Christmas Joys

It’s a Holly, Eco-Friendly Christmas
By Billings Farnsworth

As people become more and more conscious of how their lifestyle impacts the environment, there has been a push towards “green” consumerism, or purchasing merchandise that is environmentally friendly. Along with that has arisen the idea of “eco gifts,” presents to others that show your love to them while keeping the Earth clean and as healthy as possible. Here are some ways that you can make your gifts are eco-friendly and still just as fun to give.

The most important thing to remember with eco-friendly gifts is that the difference is in the material. In particular, focus on buying or making gifts from recycled objects or materials that would otherwise make their way to the landfill. By recycling old “stuff,” resources are not used to make new ones. For instance, some eco-friendly stores sell bags or purses made from old soda pop caps or ad banners, making use of what would otherwise be discarded.

Other gifts, especially cosmetics, obviously cannot be reworked like homemade crafts. In these cases, make sure you buy new material that is biodegradable or environmentally friendly. For instance, you might want to avoid cosmetics with petroleum in favor of ingredients like beeswax or minerals. Likewise, remember that while the contents will ultimately be used up, the containers have to go somewhere, so make sure the tube or bottle is recyclable.

Lastly, think outside the (gift) box: consider giving plants, organic dishes, or even some act of service that requires no wrapping at all. Such gifts shift the emphasis from a toy or thing to be used up to something that can be appreciated much longer and more fully.

With these suggestions, you can continue to show your love for friends and family as well as your concern for the natural world.

Scene Int’l dba Boondocks of Piermont (http://www.runninggiraffe.com) provides a variety of eco gifts that are friendly to the environment. Billings Farnsworth is a freelance writer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Billings_Farnsworth
http://EzineArticles.com/?Its-a-Holly,-Eco-Friendly-Christmas&id=2496243