December 2015 Green Tips: Happy Holidays

Here we are at the holiday season again! Being sustainable during the holidays can mean a lot of things, like shopping locally, buying gifts made from recycled materials, and reducing what we buy overall.  Here are some more ways to stay green this holiday season and save some green in the process. Remember, every little bit we do to be more aware of our impact on the environment helps a lot, so happy holidays and enjoy:
 

1. Shop Local. There is a clear advantage to the local community when our shopping dollars stay close to home. Many studies have shown the economic benefits to communities of locally-owned businesses versus large retail chains.  Those benefits include: higher wages and better employee benefits for retail employees and lower poverty rates, a higher level of social capital and well-being that is positively related to the share of its local economy held by local businesses, more dollars staying in the community, lower costs to cities and other municipalities as studies have shown that the cost of providing big-box stores with city services — road maintenance, police, fire, etc. — can exceed the local tax revenue generated by these stores, resulting in a net loss to taxpayers. Support locally-owned, independent businesses and your money has a greater return by circulating among a community, increasing its sustainability as well.
2. Unwrap it. Instead of buying paper to wrap your gifts, try reusing paper bags, newspaper, office recyclables, or do away with wrapping altogether. Use your creativity to stack gifts in a bucket or basket; find interesting containers that become another gift. Let your family and friends know why you're not buying more paper, too, and spread the word about sustainability along with the holiday cheer!
3. The gift of experience. Here is another way for you to have fun. Choose an experience like e tickets to a show or game, a one-day class your friend is interested in, a date for a hike, or a professional massage as a gift. We know we would love receiving any of those and not one has to go in a landfill. How about making a donation to your loved ones favorite charitable organization,
4. Have you heard about Free Shipping Day? With over $1 billion in sales in 2011, and 623 merchants participating so far this year, including Aveda, Timberland, Neiman Marcus, National Geographic Store, and Verizon, Free Shipping Day is as straight-forward an offer as its name. A one-day online shopping event in which participating merchants promise free delivery by Christmas Eve, Free Shipping Day is on December 18, and allows those of us who shop later in the month a great deal. Check out the details on the website: www.freeshippingday.com.

1. Create your own signature gift. You may have a favorite cookie, knit hat,  pasta sauce that you know your family and friends would love. Handmade gifts are often the most cherished of all, so give yourself plenty of time and make multiples. Get the kids involved! If you want some inspiration, try looking through blogs like P.S. I Made This (at www.psimadethis.com) and Bldg 25's Free People Blog (at www.blog.freepeople.com/diy) for great ideas in a wide variety of categories and skill levels. And have fun looking on your own for inspiration...