greenbaby

Well, it’s that time of year again. The tree is up in our living room (a small one on a table so the dogs can’t dismantle it), I’m slowly but surely baking the Christmas cookies, and this afternoon we’ll go to Walgreens to pick up pictures of Sweet Pea for the Christmas cards. Unfortunately, not only is Christmas one of the most joyous times of the year, but also one of the most wasteful. Gifts wrapped in shiny, glossy paper (very difficult to recycle) produce more waste than at any other time of the year. Add to that the plastic wrap from plates of Christmas cookies and the packaging from the presents themselves, and you have a recipe for a full garbage can.
There are a few simple ways you can cut down on the waste produced by your family this holiday season.
1) Bag it, don’t wrap it. “Save the paper!” is a familiar cry of mothers everywhere during birthday parties and on Christmas morning. While we may have made fun of our mothers’ frugality, they had the right idea. But wrapping paper, even when carefully folded and set aside, can only be reused a limited number of times before it shows a considerable amount of wear and tear. Not so for gift bags! They may cost a bit more up front, but can be used for years and still look new. Another favorite that I’ve just discovered this holiday season is gift boxes. These are boxes that come in different sizes and are made out of cardboard that is printed with decorative, colorful designs. They, too can be easily reused from year to year and they cost a bit less than gift bags.
2) Think reusable when packaging foods. When you bring in that plate of cookies to work or that platter of cheese to the party at your in-laws, use reusable containers to carry it. Put the cookies or the cheese in a tupperware or rubbermaid container (I like a set of glass bowls with plastic lids that I found at Crate and Barrel - they’re better for reheating food than their plastic counterparts). Bring along the platter and set it up in a few minutes when you get to where you’re going.
3) Cut back on packaging. Look for toys and other gifts that have little or no excess packaging. Happily, the more eco-friendly toys generally are not sold in packages or, if they are, they are fairly minimally packaged. Not only is this better for the environment, but it cuts down on that Christmas morning frustration of trying to get through layers of plastic and cardboard to the toy within!
Happy holidays!