For most of us, the holiday season can be a time of excess – whether we are reminded in January upon opening our credit card bill or slipping on our jeans that feel a bit too snug!

In addition to the personal consequences of holiday excess there are also the environmental consequences to consider.  For example, it is estimated that in the United States that between Thanksgiving and New Years Day, Americans’ generate 25 million extra tons of garbage (about 25% more than during a similar time period the rest of the year).

How do we generate all this extra garbage?

• Wrapped gifts
• Holiday cards
• Packing materials
• Boxes of all sizes and shapes
• Holiday catalogs
• Those little cocktail napkins with the Christmas tree design we use each time enjoying a glass of holiday cheer!

Personally, I am more than willing to minimize, recycle, or do without many of the above.  For example, I minimize wrapping paper and try to reuse holiday gift bags or go the more natural route of wrapping with raffia, ribbons and greens (especially for adults).  I recycle the overwhelming amount of holiday catalogs that show up in my mailbox and use fabric napkins instead of the paper ones.  However, one of my favorite holiday traditions is designing a holiday card with photos from the year past to share with family and friends near and far.  Clearly, sending out 100+ holiday cards is not the most eco-friendly option.  E-cards or a greatly reduced amount of cards would be better – but I am not there yet! Instead, I try to be “greener” elsewhere in terms of reducing, reusing, and recycling.  Pick and choose what you can do – like me, not all suggestions may work for you.

Closing the loop

In addition to reducing, reusing, and recycling, something you can try to do during the holiday season in order to help “offset” some of the extra garbage we generate is closing the recycling loop. Thus, in addition to recycling, it is important you make a special effort to buy recycled items. There are all kinds of everyday (such as paper towels) and creative items (such as eco-friendly purses or personal stationery) made from recycled materials that you can utilize during holiday celebrations or give as gifts during the holidays.  Lovely recycled gifts items can be found at www.realgreengoods.com and http://www.eartheasy.com/give_recycled.htm . If you live outside the US, try http://www.ecoemporia.com (they even have directions for recycled things you can make yourself), or http://www.eco-artware.com (which will ship internationally, plus has more ideas to “green” your holidays).

Some tips to make the holidays more eco-friendly:

1. Household waste increases 25% during the holidays- vow to reduce that number in your household.
2. “Green” a few holiday traditions by burning fire logs made from recycled material – check them out at www.duraflame.com or www.java-log.com. (Worldwide shipping is available at www.acehardwareoutlet.com,, but it might be easier to just look for Duraflame logs where you live.) Another great idea is to use LED Christmas lights (they consume about 80 percent less energy than regular lights and last a long time). In the US try: www.christmaslightsanddecorations.com/  and  www.christmaslightsetc.com . In Europe: http://www.lights4fun.co.uk or http://www.led1.de .
3. Light up your house with organic soy or beeswax candles.  “Regular” paraffin wax candles are made from refined crude oil and can emit toluene, benzene, formaldehyde, and soot when burned. For eco-friendly candles that burn much cleaner, in the US check out: www.lumia.us  or http://www.alittlesomethingwicked.com   (see website for store locations, ship to US & Canada only). Jonathan Ward, a London based candle company, ships worldwide: http://www.jonathanwardlondon.com/; as does BsaB candles, based in Utah and Thailand: http://www.bsabcandles.com
4. Choose a living tree from a tree farm in your area and make sure you “recycle” your tree after the season by having it mulched.  In the United States you can find a mulching operation new you by going to http://www.earth911.org and typing in your zip code.
5. Turn outdoor holiday lights on for a set period each night and try to limit it.
6. When entertaining during the holiday season use local food sources and try serving organic wines- www.freywine.com  (with distributors in the US, Europe and Asia!).
7. Use “real” plates, silverware, glasses and cloth napkins – if you must use plastic, try plastic versions made from recycled plastic – check out http://www.preserveproducts.com .

For more information check out the helpful little book that a lot of the information in this article was gathered from – “Green Christmas- How to Have a Joyous, Eco-friendly Holiday Season” by Jennifer Basye Sander and Peter Sander with Anne Basye.  I bought a used copy on Amazon.co.uk for less than £3.00.

Enjoy your holiday season and remember to give Mother Earth the gift of being a bit gentler with our environment this year.

Kris Colluro-Smith, Anne van Oorschot

Environment co-chairs