Eco-Friendly Holiday Tips: How to Go Green This Holiday Season

Being Eco-friendly around the holidays is not something most people consider. It may be because we just don’t think about it much or we think it will be too expensive during a time of year when things are already tight financially. Whatever the case may be, living green at this time of year can not only be a great step for the environment, but it can also help us stay on budget and even free up some more money because many green living principles are actually cheaper than the traditional way of doing things. If you are looking at ways you can be more Earth friendly now, here are some tips on How to Go Green This Holiday Season.

9 Eco-Friendly Holiday Tips: How to Go Green This Holiday Season

1. Don’t toss out your wrapping paper after the gifts are all unwrapped. Wrapping paper can be saved to be used again, used for crafts, and even made into confetti. You can also use it to pack away your Christmas decorations that are breakable!

2. Choose a natural tree from a farm. Tree farms are often surprisingly the greener option when it comes to putting up a Christmas tree. By cutting down trees in the forest, you are taking away from the natural spender and could potentially cause erosion of the soil. Trees grown specifically for farming are good options. Whatever you do, stay away from artificial or “fake” trees. They may seem like a good idea because you use it year after year, but they are not good for the environment when they are manufactured.

3. Recycle your tree after you are done. Don’t just kick it to the curb. Many communities offer a specific collection time for real trees to be picked up from residences and sent to be recycled. Find out when your community does this and tell your neighbors as well.

4. Use LED lights instead of traditional ones. LED lights can be used much longer and use less energy than their traditional counter-parts. They are an investment at first, as they often are more expensive, but the payoff is great with lower electrical bills and having them last many years.

5. Recycle packaging and be conscious of what you buy. Consider how much packaging is on something when you buy it and how much will go to waste. If something comes in cardboard, recycle it.

5. Consider buying used gifts or making something. You can find lots of great things at thrift stores that can make great Christmas gifts or can be used to make something awesome as well!

7. Shop locally. Locally made goods not only support local business, but they are greener in the sense that their items are not shipped by truck like in the big box stores. Many local crafters even use green materials such as old sweaters from thrift stores to make hats and mittens as well as green textiles like hemp or organic cotton.

8. Wrap your gifts sustainably. Use things like newspaper (that you deck out with stamps or something else), paper grocery bags, or even part of the gift itself, such as a scarf. To decorate your packages, choose hemp twine and use natural things like sprigs of evergreen.

9. Send e-cards or e-gift cards. By doing so, you cut down on paper and plastic waste!

How do you plan to go green this holiday season? Let me know in the comments!