Kayakas!

Gifts equal shopping. Shopping equals more travel, and more travel equals higher gas usage, which equals increased carbon emissions. Many of the gifts given could end up generating more waste in our landfills (packaging and

What to do? Boycott the Christmas gift giving tradition? Of course not, there are alternatives. Here are five tips to get you started.

1. Plan your shopping trips, so that they occur along your usual routes as much as possible. If you work downtown take a stroll by the shops. Is there a shopping center or mall along your route from work? Check it out?

2. Carpool. If you’re planning to go to the local outlet mall, get your friends together and make it a shopping date.

3. Give sustainable gifts: water bottles, canvas shopping bags (decorate them with fabric pens or iron on patches for a personal touch), or stainless steel travel mugs. Check out other suggestions on Treehugger’s Holiday Gift Guide.

4. Give recycled gifts. Look in your closet, your cabinet or storage space. What’s in there that you haven’t used in the longest time, is gently used and could be of service to a family member or friend? Read Brian Smith’s story at Altenet.org. You can also recycle or create decorative wrapping paper and cards using old Holiday cards, decorations and papers that you have around the house.

5. Give homemade gifts. If you make great holiday cookies, pies, or other treats. Whip up a batch and give them as gifts in reusable decorative container. If you’re an artist, create miniature works to share with family and friends.

Click here to advertise on the Worlds largest Blog Advertising Network

Comments RSS