Make sustainable holiday choices when you are shopping, traveling, sending cards, decorating, and choosing gifts. The more people who participate in these energy- and resource-saving activities, the greater effect they will have on our planet. And a sustainable planet will result in better health and longer lives for the people and animals that live on it.

• Decorate with items that are energy-efficient and durable. Buy a living tree you can plant outside or keep as a houseplant after the holidays. Or buy an artificial tree that you can use for years to come. Then decorate your tree with energy efficient LED strings.
• Use fewer resources when you shop, wrap, and give gifts. If you’re not shopping online, bring your own bags on shopping trips and try to combine several trips in one. Or if you’re the creative type, try making your gifts and use materials like scarves, reusable tins or advertisements to wrap them.
• Give cards that are eco-friendly. Buy cards made from “post-consumer” content or reuse the fronts of old cards as holiday postcards or gift tags.
• Eat sustainable food and avoid disposable containers and extra packaging. Buy your food locally or purchase snacks and beverages in bulk to avoid extra packaging. And while we try to avoid washing dishes, serve food with washable plates and utensils rather than disposable items.