Sure, you like saving energy. But you like cozy lights, too, right?! Here are 7 energy-saving holiday lights so warm and twinkly even the Grinch would like them. And so will you!

Energy-Saving Holiday Lights

LED String Lights – Here’s a link to a wide variety of options for energy-saving holiday lights. They’re twinkly, waterproof, warm, and will save money on energy.  These LED solar string lights, called a “Chuzzle Ball,” are waterproof, require no batteries, and look like fairies! I particularly like this twinkle star string. It’s lightweight, easy to store, and easy to array anywhere.

Red Christmas Lights – These Red Christmas Lights come in 33 ft long strands of 100 mini lights. They offer up to 88% energy savings, compared to the standard string lights. They’re super bright, so perfect for decorating outside. They’ll stay lit when a bulb is loose or missing, and are easy to replace with spare extra bulbs and a fuse if a bulb burns out or breaks. They can be connected end-to-end, up to 22 sets, or 2200 lights. UL certified and water proof.

Multi Color LED Indoor/Outdoor Lights – Use these energy-saving holiday lights to decorate trees, outline your home, or otherwise add cheer to your holiday. UL certified and 33 feet long per strand.

Hanukkah LED Lights – Amazon has blue LEDs that aren’t specifically marketed as Hanukkah lights, but they could still work for you. NoveltyLights.com sells plug-in (electric) blue lights that could be a better alternative. If the color is right, give these a try instead of the battery lights. HolidayLights.com has options in bulk.

White Lights – I personally still find these a little white/white in color. But they definitely save energy! Get big ones like these to make a statement, or choose the smaller size. The warm white option might be best.

Star Curtain String Lights – These LEDs include 6 large and 6 smaller LED star ornaments. You can hook them wherever you want: in front of a curtain panel, dangling off a mantle, on the patio, or around the porch. Aren’t they cheerful?

ALOVECO LED String Lights – These waterproof balls of light are perfect for a Christmas tree, New Year’s Party, or any other special event where you could use energy-saving holiday lights (which is pretty much everywhere). They have 8 working modes, such as slow fade, and steady on. They’re also waterproof so you can use them outside.

Enjoy the holidays, and be cozy!

NOTE: Big Green Purse earned a small sponsorship fee for this post and may also make a tiny affiliate commission on sales on Amazon. The fees are too teeny to affect our recommendations or opinions, but they do help us continue to serve you. Thanks.

The post 7 Energy-Saving Holiday Lights Cozy Enough for the Grinch (and You, too!) appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Before you ask “Santa” to bring you a new washing machine, a set of cool wireless speakers, or maybe an updated flat screen tv, pass him (or her) a copy of the ENERGY STAR Holiday Gift Guide.

He – along with you and everyone else shopping for appliances, electronics, and even new holiday lights – can find great gifts that give back by saving you so much energy and money and helping prevent climate change (which is why we’re partnering with ENERGY STAR to let you know about this fabulous guide).

What’s in the ENERGY STAR Holiday Gift Guide?

EPA’s ENERGY STAR team put together the guide to help all shoppers (whether they wear a red suit or not) make the most energy efficient choice in 15 gift categories, including →→→

In each category, the guide describes the benefits of buying the ENERGY STAR certified option in terms of both energy and money saved, as well as the environmental impact.

For example, an ENERGY STAR certified clothes washer will use about 45% less water and 25% less energy compared to models that meet the federal minimum standards.

Top-freezer refrigerators that have earned the ENERGY STAR use less energy than a 60-watt light bulb!

If every clothes washer, dishwasher and refrigerator purchased in the United States this year were ENERGY STAR certified, we would prevent greenhouse gas emissions equal to those from nearly 270,000 cars!

The financial savings are so significant, they amount to a gift all on their own.

The typical household spends about $2,000 a year on energy bills. With ENERGY STAR, you can save about 30%, or about $575.

I’m proof that these choices make a difference. A few years ago I switched to the ENERGY STAR qualified LED light strings similar to those featured in the guide. These qualified light strings use 75% less electricity than conventional incandescent light strings.

