Week 33 - Greetings and Wrappings

As I mentioned last week, this time of year is when Americans generate tons of additional garbage that will end up in our landfills. There are two very wasteful traditions which come to mind, and to change them, we need to refocus on what is important. The first is the tradition of sending holiday cards and the second (far worse environmentally speaking), is the tradition of wrapping presents. We’ll begin with the perhaps easier one, cards.

Holiday Cards

According to the Greeting Card Association, Americans spend $7.5 billion dollars on greeting cards each year. That’s amazing! Think of what $7.5 billion dollars/year could do to improve our world! Why do we do it? Well, because we like to be remembered and we enjoy sending out holiday wishes and family photos to let others know we are thinking of them too. That’s ok. We just have to think of better ways to do it. Here are some ideas:

1. Send your greetings electronically

Yes, I know email seems cold and impersonal, but it really is the most environmentally friendly way (oh, and the cheapest). Just think about it.

There’s:

• no paper


• no envelope


• no stamps


• you can send your family photos


• you can mass email your family holiday letter (if that’s something you do), and make it as long as you like


• you don’t have to think of something “special” to write in each card (not to mention the hand cramp), and most importantly,


• there’s nothing to throw away after Christmas

2. Buy recycled

• If you must buy cards, look for those made from the highest percentage of PCW (post consumer waste). Sadly, according to idealbite.com only “a tiny percentage of the 2.65 billion cards bought in the United States each year are made from sustainable paper“.


• If you have no luck in stores, search online. Sites like paporganics.com and store.gxonlinestore.org offer organic cotton and/or fair-trade holiday cards. There are many options.

3. Make your own

I think it may be easier to find blank cards and envelopes made from recycled paper. So here’s a time when you can be creative or if you are not particularly crafty use your computer. If you don’t have the time, let the kids do it. Whatever you choose, the card will have more meaning to the recipient since the time and effort you put into it will be apparent.

4. Don’t send anything

• Make a call instead.


• Make an agreement with friends and family, not to send cards. That way no one will feel slighted if they don’t receive one from you.

5. Get together

I know we all feel rushed and stressed at this time of year, but we are in complete control of that. This year put the brakes on and only do as much as what makes you HAPPY! It’s supposed to be a cheerful time. Take more time to actually enjoy your family and friends. It really doesn’t matter if you give great gifts, if you’re miserable to be around. Stop with the gifts and the cards; give 'yourself' instead. Choose a day/night, a restaurant or bar, and meet your friends for a meal or drink. Have some down time, enjoy each others’ company and truly celebrate the season!

Now to the more difficult one:

Wrapping paper

Every year I think the same thing, “what a waste”! My kids take 10 minutes to undo a few hours of work and in the trash it goes! But what can we do because there's no way we will put the gifts under the tree “naked”? Well we can,

• Again, look for wrapping paper made from the highest percentage of PCW. To be honest, I don’t know how easy it will be to find.


• Use gift bags. They may be easier to find and can be used over and over again.


• Buy rolls of recycled paper and let the kids decorate their own. They will have no problem finding their gifts Christmas morning.


• Place gifts in items that can be reused. Boxes with lids, decorative tins, baskets etc.


• Make the “wrapping” part of the gift. Place items in a purse or scarf.


• Make gift bags from fabric you may have on hand.


• I had an uncle who was an artist of sorts. He gave us gifts wrapped in newspaper and foil. I always thought they were so cool, because they looked so different. Think of using things like newspaper or maps.


• Don’t even consider bows.

In general, try to think outside the box. If you do that, you will at least reduce the amount of paper you use. Keep in mind the focus should be on what’s inside the package, not what it’s wrapped in. And seriously when it comes to kids, they don’t care!

All this being said, I have to make a disclosure. I purchased both my wrapping paper and holiday cards just after Christmas last year; well before I began this blog. None of it is environmentally friendly. If you typically receive a card from me, don’t bother looking for the little recycled symbol because it won’t be there, I checked. But I will keep these ideas in mind for next year or any other time I send cards or gifts and you should too!