How to Green Your Holidays – tips for a stylish infusion of nature
Have y’all thought about how to green your holidays? Because here’s a shocking fact: household waste increases by 25% over the Christmas holidays. Yikes!
We here at 512organics think about eco-friendly all. the. time. Christmas takes it up a notch, but here’s the cool thing: using your creative spirit to decorate, buy and wrap with little to no waste actually pumps up the holidays. Infuse the beauty of nature into everything, and makes the festivities hands-on in a way our automated world misses out on. It creates a new, fresh, inventive spin, and we really, really like it.
Get in the spirit and green your holidays in a flash
Holiday gift wrapping
There are tons of beautiful options to get into: fabric gift coverings, plain paper with a pop of colorful nature. Consider gorgeous handmade gift tags, bows made from biodegradable materials…
Our favorite earth-friendly gift-wrapping tip at the moment: thrift store fabric (you’d be surprised at the quality you can find) used in the Japanese furoshiki wrapping method. Bonus? Nice fabric can become part of the gift! Think kerchiefs, linen tea towels, even small tablecloths. SO cute.
upcycling sweaters as gift wrap
classic newspaper with greenery
Japanese furoshiki wrapping technique
Holiday Decorating
Do you get into decorating for the holidays? We do too, and once we incorporated the nature aesthetic, the possibilities suddenly seemed beautifully endless.
Wreaths are a great start, but really “branch out” and get your nature decor groove on. Thenotepasser blog has a selected group of zero waste ideas to choose from. Natural beauty can really shine!
Greenery, branches, berries and wood can easily look holiday beautiful. Just add sparkly LED lights, natural fabric ribbons, or a simple ornament and you’re set. Gorgeous!
Holiday gifts
Planet-friendly gift ideas are everywhere, and wow are they interesting:
Look for terrariums, handmade beeswax candles, and herb-potting kits. Also great: artisan cups and bowls made from ceramic and wood; vintage shirts; steel pizza cutters. In general, anything glass or bamboo is eco-friendly (my personal wish list includes bamboo toothbrushes and razors), as are leggings made from recycled fabric. The possibilities go on and on, and some of them are amazingly crafted!
Uncommon goods has curated a diverse collection of whimsical and elegant environmentally-friendly gifts. These Recycled Metal Ostrich Planters are so original!
Ecoffeecup makes travel cups from bamboo fiber for the coffee lover in your life – they’re cheerful, functional and pretty.
Last but not least, our own stainless steel oil-diffusing necklaces, paired with any organic essential oil blend. Boho stylish and earth friendly, this way to green your holidays is practical and pretty.
Making the holidays truly special
Besides the amazingly satisfying environmental benefit of thoughtful, eco-friendly purchases, there’s the psychological benefit of deciding to go green. Not giving a physical thing, but instead gifting your time and attention (picnic lunch, movie date), has special meaning.
Simply cooking dinner for someone you love can bring your relationship closer. There’s no better gift than bonding over experiences and making memories together.
Digital gifts (e-books, music), gift cards (pedicures, restaurants, experiences such as hiking tours or kayaking) have a smaller environmental impact. They also expand the opportunity to share the experience.
And don’t underestimate the satisfaction of making something with your own hands! Knitting, painting, designing and constructing can be so much fun for the gift-giver.
We’d love to hear your green holiday ideas. Comment below to let us know what we missed.
Happy holidays, y’all!