| Some people enjoy a white Christmas. Others | | | | instead of buying from the store. For example, |
| spend a blue Christmas. What we should all be | | | | make popcorn strings, paint some pine cones or |
| having, though, is a green Christmas. Here's how. | | | | make some salt dough ornaments. You can also |
| 1. Put up a real tree. | | | | try your hand at origami while recycling paper, |
| If you think buying an artificial tree is | | | | and make a wreath out of real leaves. |
| environment-friendly just because you don't need | | | | 4. Make your own cards. |
| to cut down a real one, think again. Artificial trees | | | | You can make your own Christmas cards, too, |
| are made from metal and PVC, which means | | | | which are more personalized, or if you're too |
| they are non-biodegradeable and are likely to | | | | busy, send creative e-cards. You can even skip |
| pollute a landfill site three to four years the | | | | sending a card altogether and just make a call to |
| number of Christmases they stood in your home. | | | | your friends and loved ones, which they are sure |
| Real trees, on the other hand, absorb carbon | | | | to appreciate more. |
| dioxide and can be replanted and re-used, so | | | | 5. Give eco-friendly gifts. |
| make sure you get a potted one or rent one if | | | | Avoid the crowds by skipping on store-bought |
| you don't have time to replant it yourself. They | | | | Christmas gifts and making your own, instead. For |
| can also be used as mulch after they die, not to | | | | example, you can knit a sweater, carve |
| mention that they look more beautiful inside your | | | | something out of wood or bake some cookies. |
| home. | | | | You can also just do something special, like plan a |
| 2. Use LED Christmas lights. | | | | trip with your husband or babysit for your sister. |
| LED lights use up to 90% less power than the | | | | If you must buy from the store, at least buy |
| conventional Christmas light bulbs, so replace your | | | | eco-friendly gifts like organic cotton shirts, |
| old ones with strings of them, instead. Sure, they | | | | bamboo towels or solar-powered lights. For kids, |
| can cost a lot at the time you buy them, but | | | | earth-friendly art and craft kits or a new pet |
| they will save you more money in the long run, | | | | from the local shelter make excellent green |
| which is certainly longer than the life of usual | | | | Christmas gift ideas instead of battery-operated |
| Christmas lights. They are brighter, too, and don't | | | | toys. Remember, batteries are non-biodegradeable |
| break easily, so they are sure to brighten the | | | | and contain toxic chemicals so they are definitely |
| holidays. Some LED Christmas lights are even | | | | not eco-friendly. |
| solar-powered, which are perfect for decorating | | | | Make sure you wrap your gifts in brown bags, |
| the outside of your house. LED or not, though, | | | | recycled paper or an old piece of cloth so they |
| make sure you turn off the lights when not in | | | | are even more environment-friendly. You can also |
| use. | | | | use dry pasta instead of bubble wrap to cushion |
| 3. Go for homemade decorations. | | | | fragile gifts. Be creative and you won't only have |
| Give your Christmas tree a more unique look and | | | | a green Christmas, but a truly imaginative and |
| save money by making your own decorations | | | | unique one, as well. |