesn’t need to be a waste of electricity. More and more companies are selling solar lights so that consumers can enjoy the beauty of outdoor decorations without being hit with the expensive electric bill when the season is over. Currently, the selection for traditional lighting exceeds the availability of solar Christmas lights, but the trend is changing. Why not be the shining example in you neighborhood by using solar Christmas lights.

4. Reuse your shredded paper and junk mail to cushion breakables. Leave the bubble wrap in the store (sorry kids, no more bubble wrap popping). Use your shredded documents and junk mail to fill the packaging gap. You’ll be surprised at how well the old credit card offers can support and protect your breakable items in shipping. It not only gets rid of your junk, it’s safer for the environment than the plastic bubble wrap.

Resources

• How to Avoid Wrap Rage with Amazon’s Frustration Free Packaging
• Solar Powered Christmas Lights

[StacyP]

on 11/10/2008 Ooh, creative ideas for going green this Christmas. Thank you!

[IcyCucky]

on 11/7/2008 Awesome tips, and I with you on this issue!