A Very Merry Green Christmas

Christmas is probably the number one most wasteful holiday. We go crazy on gifts, food, decorations, partyGreen Christmas supplies, etc. So what can we do to GREEN up the holiday?

Here are ten eco-friendly tips:

1. Buy a quality fake Christmas tree and use it forever or buy a live tree to plant every year.

2. Send digital Christmas party invites and Christmas cards or buy ones that are made from recycled paper.

3. Make your own Christmas tree ornaments using natural and/or edible materials like gingerbread cookies, popcorn, and candy canes.

4. Instead of purchasing the usual lights for decoration, think about using LED lights. LED stands for “Light Emitting Diode.” These lights are controlled by computer chip technology. They do not emit any heat and they don’t use much energy.

5. Use green cleaners such as baking soda, lemons, olive oil, castile soap, and vinegar to clean your home for any parties and events.

6. Use beeswax candles instead of conventional ones. They are made of natural wax without toxic substances and they burn clean.

7. Use recycled gift wrapping paper or use nice cloth bags to wrap up your gifts.

8. Make your Christmas feast local, organic, and vegetarian as much as you can to reduce your environmental impact.

9. Essential oils can be used to scent the home instead of conventional and toxic air fresheners. Combine them with at least four parts of water in a spray bottle to spritz potpourri, silk flowers, and other natural arrangements in your home like holly leaf garland and pine cones.

10. Buy eco-friendly gifts that are sustainable, natural, and fair trade. For starters, check out these Top Green Christmas Toys and Top Green Christmas Gifts guides.

And have a very merry GREEN Christmas!

An original 5 Minutes for Going Green post. You can read more from Tiffany at her blog about Green Parenting, where she writes about green family living, parenting, natural health, safe children’s products, and homeschooling. Subscribe to her blog here.

15 Responses to A Very Merry Green Christmas
  1. M
    October 28, 2008 | 12:45 am

    Great list! Another possible light tip is to use a timer to turn on and off Christmas light displays. I discovered last year that wading out in the snow and cold at midnight to pull the plug on the lights was often a difficult task to achieve. :-)

  2. Donielle @ Raising Peanuts
    October 28, 2008 | 7:34 am

    I love the cloth bag idea to wrap gifts! I’ve been wanting to try my hand at making some for reusable shopping bags, I should make a few more and pass them on!

  3. Beth (Coming Up For Air)
    October 28, 2008 | 2:07 pm

    This is a great post! I love all the ideas you’ve shared.

  4. Michelle
    October 28, 2008 | 2:09 pm

    http://www.sustainablesourcing.com/ has a great organic artisan gift set that would make a great Christmas present. It has a great combination of peppercorns and hamalyan salt.

    check it out:
    http://www.sustainablesourcing.com/index.php?page=product&category=Sustainable_Sourcing_Organics&display=134

  5. Deanna Marie
    October 28, 2008 | 2:43 pm

    For #5 Add a few drops of peppermint essential oil to the vinegar to help with the smell. Peppermint is perfect for Christmas time.

  6. Andrea
    October 28, 2008 | 6:19 pm

    Check out: http://www.sunshinebay.com they have gorgeous beeswax candles specially for christmas. The best thing about beeswax candles is they actually clean the air while they burn.

  7. Ivanna at http://www.snapparties.com
    October 28, 2008 | 6:57 pm

    I love all your ideas on this post. I’m definately going to be making ornaments this year and using fabric bags for wrapping. I also am purchasing eco-friendly gifts for my family.

  8. Lisa
    October 29, 2008 | 11:30 am

    Anyone know where to buy a non PVC fake tree?? I’m very allergic to the real thing so have to have a fake tree but don’t like knowing it’s off gasing in my living room.

  9. Lori Ann
    October 29, 2008 | 8:52 pm

    Great list! Bookmarking…

  10. […] Check out my post on 5 Minutes for Going Green: A Very Merry Green Christmas. […]

  11. Jessica/ Green Mamma
    October 31, 2008 | 3:31 pm

    Ditto on the other comments! I love all the ideas you shared in this post and will try my hand at crafting our own ornaments this year; this way, we’ll be saving energy and resources and giving our special day more meaning too. Thanks!

  12. Kendra
    November 1, 2008 | 10:16 am

    Actually, I think real cut trees are “greener” than fake trees. Artificial trees are made of PVC and real trees can be recycled (many areas have tree recycling programs where the trees are turned to mulch).

  13. Lisa
    November 2, 2008 | 12:25 pm

    Real trees are better. Tree farms replant so it’s very green. BUT when you are allergic that doesn’t work lol. By allergic I mean can breathe, end up in the hospital allergic.

  14. Rona
    November 15, 2008 | 8:48 am

    Even though I’m from Maine I’ve always had a fake tree. I truly appreciate your list. We try to be as green as possible – in our home and the business. We collect the plastic and take them to our local Fresh & Easy for recyclables.

  15. Soma.
    February 13, 2009 | 4:59 am

    Soma….

    Soma. Soma without prescription 180 count….