I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas – 7 Ways to Spread Earth-Friendly Cheer

Here are seven ways to keep your holiday merry and bright while keeping your wallet fuller and your planet healthier. In addition to general holiday green tips, Melissa Breyer of News Blaze has given some great tips for ‘greenifying’ your tree.  

1. Get the LED out. Want to cut your holiday lighting energy consumption by 99%? Buy LED holiday lights. LED stands for light emitting diode, and these could save you a bundle compared to your regular incandescent lights. You won’t have to feel guilty for leaving your lights on for the neighborhood to see, and your environment will thank you for it.

2. If a tree falls at your local farm, take it home. When going to purchase a Christmas tree, you can add a bit of extra green to your evergreen by buying an organic tree from a small, local farm.

3. Say no to tinsel and fake snow. If the incentive to keep your pets and children safe and away from these dangerous decorations wasn’t enough, having these hard to remove accessories on your tree makes your tree ineligible for recycling after the holidays are over. So instead of spraying on the glitter, hang some candy canes or make a cranberry and popcorn garland.

4. Avoid a fake tree. Melissa tells us that a fake tree made of PVC (which most artificial trees are made out of), commonly known as vinyl, is poisonous to us. This plastic surrounds us in many different forms in our daily lives and is dangerous to be around. If you must buy a fake tree, try to avoid vinyl if you can. Buy a feather tree or another, artsy alternative tree instead.

5. Recycle. You can recycle your used Christmas tree as well as your cards, wrapping paper and other paper and plastic goods. Or, you could even recycle your Christmas decorations from the year before to make new decorations like a wreath made out of cards, origami or bows.

6. Don’t Burn Scented Candles. Instead of burning holiday candles and releasing toxins and soot into your home air, simmer some mulled cider mix or have a bowl of natural potpourri handy. This will make your house smell delicious without the risk of a fire or the reduced air quality that candles can cause.

7. Use earth-friendly flatware. If you’re having a holiday party, why not invest in some biodegradable products instead of Styrofoam and plastic? Websites like Biodegradable Store Additional sources? carry all kinds of compostable party items made from materials like corn starch or potatoes. They’ll withstand hot soups or cold punch and are actually reusable, too.