by Joey Collier

Created on: October 13, 2008   Last Updated: September 29, 2011

Joy to the World - Earth-friendly Tips for the Holidays

The environment is a top priority now more than ever; and with the holidays just around the corner, many find it difficult to celebrate with their loved-ones and remain environmentally responsible. But you'll find that its easier than ever to go green for the holidays.

What You Can Do

The most obvious way to remain earth-friendly during the holidays is to shop online. This saves a tremendous amount of gas, and time! But what else can you do to lessen your impact on the environment?

You can opt for LED holiday lights instead of traditional incandescent lights. They are 85-90% more energy efficient than those old bulbs, and can be purchased for under twenty dollars. For a little more, you can buy solar-powered holiday lights and use no electricity!

Reusable gift bags have been popular for some time. However, some common household items like newspaper comics, fabric remnants and old clothes, even old maps and calendars can be used for unique and stylish homemade wrapping paper. News offices will even give away newsprint roll ends, which can be decorated any way you like.

What to do with your tree after Christmas can be a problem, but you can go green here too. Many areas offer free pickup of your Christmas tree, which can be used for mulch, or man-made cover for aquatic wildlife. Contact your local sanitation department for details.

Your Gifts

Finding earth-friendly gifts is easy, and can be fun. A simple search in your favorite search engine can lead to some surprising and educational green gift ideas. The suggestions below were found in a matter of minutes, but there are earth-friendly options for just about any gift you have in mind.

Live gifts, such as herb or flower garden kits, or planting a tree in your loved-one's name are wonderful.

You can also buy recycled or organic products; backpacks made from recycled or reconditioned plastic bags, organic and locally grown food products, and products that have multiple uses top the list. Purchasing gifts with little or no packaging cuts down a great deal on holiday waste.

Consider sending email cards instead of traditional hand-written cards to eliminate even more waste; they are mostly free, they offer many styles and animations to suit your loved-ones tastes, and some even allow you to record a personalized message.

Your Loved-ones

Asking for charitable donations in your name, or earth-friendly gifts like those above, is a great way to set the tone for a green holiday season, but you can go a step further. Talk with your loved ones about how you feel about environmental concerns. Encourage them to make earth-friendly choices about their holiday celebration, as you intend to. Setting a shining example may be the most important thing you can do!

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