It’s the most wonderful time of the year. But, it’s also the time of year when we consume more stuff, and produce more waste, than the rest of the year combined.
What if this year we made a conscious effort to be more intentional with our celebrations to reduce our consumption and our waste, to simplify our celebrations, and to enjoy the most important things, which aren’t really things at all?
Here are 21 ways that you can simplify and green your Christmas celebrations this year.
Gifts
1. Wrap gifts with the comics, your kid’s art projects, or even better, reusable fabric gift bags.
2. Save boxes, tissue paper, gift bags, ribbon, bows, etc. after opening gifts to reuse again next year.
3. Instead of running out to the store, make easy, last minute homemade gifts using things you already have around the house. You can find tons on inspiration on Pinterest and by googling last-minute homemade gifts.
4. Turn off your Christmas lights at bedtime, or use a timer, to make sure that your lights don’t stay on all night long.
5. Give back by purchasing a gift for those less fortunate; we like Living Water, World Vision, and Heifer International.
6. Give consumable gifts, like edible homemade treats, or homemade goodies like body butter or sugar scrubs.
7. Give fun experiences like sports or theater tickets, zoo or museum passes, or dance or photography classes.
8. Give fair-trade gifts that support artisans in third-world countries. A few places to find gifts: 31 Bits, FashionABLE, Starfish Project, Ten Thousand Villages,
9. Clean out and donate unused toys before Christmas.
10. Buy locally made gifts that will support your local economy.
Decorations
11. Switch your lights to LED Christmas lights.
12 Simplify your outdoor decor.
13. Recycle your Christmas Tree.
14. Decorate with natural materials.
15. Find decorations, and decorating materials, at thrift stores.
16. Recycle and repurpose items you already have to make unique decorations.
Food
17. Use real plates, silverware, glasses and cloth napkins, instead of disposable, at your holiday get together.
18. Choose a local, organically-raised turkey for your Christmas meal.
19. Then use the turkey bones and leftover veggies to make homemade stock.
20. Make sure to eat up leftovers, or send them home with guests, so that no food goes to waste.
21. Use local, in-season, produce, as much as possible.
How do you green your family’s Christmas celebrations?
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I’m always so glad to hear about more people reducing the waste..especially around the holidays!
I would love to have you join us over at Wildcrafting Wednesdays!
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2012/12/wildcrafting-wednesday.html
So many great suggestions here! Reusable gift bags are the best. Not only saves paper, but time as well. Just throw the gift in a bag, tie a ribbon on it (which you’ll stash inside the bag after presents are opened) and you’re done. Bam!
I also like to buy plain white gift boxes that I don’t wrap at all. Just tie a pretty ribbon or string around them. They can be re-used for years, too (and for all kinds of occasions, not just Christmas).
Nice list! My family has been doing some of these things all my life, and I’ve picked up others over the years. I find that wasting stuff makes a holiday LESS fun for me, not more relaxing, and reusing things makes me feel clever and resourceful. 🙂
Here are my green Christmas tips–they overlap a lot with your list, of course, but I’ve got a few other things in there, like ideas for reusing packaging materials and recipes for food scraps.