As much as I love the energy and money savings, I particularly like that the bulbs are very durable and don’t break the way the little incandescents used to. Plus, ENERGY STAR LED light strings are cool to the touch, which reduces the risk of fire.

The lights are available in a variety of colors, shapes, and lengths. I’m partial to the multi-colored strings, but I noticed that my city’s downtown area has wrapped all the trees in our shopping district with the cool white ones.

Another feature of the ENERGY STAR holiday gift guide is that it makes it easy for shoppers to find rebates when they’re available. All you need to do is click on “FIND REBATES” and plug in your zip code. Whatever rebates are available in your area for the product you’re buying will pop up. (Here’s how I got $200 in rebates when I bought a new ENERGY STAR refrigerator.)

Santa, if you’re shopping for a new set of speakers for me (hint, hint), PLEASE make sure you check out ENERGY STAR’s partner deals. They’ll save you a bundle buying, and me a bundle when I start bingeing on my favorite holiday carols.

You can even download a cute little holiday gift tag to use when you wrap my gift.

Whatever you buy, make sure the product label includes the ENERGY STAR imprimatur. Many manufacturers claim their goods are energy efficient, but only those that have met ENERGY STAR’s standards for quality as well as energy efficiency display the logo.

12 Days of an ENERGY STAR Christmas

Over on Facebook and Twitter, we’ll be featuring one energy-efficient gift category every day for 12 days. Please stop by and wish us a merry Ho Ho Ho!

And if you buy something from the ENERGY STAR holiday gift guide, do let us know.

NOTE: Partners enable us to bring you the expert content you need to live the greener life you want. All editorial opinions remain our own. But of course, we only partner with those whose mission we support 100%! Happy holidays!!

The post Ask Santa to Shop From the ENERGY STAR Holiday Gift Guide This Year appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Ever hear of “Green Monday”?

Evidently, it’s the biggest shopping day in December and the second biggest online holiday shopping day of the year, right after Cyber Monday post-Thanksgiving.

In fact, Green Monday so big, it’s also known as Cyber Monday 2.

Green Monday got its name in 2007, when eBay reported that its busiest day was the second Monday in December.

At the time, when most items were shipped by mail instead of overnight, the second Monday in December was the last time you could purchase something and be guaranteed it would get delivered by Christmas.

People panicked and bought stuff like crazy!

That second Monday was so profitable for retailers and manufacturers that they dubbed it “green” because of all the money they made. In 2016 alone, Green Monday online retail sales amounted to $1.621 BILLION, Statista.com reports.*

These days, retailers promote “Green Monday” as another way to maximize sales. But when I first heard about this year’s December 11 being “Green,” I foolishly thought, “Oh! They’re promoting eco-friendly products on this day. Isn’t that great!”

Of course, that turned out not to be the case at all. Which is why I’m writing this post.

“I think Green Monday SHOULD be about actually being GREEN.”

That means, it SHOULD be about buying less, which is the greenest way to celebrate the holidays.

And, it SHOULD be about buying the greenest version of whatever product or service or present you want to give this holiday season.

Need help figuring out what’s actually eco-friendly?
Use our Green Shopping Guide Principles. 

That’s why I’m going to do my best to take over Green Monday on December 11 and actually make it GREEN.

Help Me Take Over GREEN Monday!

Here’s how:

I’m going to start with suggestions on how to enjoy Christmas without buying anything at all.

That’s the best way to reduce the environmental impact of producing, manufacturing, and shipping stuff, a lot of which people don’t need anyway.

The product recommendations I do make will focus on the greenest, cleanest options available.

If you’re going to be buying things anyway, I want to make it easy for you to buy the most planet- and people-friendly versions available.

I’m also going to try to spread the word.

Could you help me do that? I’d really appreciate it.

Start by sharing this post so more people join in the effort to put the green back in Green Monday.

Then, do your part. If you’re shopping on Green Monday, choose the greenest products and services available.

And please let me know what you’re doing to make GREEN Monday actually green.

NOTES

• Data on Green Monday sales came from Statista.com. 

The post Make “Green Monday” Actually Green appeared first on Big Green Purse.

