It's Easy Being Green During the Holidays

• Paper: Chapel Hill Herald (NC)
• Author: BERNADETTE PELISSIER Columnist
• December 15, 2007
• Section: Editorial Page: 2

I have a very thoughtful friend. Every time we went somewhere together in her car she would bring two bottles of purchased water, one for me and one for herself. After a few weeks, I told her "no thank you." I brought my own bottle with water from my kitchen faucet.

I had traveled in the past occasionally purchasing bottled water to drink. But earlier this year I realized that I was not being true to my environmental values. I stopped all purchases of bottled water.

My friend asked me why I didn't want to drink bottled water. I told her that I did not want to contribute to global warming by buying water which was transported many miles. I also told her about recent news reports indicating that approximately three-quarters of the plastic bottles are not recycled.

Some weeks later she decided to buy her own water bottle. She is giving water bottles to relatives as holiday gifts. She recently asked me if I would write a column giving tips on how we can be better stewards of our earth during the holiday season.

My first suggestion is related to what she herself is doing. You don't need to try and convert someone else to "living green." The mere fact of giving a "green" gift is a way of "living green." It is possible that the receiver of the gift might not always use the water bottle you give them. But, at the very least, you have provided the opportunity and brought it into their consciousness as another option. You never know if they might ask questions like my friend did of me. They just might change their habits.

While there are many suggestions for "green" gifts, a general principle is to reduce the purchase of useless gifts. How many times have you received something that you will never use? How many gifts are thrown away?

If you don't know what to get someone or you want to buy a gift for someone who doesn't need any household or other items, consider a gift of foodstuffs. Make sure you know that it is something they like.

Consider purchasing something produced locally that wasn't transported across the country and helps support the local economy. There are even locally produced wines. But there is one thing to be careful about in giving foodstuffs. Avoid giving gifts in the prepared baskets with all the extra packaging.

Of course, if you receive something you won't use, you can always donate it to a thrift shop. I have another friend who goes to the thrift shops just after the holidays because there is such a large selection of new clothing.

For several years I donated monies to a charity of my parents' choice. They didn't need anything. For them the greatest pleasure was for me to give money to Habitat for Humanity in the Virginia county where they are active.

Yet another option for the person who has everything is to give tickets to a local play, to the local movie theater or to a concert.

There are now many more choices for gifts made from recycled materials. You can purchase elegant earrings and necklaces made from recycled wine bottles. There are decorative bowls made from telephone wire and picture frames made out of recycled wood. And what about a rugged wallet made out of discarded truck-tire inner tubes?

It isn't just the type of present we give, but also the wrapping. For years one family member has been wrapping gifts in newspaper comics. He just liked doing that. You can readily recycle the newspaper and you didn't have to purchase anything. But if you insist on using wrapping paper, buy paper made from recycled products and make sure you recycle it.

If you send or receive gifts from family or friends who live far away, there are the peanuts, block Styrofoam and other packing materials. I give mine to a friend whose husband runs a mailing store. The storeowners are appreciative.

Some view Christmas trees as wasteful. But many feel they don't want to give up that tradition. If you do buy a tree, buy one that is pesticide-free. If you want lights on the tree, you can now buy "LED" lights which use 90 percent less energy than conventional lights. Make sure you recycle your tree. Fortunately, this community has tree pick-up to convert it into mulch.

Gift giving is important for many of us, but we can do it with less of a negative impact on our environment. And remember that "green" gift giving guidelines aren't just for the winter holiday season.

Bernadette Pelissier is a retired social scientist who lives in Orange County and serves on several community boards. Readers can contact her at bpelissier@juno.com or c/o The Chapel Hill Herald, 106 Mallette St., Chapel Hill, NC 27516.