5 Simple Steps to a Green Holiday

By: Rachel Tanis

The end of Halloween means the beginning of a fast-paced holiday season. While their certainly is a lot to think about from November to January, don’t forget to think green and protect the environment in the busiest time of year. Here are five simple first steps to a greener holiday season.

1. Recycle your wrapping paper – For an economical and green solution to your holiday wrapping, opt for recycled wrapping paper. Most paper product companies produce wrapping paper made from recycled goods. You can also wrap in old editions of the newspaper or even scrap paper from your printer. Don’t throw away packing peanuts received in all of those packages ordered online either. Use the peanuts to fill gift bags or boxes instead of tons of tissue paper.

2. Eat leftovers – Eating turkey sandwiches everyday for a week after Thanksgiving looses its appeal after Friday’s lunch. But, arming yourself with leftover recipes can provide you with unique ways to re-prepare turkey and keep it from getting old. Eating leftovers is smart not only after turkey-day but all year through. Too much food is thrown away every day in the United States – food that is hard-earned and hard-grown. For great leftover recipes check out www.allrecipes.com or www.foodnetwork.com, and start planning now to eliminate waste.

3. Save your receipts – Failing to save your receipts can result in gifts that are not returnable. Save your receipts and return the gifts that aren’t exactly what the receiver wanted. Letting a gift sit in the box in someone’s basement, or hang un-used in their closet is wasteful – and that’s not green.

4. Make a list – Too many trips to the store result in wasted gas and an extra-big carbon footprint around the holidays. Make a list of all of the things you’ll need. Take ten minutes before you go to the store to mentally run through everything you need to prepare. Think about wrapping accessories like bows, scissors, tape and gift tags as well as things like stocking stuffers and gifts for everyone on your list like a neighbor, teacher or co-worker.

5. Make your gifts – Give gifts that aren’t pre-packaged in tons of eco-un-friendly plastics. Everyone loves homemade gifts that really speak to who they are and the skills of the giver. Consider food gifts like homemade marshmallows, chocolates, toasted cinnamon-sugar pecans, pies, quick breads or spice packages for warm drinks like cider. Consider other handmade gifts blankets, socks, organic face wash or foot scrub. A break from the ordinary, these gifts will be well received.