The holiday season is called the most wonderful time of the year, but it can also be one of the most wasteful times of the year. Going green doesn't have to mean turning into a Grinch during the holidays. Check out these Eco-Friendly Holiday Tips!
It's A Wrap
One of the best parts of seeing presents under the tree is checking out all the different patterns the gifts have been wrapped in, but buying whole rolls of wrapping paper can take years to go through, save money and trees this year and set your gifts apart by wrapping them in old comics, newspaper, out-of-date maps, sheet music, magazine pages or even create your own by gathering brown paper bags from grocery shopping and creating your own designs with stamps or pens. Also, once you're all done tearing through to get at your present, save the old wrapping paper for crafting and wrapping next year's gifts - and don't forget to recycle the paper that can't be used again!
Hit the Lights
Seeing your neighborhood lit up by Christmas lights in the dead of winter is one of the heartwarming perks of the season, but those lights use energy. A major way to cut down on energy use it to buy LED lights, so if your parents are looking to replace their old lights, you might want to suggest these. Some stores will even accept your old lights and recycle them for you.
Natural Settings
Decorating your tree and your home is fun thing to do with your family, but you might have noticed that a lot of the decorations you can buy in stores are made to look like nature, so why not save the packaging and go to the source yourself! Try decorating your place with branches, dried leaves, pinecones and stones. you can make them look more festive by painting them gold, silver, red and green.
Seasonal Scents
Lots of holiday products are scented sweetly with cinnamon and other spices, but there are ways to those seasonal scents without buying chemical air fresheners and candles or potpourri. Try simmering a stick of cinnamon on the stove to make your place smell spicy, or try making Christmas cookies and gingerbread if you love the sweet smell of baking. Another great eco-friendly tip is to turn away from paraffin candles and start using soy candles, which are better for the environment and for the air your breathe!
Have Your Say
Do you have any eco-friendly holiday tips? Let us know in the comments section below!
