Tis the season to celebrate family, friends and the future! So this holiday make sure to have a green holiday! There are so many simple ways to make a huge difference to the environment. We hope this list will help make your holidays merry, bright, and enlightened.
Divine Decorations
Be creative with found objects. Make ornaments out of things you would normally discard such as popsicle sticks, old calendar pictures, and last years wrapping paper.
As well, you can create new cards by cutting the pictures off of old ones and gluing them onto recycled cardboard from your dry cleaning or other packaging.
Tree Hugging
Make sure to use a real tree instead of plastic. It's better for the environment, has a nicer aroma and can be recycled into furniture, mulch or compost. Contact your local municipality to find out about tree collection in your area. Or even better, use a live, uncut tree with roots intact that can be planted in your yard after the holidays!
Wrap It Up
Buy gift bags, boxes and recycled wrapping paper. Then when you're done opening gifts make sure to reuse everything including bows, bags, fabrics and decorative boxes. If your wrapping paper can't be reused, be sure to recycle it or run it through a shredder to turn it into colourful packing material.
The Gift That Keeps On Giving
Donating to a charity on behalf of everyone on your list is a great way to give a gift that doesn't negatively impact the environment. Whether it's to a local shelter, children's charity or buying carbon credits to offset emissions, you'll be giving something to everyone involved.
Energy
Here are a few ways to cut your energy use so you can save money and the planet:
- Use a timer on your holiday lights to avoid keeping them on all night.
- Use energy efficient LED lights for your tree or around your house.
- Lower your thermostat a few degrees. It will make a difference to both the environment and your electric bill.
- Buy a timer for your thermostat so you can save energy by turning the heat down when you're not home.
- Don't open and close the door constantly to check on your food when cooking, as the temperature will drop 25°C each time you do.
Keeping Your Memories Safe
To keep all your holiday decorations safe and sound, make sure to store them in either large 2250 mL rectangle Ziploc® brand Snap 'n Seal Holiday Containers or Ziploc® brand Big Bags. Not only will they be protected, but they will also be neatly organized and ready for next year.
