Top 10 Tips for Staying Green Through the Holidays
When we move into the holiday season, most people enjoy embracing what is perceived as the positive aspects of giving and sharing. However, most people neglect to see the heavy environmental impact this season of mass consumption generates. Here are some easy tips from My Yoga Online to help you stay mindful during your holiday season.
1) Carry your own shopping bags: Dramatically reduce your consumption of unnecessary plastic waste by taking your own recycled bags on all of your shopping trips.
2) Use paper wisely: Opt in for wrapping paper and gift cards made from post consumer product and that contain 100% recyclable material. Avoid paper products with plastic coatings (any thing waxy, shiny, or with sprinkles) as these can not be recycled.
3) Make your lighting more efficient: If upgrading your lighting decor, choose high efficiency lighting and get those lights on timers. Avoid leaving lights on overnight and during periods when no one will be seeing them.
4) Support organic and local merchants: Consider giving organic and locally produced products as gifts to help support these struggling industries and reduce your carbon footprint.
5) Recycle and reuse as much as possible: Look for community programs that offer the recycling of Christmas trees and other tree trimmings. Save holiday cards to make name tags and other holiday craft projects next year. Get creative with reusing old wrapping paper - even giving the kids a project to cut the old wrapping paper into scrap paper for writing notes.
6) Serve locally produced products at parties: Take a little extra time to search out local options for food and drink items. From local wines, cheese, chocolates and more, you can reduce a significant amount of carbon emissions by buying ‘local’.
7) Ban packaging abuse: Avoid buying gifts that are blatantly over-packaged in plastic and other non-recyclable materials. Many producers increase the visual size of items with packaging to give the sense of ‘getting more for your money’.
8 ) Be open to used: Consider jumping on sites like craigslist to find great gift items that are pre-owned. Enjoy potentially great savings, reduced packaging waste, and a little adventure in finding savings.
9) Cash and gift cards: Giving cash is sometimes considered to be lacking in thought and effort, but actually, giving cash and gift cards is the most green and practical way to share. So many people return gifts resulting in a waste of time for everyone. Cash and gift cards produce far less carbon footprints and allows the recipient to use the gift for their preferred needs and interests.
10) Consider sharing through charity: The best gift you and your family can give is supporting a charity. Donate money, items, or your time this season. This karmic energy fosters the true intentions of the season, supports the social well-being of communities, and can be done so in a manner that nurtures the environment.
Love the advice re packaging. Far too much of it on everything. Why do we need to cover everything in plastic?
I like to give people something I no longer need like a book. I just hope they won’t take offense. All the tips are great! Thanks for sharing them.
-Denise