subject: How To Make And Buy Green Holiday Gifts [print this page] During the year, you toss out a newspaper or a movie ticket and you don't feel too bad about it. It's just a few pieces of paper. But, during the holiday season, there is paper everywhere from the gift wrapping to the decoration to all those holiday cards. You have to work extra hard not to be wasteful around the holidays. But if you prepare ahead of time, you can avoid the massive post-holiday guilt.
Gift boxes
Around the holidays, nearly every purchase you make comes with a convenient little cardboard box. But, in the heat of the moment and tearing up that shiny gift, boxes can get damaged and be rendered unrecyclable. Be careful when unwrapping presents since in tact, undamaged boxes can typically be recycled. Tip: call before going to be sure the center will take cardboard. Not all do.
Gift wrapping
If you just take a few extra moments to wrap that gift, you can measure how much paper you need more diligently so as to not overuse. Try putting only one sheet of tissue paper in gift bags and you'd be surprised how decorative it still looks. Again, take care when opening presents since that precious paper can be used again on other gifts. Even the wrapping paper that does get a bit messed up can go through the shredder and be turned into gift bag filler.
Gift cards
Yup, even these can be re-used! Giving them out as cards to someone new isn't a good idea, but there are other uses for these. Cut out the decorative parts of these and hang them from a string as a gift card, or even attach them to solid paper if you're creating your own cards. If you work with kids in any way, cut out appropriate figures and images from these cards. My friend teaches voice lessons to kids and whenever she gets a card with a cool musical design, she cuts it out and pastes it around her studio.
Mail orders
The tough thing about ordering gifts is that you have little control over the shipping and packing methods. However, what you can do when ordering gifts over the phone is request that the company not wrap items in polystyrene "peanuts" as these are harmful for the environment. As an alternative, ask that they send your order in paper "peanuts"." Keep these and any bubble wrap that your order comes in for future wrapping projects. If you subscribed to a certain catalogue just so that you can shop during the holidays, take your name off the list so they don't make another 11 unnecessary issues for you.
