Jim Jurica/istockphoto
READ MORE ABOUT:
Ah, the holidays! Traditions are the very stuff that holidays are made of. Whether you love to spend a day decorating the tree, or you always go skating on Christmas Eve, traditions aren't to be messed with—but you can easily fiddle with them to make your holiday greener while still traditional.
Tradition #1: Skating and Hot Chocolate
Skating is a much-loved Christmas tradition. Whether you have backyard rink, head to a local park, or strap on a pair of blades at the local arena, your holiday skating traditions are probably near and dear to your heart—and my guess is they also include a cup of hot chocolate. While you can't choose where vendors get their goods, there are a few tips for greening your trip.
Rethink it and Green it:
Walk or take transit to the rink. Walking gets you warmed up for skating and it builds the anticipation, especially if the streets are decorated for the holidays. If the rink is a little further afield, take mass transit to avoid traffic mayhem and cut down on your carbon footprint.
Be sure to take a travel mug for hot chocolate. Rather than using a paper—or worse, Styrofoam—cup that vendors have on hand, taking your own mug will cut down on waste. You can also take along a blanket for cozying up rink-side. And if you're taking your own hot chocolate, choose an organic variety, and whenever possible, one that is also fair trade.
Tradition #2: The Christmas Tree
Whether your Christmas involves a tree that would make Charlie Brown proud, or your tastes run a little bushier, the tree is the universal symbol of Christmas. According to the EPA, "approximately 33 million live Christmas trees are sold in North America every year."
Rethink it and Green it:
Let's face it, "fake" plastic trees are the worst option for the environment. The greenest option is a potted tree you can plant in your yard in the Spring, but live cut trees are a fairly close second. Live trees are generally grown on tree farms that exist to produce Christmas trees, and they take years to grow, cleaning the air over the span of their life. Many communities collect Christmas trees for mulch—so you're helping the environment and your community!
DIY ornaments are another great way to green your tree. Make a gorgeous contemporary wreath with some metal wire (8 gauge works well) and glass beads: simply wrap the wire in a circle, over and over, adding a bead here and there and weaving the wire in and around itself. When you're happy with the density of wire, cut the wire and bend the end into the wreath. Finish off with a loop of ribbon. If you want a craft the little kids can enjoy, create dough decorations.
Tradition #3: Cards for everyone!
You're making a list, checking it twice—because you can't leave someone off the list of people you have to send a Christmas card to! If you just send holiday cards to friends, family and colleagues, the number of cards and envelopes necessary could easily top 100; if your company sends cards out to employees and clients, the number of cards can be astronomical. That adds up to a lot of paper when you consider the number of people sending greeting cards—and all that paper adds up to a lot of waste. But you can reduce the number of cards that end up in landfills.
Rethink it and Green it:
When selecting cards, avoid all that glitters. If the cards are covered in sparkles, you won't be able to recycle them. And you know where they'll end up. (If they have bows, metal or other objects attached, simply remove these and recycle.) Whenever possible, buy cards made with recycled paper.
If you want to cut out paper altogether, send e-cards. There are tons of websites that offer free e-cards, and many are pretty entertaining if you're looking for something special for friends and family. Many large companies have decided to go this route as an eco- and budget-friendly option.
Related Posts:
5 Reuses for: Old Greeting Cards
Simplify the Holidays: Inexpensive, Creative and Eco-friendly Gift Ideas
How to Make a Christmas Stocking from Recycled Wool Sweaters
-
- {}
