Doing our part for a healthier planet during the holidays
Did you know?
If every household reused just two feet of ribbon each year for gift wrapping, the 38,000 miles of ribbon saved would be enough to tie a bow around the Earth. If each family wrapped three gifts in reused materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.
Each holiday, 2.65 billion holiday cards are sold in the United States. That many cards would fill a football stadium ten stories high.
Real Christmas trees contribute beneficial oxygen to the atmosphere as they grow. Just one acre of Christmas trees produces enough oxygen to support 18 people, and for every tree cut down, two or three seedlings are planted. Tree farms also provide bird and wildlife habitat. Artificial trees, while reusable, are made of polyvinyl chloride- a chemical linked to cancer and birth defects- and 85% of them are made in China, where there are no restrictions against the use of lead in consumer products. The PVC they are made of could contain lead. (For an American-made Christmas tree billed as “100% Lead Free,” go to www.uschristmastree.com.)
What moms can do for a greener holiday:
REDUCE.
IDEA #1: Give gifts or memories that last. Buy fewer gifts this year, and make them count. Look for well-made, sturdy toys and presents that will last for years and can be handed down. Give gifts of your time—perhaps your friend could use your babysitting services, or a relative could use help around the house. Or give loved ones tickets to a play or concert, a state park pass, a dinner out, or gift certificates for massage, yoga, or cooking classes. (A six-class pass for yoga classes at Yoga Essentials Studio in downtown Janesville is $42. They offer a variety of classes, including a Family/Kids class for ages 4-10 and a parent. Visit www.yogaessentialsstudio.com for more information.) A charitable donation is another great gift. Gifts for time or services have no negative environmental impact and are personal and thoughtful.
Are you crafty? Give a homemade gift that shows off your talents at knitting, scrapbooking, or sewing. Or give baked goods packaged in reusable tins or baskets.
IDEA #2: Let your LED lights shine. If you’re in need of new holiday lights this year, consider LED lights. They use a whopping 90% less energy than conventional holiday lights and last 100 times longer. They cost more up front but will pay for themselves quickly.
IDEA #3: Shop early. Do your online and catalog shopping early so that you can request ground shipping. Ground shipping is 6 times more efficient than overnight air shipping, saving fuel and pollution.
REUSE.
IDEA #1: Wrap creatively. Reuse materials you already have on hand for gift wrapping. Save your child’s artwork and use it to wrap gifts for family members. (Grandma will love it!) Or use old maps, sheet music, or comics. Involve the kids in a fun project making recycled paper out of newspaper or other scrap paper, then use it for wrapping or to make holiday cards. Go to www.make-stuff.com/recycling/paper.html for details. Use gift bags, baskets, or tins that can be reused again and again instead of throwaway wrappings. Or wrap a gift in a colorful scarf or festive dishtowel, which then becomes part of the present.
IDEA #2: BYOB—Bring your own bag. Keep a compact bag in your purse for last minute shopping excursions.
RECYCLE.
IDEA #1: Look for gift wrap and cards with recycled content. Every purchase you make of recycled paper saves trees from being cut down.
IDEA #2: Entertain responsibly. Be sure to set out a receptacle for recyclables at your holiday get-togethers and alert guests about it.
IDEA #3: Give your real Christmas tree new life. Move the tree outdoors in its stand to provide shelter for wild birds. Decorate the tree with bird-friendly treats like peanut-butter and birdseed-covered cardboard “ornaments.” Or if you know someone with a deep pond, sink the tree to provide habitat for fish and aquatic insects. The City of Janesville does not have a tree-recycling program at this time. I plan to move my tree outside for the birds, and then in the spring, remove the branches and take them to the compost facility where they will be recycled.
ON ONE FINAL NOTE, A WORD ABOUT TOYS AND SAFETY
Green means healthy for the planet, but what is good for Mother Nature is usually good for people too. In light of the rash of recent recalls due to unsafe lead content in Chinese-made toys, consider having a “Made-in-China-free” holiday. Choose toys made in Europe or the United States. This won’t be an easy task: 85% of toys sold in the U.S. are made in China. But if you decide to go this route, as my family has, here are a few ideas to get you started:
Visit www.oompa.com, a Madison-based internet site selling a wide variety of high-quality toys, including a separate section of European-made toys. This is one of the few sites I’ve found that tells you exactly where each item is made.
Other sites to peruse include www.usmadetoys.com for a range of American-made toys, or www.woodentrain.com for made-in-the-USA train sets with lead-free paint. Of course, you can’t go wrong with wooden wagons from the Wisconsin Wagon Company, home of the Janesville Coaster Wagon. They even offer a small Tag-a-long wagon perfect for a young child to load up with stuffed animals. Visit them at www.wisconsinwagon.com.
Popular brands to look for that are not China-made include Playmobil, a German company whose play sets can be found locally at Building Blocks for Learning, and Lego, whose building bricks are primarily made in Denmark (they also have factories in Mexico and the Czech Republic.)
Have a happy, healthy, green holiday!
This EcoMOMs tip was brought to you by Dana Petersen Murphy, mom to Sabriel. You can contact me at dpmurphy@photokiva.com.
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