GREEN CHRISTMAS: The definitive guide

BUY LESS Not all gifts have to be store-bought. You can give more for less money by making gifts that are personal and unique.  Or, instead of giving gifts to your family or partner, donate money or other types of resources to a foundation for children or the elderly.

BUY GREEN THINKING  Look for locally made gifts. For gifts from around the world, the impact of transportation contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and CO2 emissions.

• Choose gifts made from recycled sources – many individuals and small businesses develop products using recycled materials. Supporting these businesses helps reduce the waste stream. In our area LOU IMPACT (brooches made from recycled plastic bags) ; Art & Recycling (useful billboards) and Environmental Home (practical purses handmade from reused PET plastic bottles) are 3 very good options.
• Give gifts that don't use batteries. More than a third of all battery sales occur during this holiday season, and when discarded, batteries are often an environmental hazard.
• Avoid toys that promote violence. There is too much violence in the world. There are many toys and games that are fun, and encourage creativity and a sense of play.
• 'Re-gifting' is okay. That is, passing on a gift you received but don't need.

CONNECT WITH NATURE.Christmas is a time for family. What a great opportunity to start a family tradition of taking a walk around the earth and instilling sustainable living values for your children, friends and community.

Bird Counts – There are some opportunities that we have already shared for these activities. Two examples are the counts in Loma Alta and Cerro Blanco. But you can go out as a family for a walk in your neighborhood, park or countryside. Try to identify and count all the birds you see, take notes. There is always a surprising discovery. Comparing the results with previous years will be done by experts in local birds and their habits.
Family walk – a quiet walk in nature on Christmas Day will be remembered and appreciated by everyone.
Restoring nature – Planting a tree acknowledges nature as the source of our well-being.

LOWER THE IMPACT OF LIGHTING

The house with the most lights used to be the “best.” Times have changed. The waste of electricity depletes natural resources. Here are some ideas.

• Reduce the size of external lighting.
• Use LED lights for home and Christmas tree lighting – LED (Light Emitting Diode) in Christmas lights uses up to 95% less energy than large LEDs.
• Turn off tree and house lights at bedtime. It's simply a waste of energy to leave Christmas lights on at night after everyone has gone to sleep.

CHOOSE TO DECORATE A LIVE TREE IN YOUR HOME 
This doesn't necessarily have to be inside your home - although plastic trees are reusable from year to year, real trees are the more sustainable option. While artificial trees theoretically last forever, research shows that they are often thrown away when repeated use makes them less attractive. Discarded artificial trees are sent to landfills, where their plastic content means they last for many years.

Living plants, on the other hand, are a renewable resource grown in forest plantations, which are replanted regularly. They contribute to air quality while growing, and almost ninety percent of them are recycled into compost.

Make your cards at home.Christmas cards are often fancy and expensive. They also consume a huge amount of natural resources. Homemade cards may not be as professional, but they are more personal and much appreciated, and they are fun for the whole family.