Making the holidays sustainable
Aleshia Biggs

It’s so easy to get caught up in the consumerism of the holiday season. But if your wish-lists include wanting to give gifts that touch hearts and respect our environment, then these ideas might be for you.
Recycle wrapping
Use newspaper, brown paper bags, and any saved gift wrap—it’s fun to get birthday presents throughout the year. Look for recycled cards, or better yet paste white paper over an old holiday greeting. Top your gifts with dried flowers, leaves, or leftover greenery instead of ribbon.
Environmental shopping
Bring your own paper, plastic, and cloth shopping bags. Don’t accept new gift boxes—use your supply at home or wrap without a box. Use your legs, a carpool, mass transit, the phone, and Internet to shop.
Eat environmentally
Buy food for holiday meals that use as little packaging and processing as possible. Choose organic, local, and free range meats and poultry. Or, if the price makes you cringe, celebrate the holidays meat-free.
Give with the three Rs
Used stuff is great. Books, CDs, music, and crafting equipment… anything you can think of you can try to acquire reused and cheap. A number of artists recycle material in order to create new beauty. Local artists do everything from turn plate glass (the type usually excluded from recycling programs) into plates and bowls, to crafting unique gifts out of car and bike parts, cleaned with eco-friendly detergents. Reduce consumption by giving a service gift. Design creative certificates on recycled paper for anything from babysitting time to massage, or a night on the town.
Happy holidays from CSEA!