It shouldn’t come as any surprise that this year is going to be the greenest Christmas (and Hanukkah) of all time–at least for the folks on my “nice” list. My mission in nearly everything I do and buy this holiday season is to have green in mind, which hopefully won’t cost me a lot of green.
For starters I’m still searching the Internet for the best recycled paper holiday cards. (If you know of a website, please let me know.) Hallmark stores sell recycled paper greetings, but only in single cards, not the boxed kind for the holidays, though you can order (PRODUCT) RED recycled cards for the holidays from Hallmark.com. Worse-case scenario: I print my family newsletter on recycled paper, send it in a recycled envelope, and skip the cards all together (though I don’t think my family newsletter will go over well with my clients).
As far as holiday wrapping goes, I don’t plan to use it this year. Instead, I’m going to hit my local Wal-Mart this week, and stock up on their $1 reusable bags that say “Paper or Plastic? Neither” (pictured above right). These bags will become my default packaging for holiday gifts.
With regard to the gifts, I’m going for items in the simplest packaging, such as CDs, DVDs and video games, which come in containers that double as storage vessels. Also, I found some cool recycled rubber doormats on Target.com which are right in my price range. And, as I’d blogged earlier, I am doing the lion’s share of my shopping via the Internet to save fuel (though the family and I did spend this past Sunday at the mall, and we will be one of those crazies up at 5:00 a.m. and in line on black Friday).
Finally, this year we won’t be sacrificing any evergreens for our living room, though if you must have a live tree, the potted kind that you can add to your garden is the best. Last year after Christmas we invested in a fake Christmas tree, complete with lights. Hopefully, this purchase will last us for many Christmas’ to come.
It’s good to know that I’m not alone in dreaming of a green Christmas. According to the 2007 Cone Holiday Environmental Study, nearly 60 percent of Americans say they are more likely to buy “green” products this year than in the past. More than half of Americans (54 percent) say they would be willing to pay more for a holiday gift or product if it is environmentally responsible, and an equally motivated number (55 percent) say they proactively seek opportunities to buy green gifts and products around the holidays.
Here are some other ways this study shows that Americans are greening their holidays:
* purchasing gift wrap made from recycled paper (42 percent)
* decorating with energy-efficient holiday lighting (32 percent)
* buying products made by companies that are environmentally responsible (29 percent)
* shopping with retailers that have environmentally responsible practices (27 percent)
* giving energy-efficient gifts (27 percent)
* choosing gifts with recycled content (26 percent)
* serving meals or choosing food that is organic/locally produced (23 percent)
* buying apparel made with environmentally responsible materials (20 percent)
* making a donation to an environmental cause as a gift in someone’s name (15 percent)
* purchasing carbon credits to offset holiday travel and/or shopping (three percent)
So what are you doing to make your green Christmas dream a reality?
READ LEAH ON HOME GOES STRONG
I took the Buy Handmade pledge.
In general, handmade items support local artists, organically grown goods, and recycling. It’s a great thing!
One of my favorite “green” Christmas traditions is this: Last year’s cards turn into this year’s tags. With a crafty scissors and a small box for keeping tags, it lets us enjoy the cards we’ve been sent a few more times.
Our tree gets reused, too, but that’s another story.
I like the idea of turning last year’s cards into the next year’s tags. I’ll be sure to keep a pair of pinking shears nearby on December 26th so I, too, can use this clever recycling tip. Thanks.
Buying handmade is a great idea, and the “buy handmade pledge” website is adorable. My daughter makes her own earrings. I should encourage her to make many of her gifts this year as well.
Can we hop to the chase and suggest something “really green”? How about donating to Amphibian Ark, which is saving Kermit and his amphibian friends from extinction? It’s a great cause. Check it out: http://frogmatters.wordpress.com/2007/11/21/the-perfect-green-gift-for-black-friday/
This year, I’ll be using magazine pages as wrapping paper. They’re so pretty anyway, right? I’ll also be using white labels I’ve had for years and never used as the back piece of tape (writing “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” on them so people don’t think I’m beaing cheap!)
I’m also buying gifts from the antique shops in my town. They have gorgeous jewelry that’s right in my price range, and will be perfect for my two glam friends. Ultimate recycling!
Along the lines of cards-into-tags, I save on decorations by displaying Christmas cards above door frames (just tack up twine above the door frame, and hang).
A great source for gifts made from recycled materials is uncommongoods.com. Not everything is recycled, but a good portion are, and they sell completely unique and creative stuff.
Jen
Also — local wines make great gifts. I stock up on bottles of Valenzano cranberry wine, which is great for Thanksgiving (we’ll be having it tonight) but also great for gifts for friends. I think people appreciate having something that’s made locally; the wines aren’t that expensive; and it’s supporting local farmers. Did I mention it tastes good? YUM!
Here’s more my fav local winery (in NJ) http://www.valenzanowine.com/
I am with you! I know we have friends like ourselves that are enviromentally driven…and their gift is going to be a bucket of “green” cleaning supplies. Very cost-friendly and Target carries them! They are going to love it and find it very useful!
It is reassuring to know that other families are trying to “be more green” this holiday. I have a few posts that include ideas for alternative wrapping. I like your idea with the bag. This is my first time visiting your blog. I drifted here from somewhere, who knows where. It’s wonderful. Thank you for blogging. I love your little webspace! Here’s mine if you want to check it out: http://www.christyhulsey.wordpress.com. Happy Blogging!
Wow! I am diggin your blog. I really enjoyed reading this post. I will ahve to take some time to go through your archives to see the transformation. I am making efforts to green my reluctant family. Whatever opposers to the green house affect think, the one thing I never get is why they can’t at least admit that living green HELPS the planet. Does that seem odd?
Oh, I found you through Frugal Hacks. My frugal blog is http://www.homesteadblogger.com/boltbabe. But I blog here too; concerning general thoughts, book reviews, current events, etc.
I love the reusable bags as gift wrapping. I might steal that one from you. I usually send out cards with a photo inside. This year to be a little bit more green. I am sending out photo cards, and ditching the paper. I thought of sending out e-cards, but I get a lot of joy out of sending and receiving actual cards. I just couldn’t give that one up.
Great tips!
By the way Martha Stewart has great ideas on how to turn old cards into tags, ornaments, everything.
Also, we have chosen this year to just not over do it.
perhaps this year instead of cards you might consider sending a GoldMail instead? They are personalized talking slideshow messages – sending one means no trees are used at all.
Check mine out and see what you think.
http://play.goldmail.com/1s0ntr484dns
Thanks, Rob
I, too, am doing all of my holiday shopping online at this fab new site called Gigglefishgifts.com. They are an eco-friendly, online green gift boutique featuring jewelry, accessories, bath and body, kids’ and baby products, etc. all made from recycled and sustainable materials. What’s cool about Gigglefishgifts.com is that they will wrap any gift in one of their reusable shopping bags so that no paper is wasted and the gift recipient can then use the bag for future trips to the grocery store. Another great thing is that Gigglefish also donates a percentage of their profits to The Ocean Foundation to help clean up our seas – so everyone can feel good about purchasing gifts at Gigglefishgifts.com!