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Headlines encouraged consumers to plan their holiday shopping excursions on Black Friday and Cyber Monday -- scouting for the best bargains. Some stores opened at midnight, and found themselves flooded with shoppers who could not wait to burst into the store aisles. Everyone is looking for that perfect give, the perfect decoration or ornament for the holiday season. We travel to purchase these items, we travel to deliver the gifts, we travel for the holiday feast. This all consumes an enormous amount of resources. It is so easy to go into a store and make a purchase without giving a thought to the packaging the item is in. The United States Environmental Protection Agency reports that household garbage increases by 25 percent in the days between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. That places an enormous burden on our landfills. Celebrate the holidays, Christmas, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa, New Years -- they all deserve to be celebrated. It is our responsibility to be responsible stewards of our environment and work to lessen the negative impact these holidays have on our environment. Here are some ideas: Look for gifts and greeting cards that contain recycled content and that are recyclable themselves. Look for the Energy Star logo when buy appliances. These appliances are more energy efficient. If you mail greeting cards, consider sending a postcard instead of a larger greeting card. Better yet, send a cyber-greeting to friends with computers. You can recycle greeting cards by cutting them into small holiday gift tags. A treasured gift does not have to be a new item. Shopping at an antique store or thrift store an turn up so unique items that will be a perfect gift. Make your own gift, use your talents to create a treasured gift. If you are a stamp or coin collector, consider making a starter collection for a child, using your duplicates. Consider preparing food as a gift item, either baked goods, or even simple recipes that prepared with love. These make perfect gifts for elderly or those on a fixed income. You have knowledge that no one else has. Share these talents as a gift to someone wanting to learn about your hobby or specialty. An hour or two of your time makes a perfect gift. Planting a tree is a great way to honor someone. Donate to an organization or cause the recipient cares about. Gift certificate for services are always a welcomed gift. This holiday season, be responsible in your gift giving. Choose gifts that are environmentally friendly. If each consumer does makes a conscious decision to buy gifts that are kind to the environment we will all benefit.
Article Source: http://www.philvault.com
Before you buy your holiday gifts, give some thought as to how your give will impact the environment. Give a Green Gift
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