Even at the office, the winter holidays can be an exciting time of the year with parties and gift giving. But this joyous time can have a downside – its effect on the environment.

“Americans throw away 25 percent more trash during the Thanksgiving to New Year’s holiday period than any other time of year,” according to the Use Less Stuff Report. This is the equivalent of 25 million tons of garbage, or about 1 million extra tons per week, the report added.

Officially starting the day after Thanksgiving, the winter holiday season provides one of the best times of the year to put your best “green” foot forward. By adopting a use-less-stuff attitude and thinking outside the box to express season’s greetings, we can all reduce our impact on the landfill.

Just because we are reducing waste does not mean that gift giving is out of the question. Some green gifts keep on giving. Ideas for both company clients and employees include the following:

  • Use e-cards for your holiday cards. They send a purposeful message that you and your company are conscious of saving trees.
  • Encourage a green home makeover by giving faucet aerators, low flow showerheads and CFL or LED light bulbs.
  • Show continued support for environmentally-responsible travel with coins for the light rail, bus passes, and pedometers.
  • Give native flowers and trees. They can be used to brighten spirits and keep the air clean in the office, or to help offset carbon emissions and assist our pollinators when planted outdoors. Get more information from your local extension agent.
  • Create a fun, shared experience with tickets to ballgames, plays and movies, or locally-owned restaurant gift certificates.
  • Show green practices extend within and beyond the reach of your company with reusable items such as coffee mugs, travel mugs and water bottles with the company logo and an eco message.
  • Include practical gifts that anyone can use like a 100 percent recycled-content plastic, or cotton, cloth grocery bags.
  • Contribute your time or support on behalf of your company to local restoration and preservation efforts. In addition to community organizations, there also are national programs in need of assistance such as Habitat for Humanity, UNICEF, The American Red Cross, The World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy and so on.

Remember, if a gift needs to be wrapped, be sure to use materials that are recycled and recyclable, or reusable. Shredded documents make great filling for reusable baskets and packing material, and be sure to use recycled-content/reused boxes for items that need to be mailed.

To further get your office into a green festive spirit:

  • Get creative – hold a recycled ornament competition to trim the tree and the office using office recyclables and company discards.
  • Consider a live, native tree that can be planted on the company grounds or in the community after the holidays. If you use an artificial tree, be sure to keep track of it and reuse it year after year. If you use a cut tree, be sure to check with your local recycling program to have it properly recycled.
  • Be sure to go local for your vendors and food for any holiday parties. Don’t forget to use reusable plates, glasses and cutlery or use 100% recycled paperware that will be composted afterwards. Donate any leftover food to your local shelter or food bank.
  • Consider holding a raffle for a new bike or yearly commuter pass on local transportation with the proceeds going to a favorite charity.
  • Volunteer in your community whether it be singing carols at a local hospital or nursing home, helping to serve food at a local shelter, or gathering and distributing food and green gifts for those in need.

Start the conversation…™

How will your company green its holiday season and New Year’s resolutions?

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