Waste-free holiday - give us your tips!

I know the gift-giving holidays are a few months away yet, but my motto is, "it's never too early to start freaking out." So not only am I shopping early this year to help spread out the cost (and of course giving as many reusable bags, bottles and housewares as I can) but I'm also thinking of ways I can reduce my overall carbon footprint this holiday.

Last year every gift I gave came wrapped in a ACME Bags Workhorse - not only did I not waste wrapping paper, but I also gave a bonus present of my favorite reusable bag to every person I gifted. (Volume pricing made it an affordable alternative to reusable gift wrap, and they're more useful than regular reusable gift wrap.)

Thinking about this stuff reminded me of a tradition my friends and I have had for years - one that started out of silliness but has turned into a smart way to cut back a little more. Reusing gift cards.

A few years ago my friend Sean sent me a really great card for my birthday. It was so great that when it came time to send him a card, I just crossed out his signature and wrote my own, sending it right back to him. He held onto it and I got it back the next year. That birthday card has been going back and forth between the two of us for years now. I started doing the same thing with other friends and they all think it's hilarious - and I like it because it means I'm buying fewer disposable paper cards every year. (I also like to re-send cards at inappropriate times like condolence cards for weddings - I'll leave that to your discretion.)

But what do you do with all the holiday cards you can't, or don't want to re-send? Make them into ornaments! Decorate your house, or give them away as gifts themselves. It's a really smart way to upcycle one of the unavoidable throw-away items you'll receive this holiday. And it's not just for Christmas - collect Hannukah and Kwanzaa cards, follow the directions and display them in a glass bowl or vase.

So maybe you won't personally slow global warming by upcycling your holiday cards, but it's a start! What do you do to cut back waste during the holidays? Give us your good ideas and you might find them in an upcoming newsletter - if your suggestion is really great there might even be a pre-holiday gift in it for you.

Stay tuned for some great waste-free holiday tips from the rest of our staff!

Comments

[Lisa Costello]

I utterly love the idea of wrapping gifts in reusable bags - that has just made my holiday. Thanks!

[Melissa]

I wrap gifts in paper grocery bags and tie them with old ribbon or natural raffia. I also try to make my own Christmas cards from recycled paper (but it is a bit hard to find "green" craft materials) for those who I am closest to, and ecards to everyone else. I try to make my gifts green (a lot of people will be getting things from reusablebags.com) or make donations in their name - then there is no waste.

[Glenn Hurwitz]

Hi. Glenn Here from www.GlennIsGreen.com. I think one way to have a waste free holiday season is to get gifts at thrift stores. I recently bought some great books for one of my nieces. The books are in great condition and the prices were amazing. And since I got it at a thrift store, I was re-using something. That is NO WASTE!

-Glenn :)
founder
www.Glennisgreen.com
www.glennishere.com

[survival kits]

Hello There,
While surfing net I came across this site.Reading this post was a wonderful thing got to knew many new ideas for preventing waste of papers and its awesome reuse-ability.I Shall surely share these ideas with all my friends and motivate them for preventing paper waste.