I'm one of those people who (usually) refuses to think about Christmas until the first door of the (divine chocolate) advent calendar has been well and truly opened.
But I also know there are members of my family (Kate) who finished their Christmas shopping in September.
If you are somewhere in between you may be interested in the ultimate guide to having a green Chritsmas put together by the folks down at the Guardian.
Not just their top 10, but a whole alphabet full of ideas. Here are a few of the best:
A is for artificial trees - There is a whole debate about real or plastic trees...maybe even worth it's own blog post/debate...
C is for Candles - Paraffin candles are made from petroleum residue and are no good for your health or for the environment. Candles made from soy, beeswax or natural vegetable-based wax are more eco-friendly because they biodegrade and are smoke-free.
F is for food shopping - Buy local or buy less. Produce bought locally means you will be supporting small suppliers and the local community, while minimising your carbon footprint. Shop at a local farmers' market, or try growing some of your own vegetables where possible (a little bit late this year - though I attempting to grow lettuce on my window sill).
But I also know there are members of my family (Kate) who finished their Christmas shopping in September.
If you are somewhere in between you may be interested in the ultimate guide to having a green Chritsmas put together by the folks down at the Guardian.
Not just their top 10, but a whole alphabet full of ideas. Here are a few of the best:
A is for artificial trees - There is a whole debate about real or plastic trees...maybe even worth it's own blog post/debate...
C is for Candles - Paraffin candles are made from petroleum residue and are no good for your health or for the environment. Candles made from soy, beeswax or natural vegetable-based wax are more eco-friendly because they biodegrade and are smoke-free.
F is for food shopping - Buy local or buy less. Produce bought locally means you will be supporting small suppliers and the local community, while minimising your carbon footprint. Shop at a local farmers' market, or try growing some of your own vegetables where possible (a little bit late this year - though I attempting to grow lettuce on my window sill).
Remeber to take your own reusable bags and buy fruit & veg loose if possible to avoid excessive plastic usage.
L is for lights - Christmas tree lights left on for 10 hours a day over the 12 days of Christmas produce enough CO2 to inflate 12 balloons, so turn them off when they are not needed, and use low-energy LED fairy lights - you can get great half-price colour-changing ones here
Need more ideas? Read the rest of the article here
The guardian gift guide for 2008 will be out soon, so we'll post a link when it's up. In the mean time, check out these eco gift ideas
L is for lights - Christmas tree lights left on for 10 hours a day over the 12 days of Christmas produce enough CO2 to inflate 12 balloons, so turn them off when they are not needed, and use low-energy LED fairy lights - you can get great half-price colour-changing ones here
Need more ideas? Read the rest of the article here
The guardian gift guide for 2008 will be out soon, so we'll post a link when it's up. In the mean time, check out these eco gift ideas
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2 comments:
How about Christmas cards - you can send Christmas e-cards through Everyclick.com, save a few trees and donate to your favourite charity at the same time. There are over 200,000 charities to choose from and, unusually, up to 121% of your donation will go to charity.
Great idea, Phillamena.
And you can search for Christmas prezzies on everyclick too, with money going to charity for each search you do...
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