Holidays are the time of year when you get to enjoy time with your family, forget all about your diet and decorate your home in a breathtaking way. Still, if you’ve got green living on the brain, then you have probably realized that all decorations (and the ways we use them) aren’t as eco-friendly as they could be. Obviously, you’ll look to reuse holiday decorations that have survived last year. Still, it’s somehow inevitable to find out that half of them are mysteriously gone or broken, or you just forgot where you put them. This is when you add “more holiday decorations” to your shopping list. But, this year – something is going to be different. You are going to look for ways to green your holiday decorating.
1. You want a tree? Keep it green…
Usually, we’d suggest you bought a plastic tree and re-use it for years to come. But, if you simply can’t resist that pine smell then buy a tree and enjoy it. Don’t worry, this is actually a relatively eco-friendly choice, you just need to be careful and conscious about where it goes once the holidays are over. Check back with askHRgreen.org after the holidays to find out where your city/county will be recycling trees. Recycled Christmas trees are often mulched into woodchips that are used to beautify common areas and parks around your community.
2. Lights
Opt for energy-efficient light strings when replacing bad strings of traditional holiday lights. You’ll find that using LEDs, or light-emitting diode bulbs, are up to 90 percent more efficient than traditional holiday lights. Plus, LEDs will last twice as long, lasting up to 10,000 hours compared with 5,000 hours for standard incandescent bulbs.
3. Festive Guest Rooms
Deck out your guest rooms without giving up on your eco-friendly design. There are a variety of choices to pick from when it comes to organic or otherwise eco-friendly textiles. Check out duvets, sheets, quilts and comforters made from eco-friendly fibers such as organic cotton, bamboo and silk. They are easy to find this time of year in festive holiday patterns and colors, so you needn’t worry about your guest rooms missing out on the holiday spirit. For an added ‘natural’ touch, borrow from nature with bowls of fruit, cinnamon sticks and/or pine cones for additional room décor.
4. The 3 Rs for Everything
‘Reduce, reuse, recycle’ are the three little words with an enormous impact, especially during holiday season. When wrapping presents, make sure the wrapping paper you use is made from recycled materials and recyclable. You can also opt for other eco-friendly gift wrap alternatives like newspaper or brown paper bags decorated with paint or stamps. Upcycle whenever possible. You can make it a true holiday decorating adventure! For some ideas to get you started, check out these upcycle ideas from askHRgreen.org.
Guest blog submitted by Damian Wolf. Damian is a DIY hobbyist and passionate writer. He loves to write about his own DIY projects, green topics and about all interesting stuff regarding home improvement. Damian is also a tools collector, who mostly uses online tool shops to add new pieces into his personal collection.