The Holiday season is a time for families, sharing, love, laughter, presents and lots of yummy food, but have you thought about the environmental impact christmas season has on the planet. It is said that an increase of 25% of household waste happens from Thanksgiving though to New Years Day, which makes up an extra 1 million tons a week to our landfills.

One of the common practices at Christmas time is the giving of gifts, to wrap them we tend to buy paper form stores which is not always recyclable , to make wrapping gifts greener try using recycled wrapping paper, use cut outs from old magazines, and instead of using sticky tape try wool or ribbon, be creative and use all kinds of different paper you can find around the house and make wrapping your gifts fun and green. For your gift tags recycle the christmas cards you received the year before.

Choose gifts that support eco living and that free from harmful chemicals, choose a worthy cause and donate some money, buy creative gifts from your local charity and if you have time make your own gifts from recycled materials.

There are greener ways you can send a card this year try sending via email, send families one card instead of sending one to every member of the family. Try being creative and make your own from recycled card, use your children’s artwork for grandparents they will absolutely love it, these simple tips are very environmentally friendly.

If possible try buying a real Christmas tree, they are much better for the environment, plastic trees when discarded create toxic waste, although you can have them up to 6 years, they are made of metal and plastic and are not biodegradable so they will pollute landfills for many years. Live christmas trees can be planted, composted and used for mulch, it is not eco friendly to throw you trees out with the trash as they just end up on landfills so consider the above options. Buy your trees from sustainable growers.

How to go green over the christmas by reducing what you eat can help the environment and save you money, start by planning you meals by doing a head count, try to be realistic as to the numbers, look at what you already have and just top up on the things you need. Buying fresh food will reduce the packaging you use.

When you are dishing up food try having smaller portions, just because its christmas does not mean you have to fill your plate knowing full well you cannot eat all but if you do save and eat the rest for leftovers.

Christmas is a time to be jolly so have a great time with your loved ones, but spare a little thought for the planet and be conscious as to how much you waste and do your part to reduce this.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO All

Related posts:

1. Eco Friendly Diet Our western diets have a negative impact on the environment...
2. New year resolution In 2009 I kept to some of my resolutions; I...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

• Next Entry: Eco Friendly Diet