My favorite gifts to give are those that make a whole bunch of people happy at the same time. I think you’ll like this idea too, which is why I’ve created the Incredible Buy One Give One Holiday Gift Guide.

I love BOGOs! BOGOs are companies that give someone in need a free gift every time one of their items is purchased. Tom’s seems to have started this practice by producing canvas shoes that were sold as two-fers. If I bought a pair of TOMS, TOMS would give a pair for free to someone who was shoeless. Today, a lot of BOGOs offer a wide variety of products. I’ve compiled the best of them into this incredible Buy One Give One Holiday Gift Guide.

Buy One Give One Holiday Gift Guide

TOMS – TOMS shoes has provided over 60 million pairs of shoes to children since 2006, thanks to the many shoe purchases the company has inspired.

You can still shop for shoes, but TOMS now also donates other essentials thanks to the shopping you do with the company. Here are a couple of other reasons why we included TOMS in our Buy One Give One Holiday Gift Guide.

If you buy the company’s sunglasses, TOMS will donate prescription glasses and help fund sight-saving surgery.

If you buy a bag of TOMS Roasting Co. Coffee, you’ll help fund 140 liters of safe water–a week’s supply–to a person in need.

Purchases of TOMS Tote Bags like the one pictured here support the training needed to help provide a safe birth where conditions are risky.

DIFF Charitable Eyewear – DIFF (as in make a “diff”erence) is built on the principle that designer eyewear should be socially conscious as well as affordable and fashionable.

That’s why, for every pair of sunglasses purchased, a pair of reading glasses is donated to someone in need.

Through their partnership with Eyes on Africa, DIFF has provided the gift of sight to over 20,000 people.

They also partner with Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity, a partnership that in 2017 helped 10,000 people worldwide.

Better World Books – This bookseller collects and sells books new and used, then uses the profits to fund literacy initiatives worldwide.

They also commit to matching every purchase on their website with a book donation to someone in need, in a program called Book for Book.

They conduct book collection drives on over 2,300 college campuses and partner with 3,000 libraries, too.

So far, the company has converted more than 250 million books into over $24 million in funding for literacy and education. In doing so, they’ve diverted more than 250 million books from landfills.

Here’s another benefit: every order shipped from their warehouses is carbon balanced with Green-e Climate certified offsets.

Bluer Denim – For every pair of jeans you buy from this company, you can donate an old pair.

Once Bluer receives them, they’ll give you a $15 credit and send your old jeans to someone who needs them.

It’s a great way to recycle your jeans and reduce the carbon impact of producing and shipping a new pair.

Here’s another advantage to Bluer. They’re made in America: designed in Portland, Oregon; made from cotton grown in Georgia and denim milled in North Carolina, with rivets and zippers coming from Kentucky. The jeans are cut, sewn, washed, and hand-finished in Los Angeles using what the company says are eco-friendly ozone laundry processes.

Good Spread – I always give friends and my kids food for the holidays, so when I heard about Good Spread being a BOGO company, my first reaction was, “Bingo!”

Good Spread includes organic unsweetened peanut butter, organic honey banana peanut spread, organic chocolate pretzel peanut spread, and organic salted honey peanut butter.

The ingredients are non-GMO, Palm Done Right, and organic certified.

Where does the BOGO come in? When you buy a jar of Good Spread, you send a treatment of MANA Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food to a malnourished child. As the company’s motto goes, “Four delicious organic flavors to choose from. One lifesaving mission!”

WeWood – “You buy a watch. We plant a tree.”

What’s not to like about that BOGO approach?

Since 2011, WeWOOD, a company based in Florence, Italy, says it has planted over 500,000 trees.

Its goal is to plant 1 million total by 2020. The company works with Trees for the Future and American Forests to “help restore Mother Nature one watch at a time.”

The watches are made from exotic remnant hardwoods minus any toxic chemicals.

BOGO Bowl – This company’s name says it all. And the company says it up front.

“You buy a bag and we give a bag to a pet in need.”

The pet food manufacturer says it doesn’t use byproducts, artificial colors or flavors, or corn, wheat or soy as filler. It’s good dog and cat food in a variety of formulations to help animals maintain a healthy weight and develop healthy bodies, starting with kittens and puppies.

