Sustainability: business, life, environment

According to the EPA, household waste jumps an astounding 25 percent between Thanksgiving and the New Year.  For those living a sustainable lifestyle, the trick to a successful holiday season is knowing how to enjoy the holidays while also minimizing waste.
 
As a green living consultant, I'm often asked, “What does reducing waste mean?"  When you avoid making garbage in the first place, you eliminate the disposing of waste or recycling it later.  It's the first component of the sustainability concept of the three R's: reduce, reuse, and recycle. 
 
To help you enjoy the holidays and trim your waste, following are eco actions we suggest in our personal sustainability programs:

Reduce Food Waste:
Pre plan your meals, buy in bulk, and prepare what you need.
Compost and turn your old food into healthy soil.

Reduce with eco decorations:
Recycle your Christmas tree! Contact your local recycling office to find out how to recycle your Christmas tree.
Reduce the number of lights on your tree as well as those decorating your home. Try to avoid leaving lights on all day. Use them only at night for maximum effect.  
Consider replacing standard holiday lights with strings of LED lights. The benefits of LED lights include energy efficiency, safety, sturdiness and a long life span.

Reduce when you shop and shop with the environment in mind:
Purchase products that are returnable, reusable or refillable.  Use reusable and refillable containers in your home instead of disposable items.
Purchase products with the least amount of packaging.
Get the most out of what you buy by comparing warranties and cost to repair or replace the item.
Look for products designed with the environment in mind: Organic clothing, sustainable furnishings, and solar powered products are just a few examples.

Reduce with eco gift giving:
Reduce paper consumption: Skip the wrapping paper.  Creative ideas for great wrapping paper alternatives include gift bags, boxes or fabric, or if you just can't give up the wrap, upcycle old paper products such as newspapers, magazines and even maps as "wrapping paper."
Use last year’s holiday cards as gift tags.
Buy recyclable batteries. Get a simple recharger for under $20 and save money as well as our landfills.
Give organic home-baked goodies in reusable holiday tins.
 
By thinking of ways to reduce waste when you shop, work and play this holiday season, it raises the level of eco awareness in your day and contributes to living a sustainable lifestyle.   There are fun and creative ways to reduce waste and also be good to the Earth at the same time.  Happy Holidays!