Sustainability: business, life, environment

When the holiday season arrives, so do the holiday guests.  This holiday seasons more and more people are expanding eco awareness in their holiday season in an entirely different way. That's because more people are going green this holiday season, choosing to make their holiday as eco-friendly as possible.  
 
As described in our sustainability consulting practice, going green or sustainable living is a primary focus on eco awareness with actions towards reducing ones carbon footprint and embracing sustainability concepts in decision making.   This holiday season, spark the season with holiday cheer by greeting your guest with eco awareness.  Try these tips for sprinkling a little green into your holiday preparations:
 
Clean Green:   Conventional cleaning supplies may contain ingredients that are toxic or hazardous. By replacing them with eco-friendly products, you're providing improved indoor air quality, as well as using products aligned with sustainability concepts.  Try some of these from the list we suggest to clients in our personal consulting practice.

• Seventh Generation is an industry leader renowned for its nontoxic cleaning products.
• Mrs. Meyers also offers nontoxic cleaners and all of the company's cleaning supplies are biodegradable and incorporate natural essential oils to provide a pleasant cleaning experience. 
• Ecover makes its biodegradable, nontoxic cleaners from plant based ingredients and is powered by green energy in the making of its products.

 
Go Organic: Welcome your green guest with organic veggies in the kitchen, organic linens in the bedroom, and towels in the bathroom.   Try your local farmer's market for your veggies.  As for your linens, with eco awareness on the rise, there are plenty of sites, stores, and local shops to select organic linens.  Ideas include,  GoodFibers. They offer bamboo bath towels and bamboo kitchen towels that are eco-friendly and luxurious natural products.  Two favorite sites for organic bedding and organic mattresses are Lifekind and Janice's.  
 
Take eco action: Share your sustainable lifestyle habits by encouraging guests to turn off lights, TV’s, games, and computers to reduce energy consumption.  Place recycling bins in a visible location.  Take shorter showers and find ways to engage your guests in your eco friendly living habits.
 
Decorate with plants: improve air quality and create warm, festive settings with lively decoration.  Remember to give gifts made by local artisans, fair trade companies and/ or from recycled materials.
 
 
By sharing your sustainable lifestyle habits with your guests, you demonstrate that you don't have to be a fanatic to live green.  Living your values in a way that works for you creates space for your guests to explore those values for themselves.