Have Yourself An Eco-Christmas

Having
trouble trying to figure out how to make your Christmas more
eco-friendly? That is okay, because Nature Canada has got you covered
with some great ideas, all the way from Christmas lights to Christmas
gifts. Check out their list of ideas:

“Looking for a Christmas tree? Get
real! -

Many artificial
trees contain contaminants and all are made from petroleum products.
Fake trees also travel long distances to reach your local store,
which means each one leaves a hefty carbon footprint.

A real tree is a better alternative, but often even real trees
come from a significant distance, creating a bigger carbon footprint
than the ecologically minded person would like. You can try to buy
from a local tree farmer, but there is a third option, one that is
becoming more and more popular every year: live Christmas
trees.

Like fresh cut real trees, live Christmas trees help
remove carbon from the environment and provide a home and food for
wildlife while they are growing. Better yet, they end up right back
on the job when they are replanted after the holidays. So while live
trees may not be the cheapest alternative, they are by far the best
ecologically.

Imagine continuing to enjoy the beauty of a Christmas tree all
year round. Think of the wildlife that might visit to nest or feed
every year!

If planting a tree at home is not an option, donating it to a
watershed management or conservation group is another way of helping
the environment. You’ll find groups with tree-planting programs in
most communities, but be sure to look into this before buying. There
may be specific types of trees that can or can’t be used in the
area.

Finally, consider renting a live Christmas tree. This way all the
benefits of a living tree are there without the hassle of caring for
it throughout the rest of the year. Some of the companies that sell
real fresh cut and live Christmas trees also provide the option of
renting rather than purchasing.

Bright Ideas for Christmas Lights
-

Those beautiful Christmas lights can have you seeing
red when January’s bill arrives. Lighting already accounts for
roughly 15% of your household electricity use; try lightening your
carbon footprint instead of your wallet:

• Limit your Christmas light displays to an hour or two in the
evening, and always turn them off before you go to bed. Use a timer
if you need to.

• Use energy efficient light-emitting diode
(LED) lights for your house, or try solar powered Christmas rope
lights for some winter sparkle without adding to your carbon
footprint.

• 15% of household electricity is wasted by leaving TVs, stereos
and other appliances on standby so make sure you turn things off when
you’re not using them.

Greeting Cards with a Message
-

Billions of Christmas cards are sent each year, the
equivalent of hundreds of thousands of trees. This year, send
Christmas cards made of recycled material, or send e-cards instead.
After the big day, make sure your Christmas cards don’t go to waste –
always recycle them.

Deck the Halls with Real Holly!
-

Instead of spending money on artificial Christmas
decorations that won’t biodegrade, let nature decorate your home.
House decorations can be made from organic, recycled and scrap
materials.

Try popcorn, dough, cinnamon sticks, bows,
gingerbread, holly, seasonal berries, ivy and evergreen branches –
once you have finished with them, you can put them in the compost.

Snuff Out Old Candles
-

Paraffin candles are made from petroleum residues,
doing little good for your health or the environment. Soy, beeswax or
natural vegetable-based candles are better because they biodegrade,
are smoke-free, and so much more eco friendly.

Get Creative with Wrapping Paper
-

Unwrapping a gift is half the fun, but there are
plenty of creative alternatives to traditional wrapping paper:

• Hemp blend paper using 90% recycled post-consumer waste fibers
and printed with 100% vegetable inks.
• Colour comic strips from
the newspaper
• Wallpaper
• Last year’s calendars
•
Old maps
• Last year’s wrapping paper
• Children’s art

Once you’ve wrapped a gift, tie it with ribbon or string instead
of using scotch tape. Or you can forget the wrapping altogether and
try re-usable gift bags instead!

Use Rechargeable Batteries
-
Families can go through a lot of batteries at Christmas.
Batteries contain toxic chemicals, don’t biodegrade and are difficult
to recycle.

Instead use rechargeable ones or try new AA size USB rechargeable
batteries. By opening the cap and plugging into a USB connector, you
can recharge them pretty much anywhere there’s a USB socket. You’ll
never have to search for a charger again.

Shop Local, Go Organic
-
This year, try to buy your turkey and other holiday food
locally. Shopping at farmers markets or buying direct from the farmer
is often cheaper than buying in the supermarket. And buying
organically grown food is even better. Think of the benefits – the
taste of chemical-free food, the reduction in food miles and CO2
emissions, and reduced dependence on oil. Buying locally produced
food also boosts rural jobs.

Recycle Unwanted Presents
-
It happens. Everyone receives at least one unwanted gift
at Christmas. Recycle unwanted presents to charities, local hospitals
and hospices.”

jennl | My Bio & Articles

Jennifer is a freelance writer, and has written for various health and environmental blogs, which includes running her own green living blog. Currently she is studying to become a C++ Programmer.