The company helps pet pantries, foster-based programs, animal shelters, and rescue centers.

We’re looking for more BOGO companies to add to our guide. If you have any recommendations, please list them in the comments below or on the Big Green Purse Facebook page.

Happy holidays, and thanks for shopping BOGO!

NOTE: Some of these entries contain affiliate links. We’ll make a teeny tiny commission of you use the link when you shop, which helps us continue to bring you the green expert content you need to live the greener life you want. Thanks!

The post Our Incredible Buy One Give One Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Nature and WildernessAlaska Wilderness League leads the effort to preserve wild lands and waters in Alaska. I’ve served on their board and worked with them on many campaigns to keep oil drilling out of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Their work is particularly important right now, as the Trump Administration has set its sights on opening the refuge to drilling, which would destroy habitat for millions of animals, including calving caribou and denning polar bears.

Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance has successfully helped protect wilderness lands in the heart of the Colorado Plateau. I worked with them to help create the 2.3 million acre Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Now they’re battling to keep that region off limits to development, along with the gorgeous Bears Ears National Monument. If you love the wild, wild West, support SUWA!

Center for Biological Diversity proclaims their mission simply but boldly: Saving life on Earth. Right now, the group is fighting to protect elephants, wolves and bears, and make sure the effective Endangered Species Act is not abolished.

The Jane Goodall Institute works to inspire people to “conserve the natural world we all share,” thereby improving the lives of people, animals and the environment. “Everything is connected–everyone can make a difference.” I should note that Jane Goodall inspired me to become a conservationist when I was just a young girl. She continues to inspire and motivate me!

Climate Change

Moms Clean Air Force is mobilizing one million parents, especially moms, to help stop climate change, advance clean energy, and protect the air we breathe. I’m proud to say I’ve been a member for years, and have written dozens of articles for them on climate science, plastics and toxic chemicals, and more.

By the way, Moms Clean Air Force made my list of “5 Trustworthy Climate Change News Sources You May Not Know About.” What are the others?

Chesapeake Climate Action Network has devoted the last 10 years to fighting global warming, mountaintop removal, coal mining, and fracking while advocating for solar and wind power. They’re doing a great job protecting the nation’s Chesapeake Bay region and one of the most important estuaries in the United States.

Toxic Chemicals

Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families is leading the charge to protect families from toxic chemicals. In a recent major victory, they persuaded seven major retailers to commit to reduce their use of toxic chemicals in products and packaging. Yay!womens

Womens Voices for the Earth researches the impact that toxic chemicals in women’s hygiene and home cleaning products have on women’s health, then mounts campaigns to pressure manufacturers to clean up those products. They’re tackling some of the most toxic chemicals in the everyday products we buy – and helping to get rid of them!

Savvy Women’s Alliance is creating a national network of community chapters for people who want to live non-toxic lives. The group offers regular healthy living tips and many other resources to help you get off the bad stuff and onto the good stuff.

Family Planning

Planned Parenthood is on the list because they provide essential reproductive services and birth control that help limit population growth. Population growth has huge environmental impacts – more people mean greater demand for natural resources which leads to more consumption and waste. Climate change, water scarcity, air pollution are all linked to population growth. Planned Parenthood directly benefits women and Mother Nature both.

Environmental Justice

Dig Deep brings an essential natural resource to thousands of Americans who don’t have it: clean water. As hard as that is to believe, it’s true. Families living across the western US don’t have indoor plumbing or clean water to drink. Dig Deep is changing that by helping these communities dig wells and create low-cost systems that bring safe, hot and cold water into homes, schools and community centers.

I took Dig Deep’s 4 Liters Challenge and lived on 4 liters of water – only 1 gallon- for just one day. Could you do it? Read all about it here. 

Plastic Free

The Plastic Pollution Coalition is on a mission to stop plastic pollution and its toxic impact on humans, animals, and the environment. It’s mobilized a coalition of 500 member organizations, plus many individuals, that is working to find sustainable solutions to stop plastic pollution and empower you and me to list plastic-free.

