| With the Holiday season fast approaching, our | | | | tree to your community or city. What about a |
| thoughts here at GreenProfit Solutions, as | | | | cut tree? Unfortunately, most conventional tree |
| everyone else, are turning to plans for celebration | | | | farms use large amounts of chemical pesticides |
| with good friends and family. We started | | | | and fertilizers. A better option, if it is available in |
| wondering how we could combine the Holiday | | | | your area, is to buy an organically grown cut tree. |
| festivities with Going Green. After doing some | | | | Green Promise has compiled a list of organic |
| research, we came up with a few ideas: | | | | growers. Regardless of which cut tree you buy, |
| The results of our research estimated that in | | | | many municipalities now collect these and turn |
| America alone, over 2 billion holiday cards will be | | | | them into mulch. |
| printed and mailed, over 38,000 miles of ribbon will | | | | Go e-Cards - Traditional paper cards not only take |
| be used, and more than 50,000 square miles of | | | | a toll on our trees, but also add huge amounts of |
| wrapping paper will decorate all of those presents | | | | carbon to our atmosphere to process the pulp |
| Santa will deliver to all of the good boys and girls. | | | | into paper. While some manufacturers are |
| (Hmmm...I wonder if reindeer powered sleighs are | | | | beginning to use FSC paper, most of the inks |
| eco-friendly?) And what about the traditional | | | | used are solvent based and contain toxins which |
| Christmas tree? Millions of those will be left on | | | | can find their way into water supplies. There are |
| curbs, and hundreds of thousands of artificial | | | | so many great interactive e-cards you can buy |
| trees will find their way to landfills. So how can we | | | | online, or better yet, create your own with family |
| all enjoy our Holidays and still be green conscious? | | | | photos, music and even videos. Try creating one |
| Here are a few tips: | | | | free at Save A Tree Cards or 123Greetings. |
| No Plastic Bags - we didn't mention those in the | | | | Save trees, save paper and with no postage |
| above estimates but Americans send over 350 | | | | required, save money! |
| million tons of plastic bags to landfills each year! | | | | Go Real for Tableware - Use real plates and |
| (The Environmental Protection Agency estimates | | | | silverware, especially if you have an Energy Star |
| that between 500 billion and a trillion plastic | | | | efficient dishwasher. If you must use disposable |
| grocery bags are consumed worldwide each | | | | items, make sure they are recyclable, |
| year). Plastic bags are petroleum based, the inks | | | | compostable or biodegradable. Check the number |
| used may contain lead, and are not recyclable | | | | in the triangular recycle logo. If it is a 3 or less, |
| through residential or most commercial recycling | | | | chances are it can be recycled IF you make sure |
| programs. Many end up as litter, negatively | | | | it is not "contaminated" with food. Avoid buying |
| affecting our wildlife on land and in our waters. | | | | Styrofoam, as this normally cannot be recycled |
| Why not keep a supply of reusable fabric bags in | | | | and is also a petroleum based product. |
| your car, and use them when you shop for gifts? | | | | Wrap it Up - Have any magazines, decorative |
| Then after the holidays, they make heavy duty | | | | paper bags or old posters around the house? |
| carriers for your food shopping, at the home | | | | Here's your chance to reduce your clutter and put |
| improvement store, and everyday use. | | | | it to use as wrapping paper. If you must have |
| No Artificial Trees - these are also made from | | | | traditional wrapping paper, you can purchase |
| petroleum products and are not recyclable. If you | | | | recycled paper and cotton ribbons (some are also |
| can, buy a live tree and plant it in your yard after | | | | made with non-toxic soy based inks) online at |
| the holiday. You may also be able to donate the | | | | Fishlips Paper and Paper Source. |