It’s the Most Wonderfully Sustainable Time of the Year

By: Jess Windham

With countless ways to make the holidays environmentally friendly, why not see how many you can do at once? No one can do it all, but we can all do something. Here are some ideas to get your ‘enviro-wheels’ turning as you make the season bright:

What’s the Use – Give a present that will keep on giving, both to the recipient and the environment. Things like rain barrels, a replacement LED, a native hardwood sapling, or a compost bin can help reduce annual bills, decrease carbon footprints, prevent flooding, or produce less waste materials.

Maker – Just when you think Atlanta’s shown all her cards, you discover another creative business, craftsman, or brewery ready to knock your socks off. An incredible wealth of products made in Atlanta and our region in general from Charleston to Asheville to Nashville are just waiting to be discovered. The more local your gift, the fewer miles it has to travel to get to you and the more you support a local economy.

Material – When choosing gifts, choose presents made of sustainable, recycled, long-lasting, or reusable materials. Bamboo is a good material to choose and a lot of companies are now incorporating recycled materials into their products. Have fun with it and see what you can find. If you’re lost, look for certifications like FSC for paper products or cradle-to-cradle certification.

Thought That Counts – Some say the best gifts are actually experiences. Every Atlantan I’ve met has at least once quintessential Atlanta experience they haven’t yet experienced. Just to name a few, you could give someone a walking tour at Oakland Cemetery, adventure through The Atlanta History Center, hang out with dinosaurs at Tellus and Fernbank, or laugh with characters of all types at the Center for Puppetry Arts. This barely scratches the surface – go forth and explore!

In the Aftermath – If you’re like me, you’ll have a lot of packaging, styrofoam, old electronics, and an old Christmas tree hanging around after the holidays. The City of Atlanta aims to divert 90% of municipal waste by 2020 and has multiple resources to help divert these things from our landfills. Find out more online at http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/patch/c13d702b501bc5a7b3731ca6d3cc2ae6. For more sustainable holiday tips, here is an A to Z:  http://www.theguardian.com/environment/ethicallivingblog/2007/dec/12/toptipsforagreenchristmas.