Want to consider other organizations for Giving Tuesday? Check out Great Non Profits, a non-profit itself that makes it easy to find organizations doing good work on the issues you care about most.

You can skip to their list of environmental groups by clicking here.

Once you’re on the site, you can also easily find charities working to stop fracking, protect animals, safeguard clean water, and more.

Thanks for giving!

The post Can You Give to Just One of These 12 Eco Charities On Giving Tuesday? appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Looking for a gift for your favorite DIY-er? Here are 7 eco-friendly stocking stuffers that any handy person will appreciate.

Glide Lubricant & Protectant – Throw out the WD-40! Glide Lubricant is the green alternative for oiling a squeaky door, bicycle chain, or sticky zipper. In fact, take a look here at all its potential household uses.  Manufacturers claim it can remove lipstick stains and erase crayon marks from toys, flooring, furniture, walls and television screens – plus unstick Legos!! Glibe Lube is non-VOC, has never been tested on animals, and is even NSF/H1 safe for incidental contact with food (in case you need to tune up a food processor, blender, toaster, juicer…you get the idea). Order it from the Glide store here.

EO Hand Sanitizing Gel – DIY-ers may like to make a mess, but they also like to keep it clean. This gel hand sanitizer both sanitizes and moisturizes, thanks to its jojoba oil and vegetable glycerin. But it’s unscented, so is perfect for the guy or gal who doesn’t want to smell like perfume.  It contains no antibacterials (like triclosan), so won’t add to the antibiotic resistance problem the way other hand sanitizers do.

LED Headlamp – If your DIY-er finds his or her head under a car, buried in a cupboard, or otherwise peering into a dark or hard-to-see space, this Streamlight Septor LED Headlamp could be the perfect gift. The 7 ultra bright white LEDs pack a lot of power; the settings offer three levels of lighting and up to 120 hours of continuous run time. The lamp does require 3 AAA batteries, so make sure they’re rechargeable.

Snacks – Don’t let your DIY-er run out of energy. Look for snacks with a minimum amount of sugar, no transfats, no hydrogenated oils, and non-GMO. My faves are Kind bars, and they come in a variety of combos, including nuts & spices, and dark chocolate with cherries and cashews. Yum!

Water Bottle With Filter – A DIY-er never knows where he/she might end up. Having a water bottle with its own filter is a good idea. I like the Ecoflo Stainless Steel Water Filter Bottle. It’s BPA free, has no phthalates, and the filter removes up to 99.99% of pollutants.

Hemp T-Shirt – Hemp is one of the most eco-friendly fabrics out there. It requires little in the way of water and pesticides to grow, and once it’s turned into fabric it is extremely durable and long-lasting. Guys can try this t-shirt that is 55% hemp, 45% organic cotton, and available in short or long sleeves. Here’s one for women.

Non-Toxic Hand Soap – Most DIY-ers spend a LOT of time washing their hands. Using a non-toxic, moisturizing soap is the key to avoiding dried out and chapped skin. This handmade all natural Castile Olive soap from Natural Handcrafted Soap, LLC contains cocoa butter as well as organic coconut. It’s actually mild enough to use on your face, too.

Do you have any favorite eco-friendly stocking stuffers? Please share!

The post Eco-Friendly Stocking Stuffers for Your Favorite DIY-er appeared first on Big Green Purse.

If you’re in search of a holiday present that does NOT encourage more consumption, how about fitness gifts? They’ll make people feel better and you won’t have to buy more “stuff” someone might not actually want or use.

I’m a big fan of giving experiences and activities as gifts, which is why I’m partnering with a company called Grokker.

Grokker is offering holiday memberships this year at half off the regular price. They include unlimited video classes for fitness workouts, plus yoga classes and cooking lessons, too.

NOTHING TO LOSE!

You can try it for free for two weeks. If giving as a gift, start it after the holidays.

Sign up, and if you don’t like it, cancel, with no money lost.

Pay only $60 for the entire year – about what you’d pay at your local gym for one month.

Grokker        Local Gym

            $60/yr           $60/mo – $720/hr

Who is Grokker perfect for?

