eco-wrap_492x3251DID YOU KNOW? Americans produce 5 - 10 pounds of waste per person every day - the most of any people on the planet!  During the holidays, this number increases by 25%! From the parties to the presents, and the tree to the trimming, these simple holiday eco-tips will help you have a ‘green’ holiday season!

THE TREE |

 - If you’re feeling the ultimate in green, use a potted tree or plant, or one that can be replanted outside.  A real tree is a better choice than an artificial one. A real tree from a tree farm is specifically cultivated for that purpose, with a seedling planted in its stead the following year, as opposed to cutting a live tree from a previously forested area. 
 - Use branches trimmed from your tree to make garland and wreaths in your home
- Use LED lights – less energy, more green in your wallet!  LED lights use approximately 90% less energy than standard holiday light strings and usually last twice as long. 

THE PARTIES (from Thanksgiving onward) |

 - Focus on reducing, reusing, and recycling.  Use real plates, glasses, and silverware (you can rent them too!) instead of disposables.  Reuse last year’s greeting cards for name plates (or gift tags).  Place recycling containers next to your trash can for easy access. 
- Use local and organic foods if possible, including turkey, wine, and decorations.  If you’re feeling really ambitious, take the 100-mile challenge, and use only ingredients found within 100 miles of your home!

THE GIFTS |

- Give the gift of yourself.  A certificate for a hiking trip with friends or babysitting for family is economical and appreciated. 
- Be charitable - donate money to a cause in someone’s name; this also cuts down on packaging and waste!
- Give the gift of green. Encourage green habits with a shopping bag or a reusable coffee mug for work.

THE WRAPPING|

- Think reduce, reuse, recycle when wrapping your gifts.  And, it can be very creative and beautiful!  Use scarves, handkerchiefs, and bandanas, old posters or maps, the comics section of the newspaper.
 - For the grandparents, why not use some pages from the grandkids’ coloring books?

An effort to reduce, reuse and recycle this holiday season will help you contribute to a ‘green’ holiday season.

Meagan Lockman has a Masters of Science in Environmental Management from Vanderbilt University and is owner of EcoConsults, a local EcoConsulting firm.  EcoConsults specializes in providing residential and commercial clients with simple, cost-effective, personalized recommendations for a greener lifestyle.  [www.ecoconsults.com]

MORE GREEN WRAPPING IDEAS|
We spend $265 billion a year on gift wrap, which is essentially just a piece of dyed paper. According to www.use-less-stuff.com, if every American family wrapped just three presents in reused materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields. 

We spend $265 billion a year on gift wrap, which is essentially just a piece of dyed paper. According to www.use-less-stuff.com , if every American family wrapped just three presents in reused materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields. The 2.65 billion Christmas cards sold each year in the U.S. could fill a football field 10 stories high. If we each sent one card less, we’d save 50,000 cubic yards of paper.

Here are some tips to be more environmentally conscious when wrapping presents:
 - Keep your gift wrapping reusable: a reusable bag (We love the Envirosax Reusable Bags (La Boheme Pouch) :   http://www.ecosumo.com/shop/product/la-boheme-pouch/) or a stocking works great.  Shredded paper, the Sunday comics of the newspaper, creative ads,  and old maps make great wrapping.   Altoids Mint tins are perfect size for gift cards- this avoids the need for an envelope!

 - Instead of using wrapping paper, get in the habit of wrapping your family presents in cool fabric and ribbons that you reuse every year.  Some product packages are stylish on their own (with the help of a little fabric ribbon)…check out the Simple Shoes variety at http://www.ecosumo.com/shop/category/footwear/.

 - Tie up your gifts with old VHS tapes as bows/ribbon.  About 38,000 miles of ribbon are reportedly thrown away by Americans every year and most of it during the holiday season. It could tie a ribbon around the whole world.

 - Make part of your present the wrapping! Giving clothes or a blanket or a bag? These material items can be used as wrapping for the rest of the gift since they are made from cloth or can be stuffed with more goodies.   The Christina Marchuska scarf is excellent for creating the perfect bow (http://www.ecosumo.com/shop/product/hunter-scarf/)

• Buy things online and have the package sent directly to the gift receiver’s home. That way the packaging becomes the wrapping. Make sure to check the “it’s a gift” box so the online store doesn’t send the receipt.  Being the online, one-stop green marketplace, ecosumo.com loves this tip!
 
 - Make your wrapping part of the gift. Make a collage or sew a quick bag. A handmade wrap can be part of the dazzle and mean a lot more then store-bought paper wrapping.  

- Give the gift of reuse. Encourage the receiver of your gifts to pass the wrap along. See how many turns your circle of friends can get from that gift bag.

- Make a statement! Skip any wrapping at all and inform your friends and families that you spent the money you saved from cards and wrapping on upgrading their gift or set it aside for your charity of choice.  
 
- If you do use wrapping paper, try to buy only recycled options…they are out there…you just need to look for them. 

Courtesy of ecosumo. You can find great green gift ideas at www.ecosumo.com.