Holiday décor can create more waste than most of us understand due to wasted energy and discarding Christmas trees. Here are a few ideas for green décor:
Make or Reuse Decorations
Rather than splurging on new Christmas décor, give a DIY or Pinterest project a whirl; or make a tradition out of reusing family and vintage Christmas décor.
Trees
There are many alternatives to the farmed Christmas trees we so often see on street corners. Decorate a living plant or purchase an artificial Christmas tree to use for years (or decades!). If you do purchase a living tree, be sure to choose Fair Trees. Fair Trees promotes ecology and sustainable forms of production in consideration of the environment. Currently, only 40 percent of the 50 million Christmas trees chopped down each year are recycled, according to Eartheasy.com.
LED Lights and Candles
LED Christmas lights are an easy swap that save more than 95 percent of energy over time, according to Eartheasy.com. To save extra energy, use mini lights instead of larger lights, and shut them off when you go to bed—nobody is appreciating the lights at 3 AM! LED candles are an alternative that is safer and more eco-friendly. There’s nothing like a good flickering candle or two to create warm winter holiday ambiance; but kids, pets, asthma, or even clumsy relatives might feel they’re too dangerous to have around. What we love most about them is that they’re truly sustainable because they’ll last forever, unlike real candles, which quickly burn down to a stump and need to be replaced constantly.
You can be eco-friendly during the holidays and still have a lovely decorated home to enjoy. By implementing these tips and swaps, you will be able to have a holly, jolly holiday at the same time as you help keep our planet safe and healthy.
