Greener Holidays: Sage Advice to Last You Through Gift Returns

For almost five years, I have been dispensing green advice.  A regular Green Dear Abby.   It just seem like yesterday that I started Green Talk.   But, five years is a lifetime when it comes to web content.  During those years, information and company change.  As I updated my articles, I realize my old holiday advice that I have been doling out like cookies  is still relevant today.  Some call this type of content evergreen.  No pun intended.  (Well, maybe.)

So here is a sprinkle of five years to make your holidays greener.  Note, this is a sprinkle of advice.  I am leaving the door open for you to give me your favorite green holiday advice.  I know you have some ideas in this department.

Let’s Start with the Presents

How many of you out there still haven’t finished your holiday shopping? Hmm. I am counting at least 10 with their hands up. Each year, I bet your list seems to grow.  So, how can you give green gifts to all of your friends and relatives without breaking the bank?  See my ideas on “Green, the New Color of the Holiday Season.“

In my article, I explored a host of alternative gifts. Think about the gift of time, museum memberships or a subscription to their favorite gardening magazine.  (Hint. Hint.)  Whose says one box fits all?

How About Wrapping the Gifts?

You might be wondering do I need to wrap all of my gifts with recycled content wrapping paper?  My philosophy?  It is great you are thinking about using recycled content wrapping paper but there are other ways to wrap your gifts in sustainable ways.

How so?  Check out my article “To Wrap or Not.  That is the Ecofriendly Present Question.”  (Sheesh.  What a philosophical question.)  You’ll see my simple way of addressing this issue.  Sans plastic.  You all know what I think about plastic?

Don’t forget the Gift tags or Bows

Did you know you don’t need to buy gift tags? Each year you probably get a dozen greeting cards.  Use the greeting cards to make gift tags.  How?  See Reuse Your Greeting Cards to Spread Joy to Others.”  Reusing your gift cards never looked so good.

Why stop there?  How about the bow?  Yep.  You guessed it.  You can green those too.  In fact, you can make your own out of a magazine.

Don’t Forget the Christmas Tree!

If you haven’t gotten a Christmas Tree yet, here are some nifty ideas to keep those evergreens from being cut down.   Remember Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tree?  Well, these unorthodox Christmas tree ideas are a little bit prettier than wrapping Linus’ blanket around that scraggly tree.  In fact, my suggestions are pretty tame compared to people who have made trees out of books or beer bottles.

Think rent a tree, buying a live tree, or maybe a rosemary bush.  The smell is heavenly.

Moving onto the Festivities.

Try and keep the waste to a minimum.  I know it is hard when you are expecting a crowd.  Sure, the best thing is to use china plates, silverware, and napkins.  However, you might be expecting a crowd.  No one like to be stuck in the kitchen washing dishes.

So, if you want to go the paper plate way, consider buying Chinet’s compostable plates.   I wash mine off, and bury them under my leaf piles.  Once I buried about 80 plates. It did take some time for the plates to decompose!

What about all the plastic silverware?  I hand-wash mine and reuse it over and over. If hand washing is not your thing, consider using them when you plant bulbs as markers  (Straws work great too. )  In fact, I use them to mark my seedlings to remind me what I planted.    You know, I believe in re-purpose, re-purpose, and then re-purpose.

Oh, don’t forget to read my 18 Ways to Cure the Unwanted Gift Blues.  It is still one of my favorite articles.

Everyone gets unwanted gifts…

Join the Conversation:

• How do you make your holidays greener? Let me have it!
• What are some of your favorite recipes?
• How do you make your presents greener?
• Any great family traditions you would like to share?

Similar Posts:

• Green Christmas: 5 Easy Ways to Be Eco Conscious During the Holidays
• Greener Holiday Greeting Cards, Bows, Etc. Trimmings without the Trash.
• Reuse your Greeting Cards to Spread Joy to Others
• To Wrap or Not, That is the Eco-Friendly Present Question
• Plastic Gift Card Recycling: Convenient but Reduce the Enviro Impact