This is the first of a two-part piece on how to make your holiday as green as possible.
While it may be a bit late to have a green holiday season this time round, it’s never too late to find out about ways to be eco-friendly and environmentally aware over the silly season. Here are a few ways to help you help your planet.
1. Oh Christmas Tree – fakey or real?
Some people believe it’s better to get a real tree for Christmas each year while others prefer to go the fake-tree route. Some real trees are from sustainable sources and are grown without environmentally harmful fertilizers and pesticides.
Some plastic trees are created without the use of energy-intensive materials or harmful plastics (like PVC) and can last for up to 15 years. Alternatively you can get a potted real tree as your Christmas tree. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a typical Christmas tree and when it grows too large for your pot plant you can just replant it in your garden.
Some people don’t buy a tree at all and come up with innovative ideas when it comes to decorating for the festive season.
2. Travel light, don’t fly.
Ordinarily people should try to fly on planes less. Travel by air consumes countless amounts of fuel every year and is bad for the climate.
During the holiday season it’s difficult to avoid flying because many families are spread out across the globe and want to spend a few weeks together over the celebratory period. If you do fly over this period try make a pact not to fly unnecessarily during the rest of the year. You can also opt to use public transport rather than your car during the holiday season. You will use less fuel (meaning you save money) and will help reduce traffic congestion. Wherever possible, walk.
You’ll get some fresh air, a bit of exercise and benefit from the slower, more relaxed pace.
3. Eat your veggies.
During the festive season much cooking and eating is bound to occur. When you’re partaking consider the carbon footprint of your food. Buy as much locally produced food as possible.
It’s also a great idea to serve more vegetable options and less meat (organic and locally sourced). If you feel you can do it, you could even have a fully vegetarian holiday feast; no meat and easy on the dairy products. It’ll be a great way for you to explore various new recipes.
4. Decorate creatively.
Don’t buy a new set of decorations every year, rather take care to wrap yours up nice and safe so that you can reuse them year after year. If you want more try to make some. There are always great ideas on various DIY websites that you can try.
5. Lights, camera, and…
Opt out of incandescent bulbs and rather use LEDs. They use less energy and last longer. Also make sure you switch off lights when they are not in use; get into the habit of switching the light off when you leave a room and unplug appliances when you aren’t using them.
If you want to use candles try source Soya, beeswax or natural vegetable-based candles. They’re better for your health and the environment than the usual paraffin candles.
Jade Scully is a copywriter excited about writing copy and stories, blogging about the world and editing. She currently and regularly publishes her stories on a number of blogs. Jade loves animals and hopes to begin writing copy for the animal rescue charity TEARS as her contribution to the cause.
