I don’t know if it is something you are aware of but every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas Americans throw away a million additional tons of garbage. A million! It is huge and unbelievable and yet true.

Christmas is coming and now that you know that you might want to try to be responsible and as green as possible. Luckily, there are easy ways to go green at Christmas while saving time and money – most of the time.

First of all, most of you get a Christmas tree and who can blame you, it definitely bring the Christmas spirit in your home! Be smart about the kind of tree you get. Most reusable fake trees are not recyclable and very bad for the environment so use a real tree and pay attention to where it is coming from and how it has been grown. When it comes to your house and tree decorations, use natural products as much as possible! You can use flowers, or even make tree decorations with dry fruits.

What about the lights? Choose to use LED lights whenever possible. Not only are they more efficient but they also don’t need as much power which will be great for your power bill by the end of the month! Also don’t forget to turn your tree lights off when the room is empty – what’s the point?

Now what about your Christmas party? You are more than likely going to have some people over or host a Christmas gathering and being green is a very important thing.

First of all, try not to send paper invites. At this time where social media is so popular, is a lot cheaper and eco-friendly to send e-invites via emails, Facebook or even cellphones. If you really have to send paper invites, use recyclable paper and consider making them yourself instead of buying them.

You are now going to have to set the table and if you are having a lot of people over, you might not want to use reusable tableware and save yourself some time when the party is over. Don’t worry, there are a lot of eco-friendly disposable options you can choose from!

If you want a classy table, my advice would be to go for compostable sugarcane plates and dishes. Stylish and 100% eco-friendly, they are also very functional as they are sturdy, grease resistant and microwaveable. You can also get matching sugarcane trays and sugarcane bowls depending on what you are going to serve!

If you are looking for a more natural and rustic look, bamboo plates are definitely your best bet. Natural and biodegradable, they will add a special touch to your table and come in various sizes and shapes. Also grease resistant, microwaveable and leak proof, your guests will love them.

As far as the food you are going to serve, keep in mind that going organic is the best eco-friendly option. Many stores offer organic food, wine and beer and as organic products become available in more and more places, prices go down. Choose to serve pitchers of water instead of plastic bottles.

And last but not least, when it comes to gifts try to shop online to save gas and avoid the crowds. If you really have to go to the mall, think about bringing reusable shopping bags and save the earth some trouble. Choose eco-friendly packaging and try not to use wrapping paper as it ends up being a huge waste by the end of the night.

Have a great eco-friendly Christmas and as the French would say, “Joyeux Noël”!

Check out all of our great eco-friendly products at www.packnwood.com!