SMART GREEN GIFTS

Waste increases 25% during the holiday season and much of it can be recycled. The first, greenest and most important thing to do at this tradition-laden time of year is think anew.

A diamond may be forever but some plastic lasts about as long in landfills and isn’t nearly as attractive.

From the Center for American Progress: “With a recession in full swing and another year of inaction on climate change behind us, employing practical, environmentally conscious shopping techniques can keep more money in your wallet while also taking action on a serious problem—and it’ll be good for your blood pressure, too…”

Start with shopping. Errands can be combined, cutting down on fuel consumption and pollution spew. Bring bags along instead of using new ones from the stores and eliminate the “paper or plastic?” dilemma. And don't forget that last-minute shopping can be done online. (Presenting a hand-decorated envelope tommorrow announcing a purchase made today is thoughtful; an empty-handed apology means a holidy in the doghouse.)

From the Center for American Progress: “Give newspapers and paper grocery bags a second life as gift-wrapping material. Newspapers are also a great way of passively informing people about current events. What else can they do but read while they’re waiting to open a gift? And almost everyone remembers at least one of Julie Andrews’s favorite things: a brown paper package…tied up with strings.”

Parting thoughts: Deck the halls with boughs of jolly and leave some holly outside to clean the air. Joy to the world does not mean another visit to the mall. It ain't a silent night if the stereo's blasting or the TV's blaring.

The partridge won't have a pear tree if the land is cleared to dig coal - and it doesn't leave the cows the maids are amilking, the swimming swans, the laying geese, the calling birds, the French hens or the turtle doves much of a home either. That's something to leap and pipe and drum about.

Remember the guy who's birthday it's all about didn't have heat in that manger.

And for the co-religionists: It's all about getting a lot less oil to last much, much longer.

REDUCE, REUSE & RECYCLE! (click to enlarge)

It’s Easy Being Green: 10 Tips for Greener Gifts
December 10, 2008 (Center for American Progress)

WHO
Bless us everyone.

WHAT
There are ways to be greener and more conscious about seasonal gifts and traditions.

click to enlarge

WHEN
1 shopping day left until Santa.

WHERE
From the hearth to the mall.

WHY
The 10 tips for reducing, reusing and delighting without overspending or overconsuming:
- 1. Bake, cook, or give a consumable gift: Consunables in recyclable packages leave no waste.
- 2. Buy gifts they will use: Think, plan, ask.
- 3. Gifts that encourage green living: Battery rechargers, sustainable materials, exercise equipment, etc.
- 4. Regift: Duplicate cookery, clothes that never fit, unread books, etc.
- 5. Unleash your inner creativity: Digitals and crafts.
- 6. Give time, not goods: Do a kindness, take somebody somewhere, give coupons for services, etc.
- 7. Think charitably: Donations, dedications.
- 8. Give a gift where it’s needed: Good causes are in urgent need this year, from Unicef to disaster victims.
- 9. Consider reused gifts: Buying items at garage sales or Ebay.
- 10. Wrap it up: Common recyclable materials from newspapers and shopping bags to old textiles.

Reading and wrapping material. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
From the Center for American Progress: “Americans generate tons of trash during the holidays. Waste stream volume increases by 25 percent during the season, much of which is recyclable packaging and wrapping paper. It’s the time of the year when overconsumption is acceptable and encouraged, but in these economic times it seems that everyone is looking for ways to cut back on spending without cutting down on joy.”