9 Ways to Green your Holidays

Here at the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), we’re gearing up for an eco-friendly holiday, so we thought we’d share some of our favourite tips on how to “green” your holiday celebrations.

1. Bring a reusable bag when heading out to the store for some holiday shopping.
2. Make unique and recyclable gift tags by reusing the fronts of old holiday cards.
3. Wrap your gifts in recyclable materials such as magazine ads, old maps, newspaper, or in reusable items such as cloth bags, scarves or tablecloths.
4. Save used wrapping paper for next year or use it to store delicate holiday decorations.
5. Use a potted spruce or evergreen if a tree is a holiday tradition in your family; they can be planted in the garden later.
6. Decorate with everyday foods such as cranberries, popcorn, nuts and fruit, which can be fed to birds or composted after the holidays.
7. Make your own gifts: paintings, knitted or crocheted items, jams, preserves or baked goods. Your recipient will appreciate the time and effort put into their gift.
8. Give “experience gifts” like tickets to the local theatre, a concert or sports event or gift certificates to local restaurants or spas.
9. Donate to a charity in someone’s name. NCC’s Gifts of Canadian Nature are unique symbolic gifts of habitat, perfect for the nature lover on your list. Help NCC protect Canadian habitat today!

To learn more about how you can be eco-friendly this holiday season or to obtain Gifts of Canadian Nature for everyone on your list, please visit natureconservancy.ca.