For the past several years, my family and I have cut way back on holiday gift-giving for various reasons, including saving money and reducing waste. We think of that decision as our gift to the Earth.
Also, I research what I do buy to discover what products are used to make it. This year, some lucky male on my gift list will receive sturdy wool socks that are partially made with recycled products. I also found some socks that are made in the United States with recycled cotton yarn — scraps of yarn left over after the manufacture of cotton shirts.
Another of my gift recipients this year will receive several used books in perfectly fine condition, purchased either online or at This Old Book in Grayslake. The Green Read in Crystal Lake sells used books, and donates some of its proceeds to the initiatives of the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, such as prairie restoration and waste reduction. The store also sells stationery made out of sustainable products.
While seeking gifts made from recycled materials, I discovered a host of stores that sell backpacks made from recycled plastic bottles. I also discovered some candles made of soy wax and placed in a recycled glass jar, with natural fragrances including lavender.
Americans toss out 25% more trash during the holidays than any other time of year, according to brightly.eco. This includes wrapping paper, shopping bags, bows and ribbons.
You can find ways to reduce your use of, or recycle holiday products rather than tossing them. For example, the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County accepts wire string holiday lights and extension cords for recycling at four locations, including Grayslake, Grant Township, Wauconda and Highland Park. Visit swalco.org for details. Also contact your local hardware store and retailer to see if they accept lights for recycling during the holidays.
The copper and other materials from holiday lights can be reused for manufacturing electronics
Consider reducing how much wrapping paper you use. The paper in the stores that contain glitter, dyes and other products, can’t be recycled. Instead, use plain brown kraft paper, which is recyclable and can be reused. To make it more attractive, decorate it with a sprig of an evergreen branch or something else from nature. Get creative with what you already have when wrapping presents.
I also use old holiday cards to create gift tags rather than purchasing new ones. You can find holiday greeting cards made from recycled paper, or consider sending e-cards instead. My cousin sends lovely e-holiday cards every year and personalizes them. They’re unique and lovely, and I enjoy receiving them from her and others who choose that route.
One of my favorite eco-friendly gifts is a bird feeder. Birds that remain with us in winter have a more difficult time finding food, and humans can help with that. But more important, is that if you get someone started feeding birds, you may introduce them to a new activity the family can enjoy for years to come.
I suggest purchasing a suet feeder and some suet cakes that attract woodpeckers and other avian species. Suet is rendered fat molded with peanuts or other goodies. You can purchase suet cakes at local feed and hardware stores. You also can find suet feeders made from recycled materials such as plastic and metal that last a long time. It’s a compact gift that’s one of the easiest ways to start someone on a bird-feeding venture.
We have had our suet feeders for years, and enjoyed winter scenes of red-bellied woodpeckers with their bright red forehead extending to their nape, complemented by black-and-white ladderback upper parts, as well as white-breasted nuthatches with their white bellies and deep blue head and back. With observation, you can learn to separate the males from the females of some of these birds. For example, the red-bellied woodpecker female only has red on its neck.
Those sightings are gifts to enjoy way beyond the holidays.
Sheryl DeVore has worked as a full-time and freelance reporter, editor and photographer for the Chicago Tribune and its subsidiaries. She’s the author of several books on nature and the environment. Send story ideas and thoughts to sheryldevorewriter@gmail.com.
