Tips

For the Holidays

Make decorations out of recyclable or reusable materials for holidays like Christmas, Hanukah, Valentine’s Day, Easter, St. Patrick’s Day etc.
Re-use decorations from past years.
Buy organic Christmas trees and recycle or compost them after the holidays.
Get a live Christmas tree instead of buying a cut tree and replant the tree when the holidays are over.
Buy a fake Christmas tree if you are going to use it every year because fake trees cannot be recycled.
Use live plants and herbs for decoration.
Use natural essential oils or soy/beeswax candles.
Use energy efficient LED or solar holiday lights and turn off the lights during the day time.

Use cloth napkins and reusable cutlery.
Buy your food from local farms or a farmer’s market whenever possible.
Use energy saving appliances for cooking and cleaning.
Only use the dishwasher when it is completely full.
Save leftovers and only cook what will be eaten.
When buying chocolates or sweets get fair trade and organic chocolate or make homemade treats instead.

Buy recycled or sustainable gifts.
Only buy energy efficient electronics.
Recycle old electronics when they are replaced by new gifts, or donate them if they are still in working condition.
Use rechargeable batteries for electronic gifts and recycle old batteries.
Reuse gift-wrap, bows, ribbons, and bags.
Use alternatives to wrap gifts like newspaper.
Buy wrapping paper made out of recycled materials and look for the green seal on paper products.
Walk to stores to buy gifts.
Bring your own bags when shopping for presents.
Buy gifts from local vendors whenever possible.
Get gifts with little or no packaging and recycle packaging instead of throwing it away.
If buying flowers get fair trade and organic flowers and buy varieties that are in season.
Buy live native plants instead of cut flowers.
Buy gifts of "experience" such as an outing of iceskating versus materials goods. These types of gifts often bring lasting memories.

Buy cards made out of recycled materials.
Send e-cards to save paper.
Use tree-free cards such as cards made of bagasse, banana tree bark, cotton, jute, elephant waste, hemp, straw, tamarind petals and leaves, or coconut husks.
Call instead of sending a card.