What are some ways to be more eco-friendly during the holidays? Here are six tips for a sustainable holiday season:
1. Save time, conserve fuel, and prevent pollution
Make one or two big shopping trips instead of multiple small ones. You can also cut down on trips by shopping online.
2. Recycle
Re-use ribbon and wrapping paper by opening gifts carefully and saving some items for next year.
3. Set-up a real tree
Almost all Christmas trees today come from tree farms not forests and can be composted or mulched in January. Artificial trees require petroleum and energy to manufacture and transport, and must ultimately be landfilled.
4. Save energy
Keep your lighting to a minimum and use LEDs. Powering 10 typical strands of mini-lights eight hours a day costs an average of $9.25 a month. Use LED lights, and you’ll save 90% of that energy and expense. Put outdoor lights on a timer to make sure they’re not lighting up the night when no one’s watching.
5. Clean with plant-based cleaners
For example, Seventh Generation’s Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner, Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner and Disinfecting Wipes. Made from botanically pure plant extracts, these thyme-based products feature a patented technology which kills 99.99 per cent of household germs yet conveniently requires no rinsing or wiping even on food contact surfaces. The streak-free formula deodorizes and effectively controls odours in one easy step.
6. Cut down on toxins
Make sure your Christmas or Hanukkah candles have lead-free wicks and are made from naturally scented soy, vegetable or beeswax, not from synthetically fragranced petroleum wax.