While anyone can use and enjoy Grokker, here is who it is especially good for:

→ Women and men of all ages

→ Women and men of all abilities

→ People who want to get fit but who can’t get to the gym due to work schedules, home obligations, travel or other factors

→ People who want to get fit but don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars a year doing it

Because you can use it on any device, you can use it anywhere: on a business trip, when you’re visiting family for the holidays, when you have a few minutes at the beginning or end of your day. It’s flexible to accommodate both your fitness needs, but your budget and time availability, too.

What’s Offered with the Grokker Holiday Membership?

Thousands of videos that range in length from short 5-minute work-outs to longer one-hour trainings and lessons.

Online 24/7 messaging access to experts and to others in the Grokker community. Don’t know where to begin or how to keep going? Someone at Grokker.com will help!

A Calendar function so you can keep track of your schedule and get reminders when it’s time for your workout, yoga class, or cooking tip.

Fitness video topics include:

• Abs & Core
• Barre
• Cardio
• Dance
• Flexibility & Balance
• Interval Training/HIIT
• Kickboxing Cardio
• Pilates
• Strength Training
• Sports Conditioning
• Toning & Sculpting
• Weight Training
• And much more!

Use Grokker on any and all of your favorite devices, including both PC and Mac; iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Apple TV, Roku and Chromecast.

Give the gift of fitness. Give the gift of Grokker. Only $60 for the year (normally $1200). 

REMEMBER…

Get it for the fitness videos, enjoy the yoga training and cooking classes, too! (more on that in a later post).

PSST: Don’t want to give it to anyone else? Give it to yourself. It’s a great way to get the help you need to start the new year off right.

NOTE: We will earn a teeny tiny commission if you decide to give Grokker a try. We’ve entered into a partnership with Grokker because we completely believe that they offer a valuable service that doesn’t harm the planet and will help make you a healthier person. Thanks, and happy holidays!

The post Looking for Fitness Gifts? How About Yoga, Cooking Too? appeared first on Big Green Purse.

We already throw away too much stuff, but during November and December, the problem is almost ridiculous. According to Use Less Stuff, Americans throw away one million extra tons of trash a week!

Sure, maybe some things you think you HAVE to throw away. But what if you didn’t have all that trash in the first place? To help you out, we teamed up with GD Environmental to pull together the 15 best ways to reduce holiday waste. We organized them into three categories: paper and plastic; electronics; and food. You should be able to do every one of them.

15 Best Ways to Reduce Holiday Waste

Reduce Paper and Plastic Waste

1.Use your own shopping bags. A big source of waste is all the plastic shopping bags you bring home when you shop. If a regular reusable bag you use for groceries may not be big enough to accommodate your gift purchases, stop by TJ Maxx or Marshall’s and pick up a couple of their large reusable bags. They’re only 99 cents. They’re decorated for the holidays, and can hold most of what you’ll buy.

Need reusable holiday shopping bags? We like these.

2.Skip wrapping paper. We used to sit next to our Christmas tree with a special bag for all the wrapping paper we’d throw away after opening presents. That is a total waste! Now, we “wrap” gifts in reusable bags and boxes. The gift bags include shopping bags that can be used all year ’round as well as holiday gift bags. We also wrap gifts in scarves and decorative towels, and maybe even tuck something into a pair of socks! Says Stanford University, “If every American family wrapped just 3 presents in re-used materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.

Here’s a reusable cloth wrap you can use for holidays, birthdays, and other special events.

3.Reuse ribbons and bows. “If every family reused just two feet of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon saved could tie a bow around the entire planet,” says Stanford University.

4.Use cloth tablecloths and napkins. Skip throwaway paper products, even if they’re made from recycled paper. Over the years, we’ve accumulated an array of holiday-themed cloth napkins and a couple of tablecloths that we use over and over. They’ve become part of our holiday decor, and we look forward to getting them out every year.

5.Opt for reusable cutlery and “china.” We’ve shopped the sales for dishes and extra cutlery we can use during the holidays. It may mean an extra round or two in the dishwasher, but it really cuts down on trash. I’ve gotten the best deals on holiday-themed dinnerware in late December and January. Rather than get complete place settings, I opt for dinner plates and salad plates that are particularly good for a buffet.

