Go Green for the Holidays
Want to make your festive season more sustainable? Consider the following green options when decorating, dining or gift-giving.
Decorating:
- Use LED lights for decorating indoors and out – and don’t forget to turn off your lights, bells and whistles at bedtime!
- Get crafty – string some popcorn or cranberries rather than using store bought, non-recyclable decorations; they look great and taste better!
- Snag some twigs and fallen pine cones from your local park (where legal!). Or trim a bough from your backyard conifers for your mantle.
- Hit a thrift shop and look for some oldie but goody decorations like grandpa used to display.
- Select a live tree - roots, soil and all - and plant or donate after the holidays.
- Recycle your tree; many municipalities will pick up your tree to make useful mulch for spring planting!
- Limit use of ‘snail mail’ greeting cards. Check out free e-cards on sites like Hallmark, bluemountain or jibjab
- When sending paper cards look for ones made from recycled materials; or make your own!
Celebrating:
- Throwing a party? How about going local? Visit your farmer’s market to find local cheeses, fruit (like apples), vegetables (squash, mushrooms, potatoes) meats and fish, juices and baked goods. Hit your local vintner to see what local wines, beers or spirits are on tap.
- Go vegetarian - if you can wrestle the turkey leg from grandma!
- Encourage your guests to reuse their glasses by tying a different ribbon or charm to each glass so you know whose is whose. If you must go with disposable, look for some made of renewable materials like bamboo or compostable sugarcane, or recyclable paper.
- Not enough cloth napkins for everyone? Use 100 per cent recycled kind by companies like Cascades, or hit a thrift or fabric shop and get yourself a swath of fabric (e.g. a vintage tablecloth) to cut up into napkin-size pieces.
- Save trees; invite your guests using an evite.
- Organize a carpool to/from seasonal parties and get-togethers; or identify a designated navigator, and hop on your local transit system
Giving:
- Make your own gifts
- Recycle your wrapping paper
- Choose gift bags or boxes that can be reused
- If possible, consolidate items in one package