Seasons Greetings

The holidays have suddenly arrived again! We look forward to this as a time for relaxing with our families, catching up with friends, enjoying old traditions and making new ones. But all too often, the holidays can be times of stress, with all of the tasks that come with this time of year: decorating our homes, shopping for gifts, preparing special meals and treats, and hosting and attending parties. In addition to our blood pressure, this frenzy of activity takes a toll on the environment. This is a great time of year to take stock of our holiday plans and look for ways to simplify our lives and our impact on the environment.
If you enjoy the smell and beauty of a 'real' Christmas tree, you may be assured that tree growers are generally helpful to our environment. Tree farms are often located in areas not conducive to growing other types of crops. The young trees provide habitat for birds and wildlife while absorbing much CO2 and releasing oxygen. As the larger trees are cut, new trees are planted in their place. Look for a tree that is grown at a local, pesticide-free farm. Since 33 million cut Christmas trees are sold in America each December, it is important to dispose of them properly after the holidays rather than sending them to a landfill.
Potted yule trees are another eco-friendly alternative. You can plant them in the new year and have a living, growing reminder of past holidays.
If purchasing an artificial tree, be aware that many contain large amounts of petroleum-based PVCs (polyvinyl chloride) and lead. The greatest advantage of artificial trees is that they can be used for years, but recent studies indicate they have an average lifespan of only 6 years before they are permanently banished to basements, attics or landfills.
LED holiday lights are becoming popular for lighting trees and homes. While they come in many varieties and look similar to incandescent options, LED lights can reduce energy consumption by 80-90% and last 100,000 hours or more. They are much cooler to the touch than traditional tungsten bulbs, so you won't have to worry about children burning their fingers on them. Check out our sale section to find great prices on LED Lights.
If you usually host parties, you know about the numerous garbage bags of post-party waste that accumulate all too easily. One way to cut down on this waste is to use dishwashable plates, cups, and cutlery rather than disposable paper or plastic. You may want to consider renting cutlery and dishware from a banquet rental company. Pine cones or branches can be a nice way to dress up a table, or look for decorations that can be used year after year rather than just once. If you have food left over, your area food banks would surely appreciate a food donation to help needy families get through the winter.
The mountains of wrapping paper that pile up after opening gifts are an obvious reminder of the waste that can be generated on holidays. Reusable gift bags become a useful part of the gift that will "keep on giving" (the traditional Christmas stocking is one of the original reusable gift bags!). Alternative gift wrap made from the Sunday funny papers or cutting up colorful shopping bags saves money and makes good reuse of paper goods. When purchasing gift wrap, look for wrap made from recycled paper.
Consider going 'electronic' with your greeting cards by emailing a holiday photo rather than sending paper cards to friends, family, or business associates will save time and money, as well as trees. If you want to send cards by mail, you can save envelopes and postage by sending postcards - many photo shops will turn your digital prints into ready-to-mail holiday postcards.
About 40% of battery sales take place during the holidays. Rechargeable batteries will save you money in the long run and will have less impact on the environment. Office supply stores and DwellSmart offer a battery drop-off where you can be assured the batteries will be disposed of properly (this is important since many batteries contain heavy metals).
According to a recent study, 18% of holiday shoppers plan to buy more 'green' products this season than in the past. It might not be exciting to open a giftbox with compact fluorescent bulbs, but the recipient will appreciate the lower utility bills for many months to follow. Giving rechargeable batteries and a charger can prevent emergency trips to purchase batteries for toys that die at inopportune times. Composters or rain barrels make great gifts for those who enjoy gardening.
Consider the durability and lifespan of gifts you purchase, avoiding items that provide only temporary amusement or go out of style quickly. For those people who "already have everything", consider gifts of homemade baked goods, plants, photos in a nice frame, or donations in their name to a suitable charity.
Finally, 're-gifting' gets a worse rap than deserved. Giving something that you don't want or need to someone else who may appreciate it is a great form of recycling (and very economical). At our large family gatherings over the years, one of our favorite traditions has been the 'white elephant' gift exchange; instead of buying gifts for each other, we each wrap and bring one item from our home that deserves more love and attention. We've proved each time that one person's 'trash' is another's treasure.

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