6.Replace plastic cups with small, washable glasses.  Again, a dishwasher makes this choice both practical and far less wasteful. I have shopped holiday sales to get 6-8 oz. glasses, rather than flimsy plasticware that has to be thrown away after using it once.

7.Discontinue catalogs. Catalogs start to pile up over the holidays, then will keep coming all year long. The most effective way I’ve found to stop the flood of catalogs is to call the customer service number using their 800 number and ask to have your address removed right then and there. If you still want to get coupons and promotions, get them online.

8.Recycle delivery boxes and wrapping. Most delivery boxes are made from paper that can easily be recycled. If the boxes contain Styrofoam packing peanuts, put them in a bag and take them to a nearby postal mailing center; they can often use them. If you do have wrapping paper waste, don’t trash it. Recycle it, or save it for next year.

9.Give experiences, not a lot of stuff. Skip wrapping altogether by giving (and asking for) the gift of experiences or contributions to your favorite charity, rather than more stuff.

Use the “So Kind” Gift Registry to Choose Gifts That Make a Difference

Reduce Electronics Waste

10.  Use LED holiday mini lights. LED lights use far less energy than regular holiday mini lights. But just as importantly, they are far more durable. If one breaks, the others in the strand keep on working. You can find them in our own Big Green Purse holiday store, or at your local hardware store.

11.  Recycle old holiday lights. I hate it when I get out the Christmas lights and they don’t work. But rather than trash the broken lights, I recycle them, either online here, or at my local natural foods grocer.

12. Recycle all electronics. There’s no reason to let old electronics pile up. Every big box store now accepts computers, printers, screens, tablets and phones. Wherever you buy new electronics, you can recycle the old ones. Swipe them clean of your personal data before you recycle them.

Here’s our short guide to “Recycle Electronics to Avoid E-Waste.”

Reduce Food Waste

13. Buy less food. It’s easy to get carried away buying all the yummy foods and treats grocery stores showcase during the holidays. But in reality, we often buy more food that we can cook and eat. I’ve started making less, not more food, during the holidays, though I might increase the variety a bit. This Thanksgiving, I actually threw no food away.

14. Keep track of leftovers. Store leftovers in serving-size containers that you label with the contents and the date. It helps to put the most perishable foods in the front of the refrigerator so you can keep an eye on them. Plan to eat leftovers in the same week in which they were cooked. Otherwise, store them in the freezer.  Keep a list on your freezer door to remind you what’s inside.

15. Compost what you can’t eat. I automatically put peelings and other kitchen waste in a bowl I keep on my kitchen counter while I’m prepping food and cooking. After a meal, we simply scrape leftovers we can’t eat into the same bowl. That makes it easy to take it out to the compost bin after clean-up is done.

Here are the “10 Best Foods to Buy in Bulk & Reduce Waste.”

What do you do to reduce holiday waste? Please share! We’d love to learn from you.

GD Environmental: Wales’ Leading Waste Management Company, GD Environmental, plays a vital role in helping larger companies achieve their green missions by operating an environmentally friendly waste management company which recycles 96% of waste and diverts 100% of waste from landfill to recycling. If you’re based in Wales, and looking to improve the sustainable performance of your business call GD Environmental today on 01633 277755 or visit www.gd-environmental.co.uk. 

References: Use Less Stuff, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Stanford University

The post The 15 Best Ways to Reduce Holiday Waste appeared first on Big Green Purse.

If you want to do more green holiday shopping this year but are put off by high prices or just want to save money generally, take a look at BLINQ.com.

The company sells items that are new, open box, and refurbished at as much as 70% off the original retail price. Shipping is free and returns are easy. Plus, you will get an extra 10% off on your first order when you sign up for email.

BONUS: Because BLINQ sells open box and refurbished goods, it keeps thousands of pounds of products out of landfills. The company also plants a tree for every order placed. Since 2014, BLINQ has worked with Trees for the Future to plant over 150,000 trees.

