How to make the most wonderful time of year a little bit greener!

If you’re anything like us, you like to try to live as sustainably as possible. Walking or biking instead of driving, composting food scraps instead of throwing them in the rubbish bin, recycling: we try to do our part. Those of us who can afford to do so may even make major investments to lower our carbon footprint - buying an electric car or solar panels for the roof of our house.

But even for the best of us, when the holidays roll around, it can become way too easy to forget what’s really important and get caught up in the shop-’til-you-drop spirit pushed by so much advertising and media. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to have a greener holiday season this year, without sacrificing any of the wonder and magic. Plus being more sustainable can be kinder on our wallets too.​

Shop sustainably

Going holiday shopping? Skip the omnipresent e-tailers and big-box stores, which have an enormous carbon footprint. Instead, shop at local retailers. You’ll be helping the environment and supporting your local economy. And if you bring your own reusable shopping bags, you won’t use the store’s environmentally unfriendly paper or plastic bags.​

Decorate sustainably

There are a bunch of ways to greenify your holiday decorating:

• Instead of traditional incandescent lights for Christmas trees and menorahs, choose low-energy LED lights, which lower your holiday energy bills and reduce carbon emissions.
• Instead of buying a new wreath each year, help save trees by making a DIY wreath using sustainable materials like fabrics, ribbons, and pinecones. Nothing is as satisfying as making your own free and homemade version!
• More DIY: Make your own tree ornaments and holiday decorations. It’s not hard to make attractive decorations; if I can make paper snowflakes that get compliments from my family, then so can you.
• On the Christmas tree question, from a sustainability standpoint, the best option is to pick a living tree or plant in your house or yard, and decorate it with lights and ornaments. If you already have an artificial tree, go ahead and use that—but don’t go out and buy one, because they typically have a big carbon footprint. Instead, get a real tree. It’s more sustainable than getting an artificial one. But be sure to get a tree that’s sustainably farmed, and to recycle it once the holidays are over.

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Give sustainably

Here are a few ways to give and receive gifts more sustainably:
 

• Still more DIY: Done right - with love, thoughtfulness, and care - homemade gifts can be the best and most memorable of all. Other than the Schwinn 10-speed bicycle that Santa Claus gave me one long-ago Christmas, my all-time favorite holiday gift is the book of photos from our childhood that I recently received from my sister.
• Give greener gifts - products made locally, of recycled materials, that come in reusable packaging or containers, or that in other ways reduce your carbon footprint versus less environmentally friendly gift choices.
• Use recyclable wrapping paper - or, instead of buying wrapping paper, reuse the wrapping paper from gifts you received last year, or use scrap fabrics or old automobile maps or comic books to wrap the gifts you give.
• Send e-cards instead of mailing paper holiday cards. It’s way cheaper and far less impactful on the environment.
• To those who are giving you gifts, ask for donations to green causes to be made in your name. For example, you might want to donate to JUST ONE Tree...

Celebrate sustainably

​To lower carbon emissions and cook with fresher, tastier ingredients, buy locally grown meat and produce. At your holiday gatherings, don’t use disposable plates, glasses, or cutlery. Don’t go overboard and prepare so much food that a lot goes to waste. Get creative in the kitchen to use up those leftovers. And, if possible, compost any cooking scraps.

Travel sustainably

​Going home for the holidays? Whatever your destination, try to get there more sustainable. Take a train instead of flying, for example. Instead of driving yourself, car share  - or take public transport.

​This is just the beginning of what you can do. Add your own ideas, then get started making this year’s holidays your greenest (and wallet friendly) ever. ’Tis the season to start living our values' all year round.

WHAT DO I DO WITH MY XMAS LEFTOVERS?