Below are some tips for a more eco-friendly and socially-conscious holiday that I sent to Cone staff today for an agency "Green Team" project.Eco-friendly Holiday Planning
- Use LED lights instead of incandescent - they look the same, last longer, are safer, and use 80-90% less energy. Put the lights on an automatic timer if possible to conserve energy.
- Bring your own shopping bags when buying gifts.
- Wrap presents with posters, magazine pages, paper bags, newspapers, old maps, coloring books, or make the wrapping part of the gift – a scarf, a basket, bag, towels, tablecloth or wooden box. You can also buy recycled wrapping paper online.
- Use a real tree – fake trees are not biodegradable. It’s best if you can chop your own tree at a local farm to save the transportation costs and emissions (most Christmas trees are planted on specific Christmas tree farms, so deforestation is not an issue here). After Christmas, take your tree to a recycling location where it can be mulched.
- Re-use old Christmas cards as gift tags. This year, think about not sending cards in the mail – instead, send family and friends a link to a photo slideshow or online holiday card.
- For those that would appreciate the sentiment, give gifts that encourage environmentally-friendly habits. Fluorescent lights, reusable lunch bags/water bottles, compost bins, canvas grocery bags, reusable coffee mugs, bikes, rechargeable batteries, water-saving showerheads, etc.
- Consider giving an alternative gift this year (variety of options listed below). Many nonprofits have launched alternative giving programs in recent years, and this list just scratches the surface. If you can’t find an established giving program in a particular area, a donation to a favorite cause in honor of a loved one is always a well-received gift. For further ideas, look to your local paper or favorite magazine - most publications now include alternative gift ideas in their holiday gift guides.
Alternative Gift Ideas
- General
Alternative Gifts International: Clearinghouse for gifts that support projects of all kinds in many regions of the world.
Gift Card Giver: Unused or partially-used gift cards? Send them in to be combined and given to someone less fortunate. - Relief and Development, Microfinance
Oxfam America: Oxfam Unwrapped – annual program invites donors to "buy," for example, a camel ($125), cow ($75), sheep ($45), irrigation ($20) or the planting of 50 trees ($30) as a way to support Oxfam's programs in developing countries (the recipient gets a card with a photo, not an actual goat).
MercyCorps: Mercy Kits – choose from various gift packages – business, food, livestock, disease awareness and prevention, etc.
Heifer International: Gift animals that allow individuals to provide for themselves and their families.
World Vision: Search catalog for gifts by price range, issue and region: animals, clean water, counseling, education, clothing, gardening, etc.
Global Giving: Country Search: Specific, local projects helping people in need around the world.
Pura Vida Milk Program: Simple and direct program giving condensed milk to Guatemalan children.
Kiva: Give a microloan directly to a budding entrepreneur.
International Justice Mission: Give the gift of freedom – investigations, advocacy or aftercare for individual victims of human rights abuse. - Environment
Trees for Life: Plant a tree in someone’s honor.
Nature Conservancy: Green gift guide, including Adopt an Acre programs.
Arbor Day Foundation: Gift trees.
Eco-Friendly Gift Guide - Animals
National Wildlife Foundation: Baby animal adoptions.
ASPCA: Holiday cards to support animal safety. - Local
Through your natural gas provider, give to local families who can’t afford their heating bills – many local providers (including Keyspan) offer such programs.
Pine Street Inn: Holiday cards to benefit local homeless shelter.
Gift it Up: Local Boston alternative gifts.
Consider a gift to a local homeless shelter, animal shelter or kid’s program in honor of a loved one.