While not all BLINQ’s products are “green,” you’ll find a hefty selection when you search their site, including ⇒

→ organic baby clothes, baby carriers, & other baby stuff

→ solar and led lights

→ cast iron pots and pans free of Teflon

→ solar-charging back packs

→ organic olive oil

→ organic cotton pillows

MORE GREEN HOLIDAY SHOPPING SUGGESTIONS

Merkur Man’s 4″ Long Handled Safety Razor – Skip the battery-powered and electric shavers and return to a safety razor for an extra close shave. The long handle with a non-slip grip is particularly well designed for people with large hands, but it’s also good for hard-to-reach spots. This is marketed to men, but there’s no reason why women couldn’t use it either! Originally $37.00, but on sale at $24.19.

Organic Cotton Sheet Set – Organic cotton sheets can be expensive, but you’ll save almost $30 buying a set on blinq. They feature a 300 thread count so will feel  quite luxurious. Their deep pockets mean they’ll fit even extra large mattresses. The set includes 1 flat sheet, 1 fitted sheet, and 2 standard pillow cases. BONUS: They can be washed in energy-saving cold water without bleach.

bumGenius One-Size Cloth Diaper – This 100% organic cotton diaper is a one-piece diaper with 6 layers of super absorbent, certified organic cotton and an ultra-trim fit. Its 3×3 snap down design adjusts to fit small medium and large sizes ranging approximately from 8 to 35 pounds. BONUS: It’s made in the U.S.A.

DeWalt 40-Piece Screwdriving Set – This might not seem like a “green” product at first blush. But with this many screwdrivers, you can repair almost anything! That means you’ll be able to fix things that break rather than throw them away. Plus, you’ll be able to handle many repairs yourself, sparing you the need to track down and pay a handyman. The original price on this set was $98.97. It’s on sale here for $37.59. What a bargain!

Portable Hand Crank Solar AM/FM NOAA Weather Radio with Cell Phone Charger & 3-LED Flashlight – This is a great radio to have on hand when you’re traveling or camping or during an emergency when you’ve lost power and you have no idea when it will be restored. It can be powered with solar,rechargeable batteries, and by crank. It reaches both AM and FM channels, as well as all 7 NOAA weather channels. It also features a standard USB port that can be used to charge cell phones and other USB-compatible portable devices.

NOTE: This post was sponsored by BLINQ.com, but all opinions expressed are our own. Sponsorships help us bring you information on green living and shopping at no expense to you. We retain editorial control, and never accept sponsorship from a company whose products or services don’t meet our environmental criteria. Thanks!

The post Use BLINQ to Make Green Holiday Shopping Affordable appeared first on Big Green Purse.

The registry is the brain child of the wonderful Center for a New American Dream, the same folks who have been inspiring people to simplify the holidays by focusing on what’s meaningful, not only on what can be bought. The So Kind Registry works in two ways. One, it encourages people to create their own non- or not-too commercial wish lists for things like music lessons, homemade dinners, museum memberships, babysitting help, or their favorite charities. Two, it allows gift givers to skip the mall and a bunch of “stuff” in favor of making gifts of time or donations to people who would really enjoy and value them. Like the idea but don’t know what to put on your registry? The website offers this handy list of gift ideas to get you thinking.

There’s no charge to use the Registry, though it would be additionally kind of you to make a donation to the Center to keep programs like this running. And by the way, you can use the registry for all kinds of events, including weddings, birthdays, baptisms or bar mitzvahs, housewarmings and more.

If you make your own registry, let us know. Your actions will inspire us all. Thanks to TD Friends of the Environment for sponsoring this post.

GREEN CHRISTMAS SUPPLIES

By the way, if you do need a few green Christmas supplies, like lights, recycled wrapping paper, or beeswax candles, please check out our Amazon store. We’ve tried to whittle down what’s available on Amazon to make it easier to buy the greenest products and services available for what you do need. We receive a tiny commission on anything you purchase in our store, which helps us continue to bring you our expert content for free. Thanks.

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The post Use the ‘So Kind’ Gift Registry to Simplify the Holidays appeared first on Big Green Purse.