Greening Your Ho-Ho-Ho

My friend, Trudy Dujardin, a truly green and elegant interior designer, sent me a holiday card with a list of suggestions for a sustainable holiday season. I thought they were so good I’m passing them on to you.

Simple Steps for a Sustainable Holiday Season

1. A gift is a thoughtful gesture and the same sentiment can be shown in sustainable ways. Consider exchanging time instead of gifts with the elderly or lonely during the holiday season, or making a sustainable donation to a local charity with the money you save.
2. Put your money to work helping others and the planet with a life-changing gift such as Heifer International or Christian Children’s Fund.
3. Be socially conscious with gifts that promote fair trade.
4. Use energy-efficient, LED holiday lights to add sparkle. (Install a timer!)
5. Give locally made products, help reduce the impact of transportation.
6. Purchase greeting cards printed on recycled materials with vegetable-based, non-toxic inks, or send email greetings.
7. Give gifts such as gift certificates or theater tickets–they don’t require a lot of gift wrapping. Avoid wrapping with glossy or metallic paper. Colorful fabric or reusable gift bags are an environmentally friendly alternative.
8. Choose toys that do not require batteries; instead choose gifts that stimulate a child’s imagination without impacting the environment.