Top Green Holidays Tips

1. Trim the Tree
   For some families, chopping a fresh fir from the Christmas tree farm is as much as annual tradition as hanging stockings or baking cookies. And while we know it's more work (and, eventually, more money) than setting up the same plastic one year after year, the benefits are countless; real trees provide oxygen to the air and habitats for animals, plus, in some cases, can be replanted after the holidays. Plastic trees, on the other hand, are often made of PVC—the reasons to avoid PVC are too numerous to list here—and the carbon footprint of their production is massive. Make sure your natural tree was grown without pesticides, and that it's from a local farm so your tree doesn't have to travel as far as Santa does to get to your door. Decorate it with vintage ornaments-either from thrift stores or from your grandparents' basement-or make your own out of fabric scraps, paper, and non-toxic glue.


2. Lighten Up
   When it comes to outdoor decorations, the greenest lights and decorations are the ones you never buy, but, if you can't imagine going without making your corner of the holidays twinkle a little brighter, at least tone it down so Santa can't see your house from space. Lower your electricity bill even more by using energy-efficient outdoor LED lights, which pull almost 90 percent less power and are several hundred times brighter than traditional lights; your wallet, and your neighbors, will thank you. Oh and please: no inflatable two-story vinyl Santas. We're begging you on behalf of the environment and good taste.


3. Share the Love
   While sending holiday cards may be the simplest and least time-consuming way to wish all your friends and family a happy season, the paper, envelopes, and postage can wallop your December budget-and your loved ones' recycling bins. The most eco-friendly way to go is an email card, but if you'd rather go traditional, try making your own (out of recycled paper, of course). Best case scenario: send cards that double as ornaments by getting inventive with a little ribbon. Not the DIY type? Look for cards handmade by artists in your area, or for mass-produced ones made of recycled materials. And as for all the cards you're getting, try these five ways to put them to good use.


4. Check it Twice
   Where to even start with the shopping issue, when so many parts of the holiday mass consumption need an environmental overhaul? Here's an idea: start by buying less stuff. Don't buy gifts just for the sake of buying them; if you really can't show up at dinner without a treat for Uncle Rich, make him a batch of your famous cookies or tie a ribbon around a bottle of wine. (We know a man who once gave his cousin a fresh Stromboli for Christmas and, no lie, it was the most popular gift of the day.) For the family and friends that you actually want to buy for, choose experiential presents like concert tickets, yoga classes, spa services, restaurant vouchers, or weekend getaways. If you're faced with a roster of picky giftees with specific requests, choose green items that fit the bill-check TreeHugger's gift guide for options that will save you (or them) money while being good to the earth. And if none of these will satisfy your hard-to-please crowd, at least look for items that don't come in miles of plastic packaging (or remind them that it's the thought that counts and get them started on a greener path.


5. Wrap It Up
   So maybe you're no longer 7 years old, but you can't deny: there's something about a pile of brightly wrapped gifts that's always exciting (the colors! the mystery!). But creating a festive Christmas morning doesn't have to mean stocking up on rolls of non-recycled wrapping paper that are basically fancy trash. String magazine pages or newspapers together for homemade paper, or use brown paper bags or scrap paper decorated with non-toxic paint and ink for an even more personal touch; we have tons of ideas thanks to our Green Delights of Junk Mail series. Better yet, find a gift that can double as wrapping-a messenger bag for a computer, towels for a collection of kitchen goodies, a washcloth to disguise your mom's favorite bath products-and dress it up with a simple bow (you kept the ones from last year, right?) or ribbon. Spending a little extra on wrapping that won't end up in the trash is better for your wallet and the earth.


6. Give It Away
   Trust us: there are people, animals, and organizations that need your support more than Aunt Liz needs another wooden fish to add to her collection of tchotchkies-especially when the economy dips and charitable contributions get cut from personal budgets. Convince your family to draw names so everyone gets one gift and the rest of the funds go to support the Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife Federation, or another non-profit that gets you excited—we've got a pretty excellent list in Planet Green's NGO partners if you need some ideas. If you absolutely have to put something under the tree, try symbolic animal adoptions-many of which come with toy versions of the real deal. Then politely tell Aunt Liz that it's up to her to purchase any future wooden fish.


7. Bake Organic
   It might not be how Nana always did it, but we're pretty sure her classic sugar cookies would taste just as good (if not better) with organic ingredients as a base. Check natural food stores or online markets for fair trade cocoa, organic flour, baking chocolate, and flavor extracts, or indulge your sweet tooth with organic Christmas cookies like those from Beautiful Sweets. Bonus: homemade cookies work like a charm as gifts for your dogwalker, mailman, boss, babysitter, neighbors.need we go on? Package them in a recycled-paper box and you've just made one less person find a spot for a snowglobe they don't need.


8. Eat Your Fill
   As a food holiday, Christmas often pales in comparison to Thanksgiving, but that doesn't mean the spread isn't important. (Where would A Christmas Carol be without the Cratchits' Christmas goose and pudding?) Look for an organic turkey (or goose, if you prefer)—Local Harvest can help you find one-for the centerpiece of your meal, and fill it out with homemade stuffing, year-round vegetables like mushrooms, carrots, squash, and onions, and winter-friendly fruits like apples, cranberries, and oranges.


9. Raise a Glass
   If you're the type who thinks liquor is always in season-since it's always available at the store, of course!—then it may be time to rethink the greenness of your cocktail selection. You're not wrong about the availability, but you can make your toasts more eco-friendly by looking for organic wine, champagne, and liquor; using organic juice as mixers; and topping it off with seasonal fruits as garnish. Drop some organic dried cranberries into a glass of Serge Faust and the carbonation will have them bouncing off the glass to delight your guests.


10. Make the Trip
    We talk all year about trimming your traveling to cut your carbon consumption, but we know that, if your family is even slightly spread out, that's nearly impossible during the holidays. It's part of what George Monbiot calls "love miles"—of course you're going to make a point of seeing your loved ones, you just have to balance it with your environmental responsibility. Check a carbon calculator to find out, based on how many people you're traveling with and how far you're going, if it's better to fly or drive (you might be surprised by the results) and purchase carbon offsets to counteract your usage whenever you can.

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