With the Christmas season looming, many people will want to spend as much time as possible with their friends and loved ones. One of the most common complaints surrounding this time of year is that it seems to generate an excessive amount of waste. The good news is that it is possible to ensure an enjoyable holiday season without causing inconvenience or discomfort to anyone.

Give the Gift of Experiences

Almost every one of us had experienced the discomfort and embarrassment of purchasing the wrong gift for someone. In many cases, these unwanted gifts end up being tossed in the trash, and contributing to our ever-increasing landfill problem. In many cases, it may actually be better to purchase a gift certificate for an experience or event such as a concert or day trip instead of a physical gift, as the memories gained from the experience will be longer lasting than an actual gift. If there are children in the family, it may be a good idea to purchase a membership to a venue like the zoo, aquarium or even the child’s favorite museum.

Gift Wrap with a Difference

Although it is the norm to give Christmas gifts wrapped with paper or placed in a gift bag, these wrappings usually end up being ripped and then placed in the trash pile. Instead of using these elements for gift wrap, why not consider using part of the gift itself as the wrapping or get creative with reusable fabric gift bags. For example, if you are giving a few clothing items as a gift, it may be possible to use one of the larger clothing items to wrap the others in. The items can be secured inside by means of a ribbon. If you have access to fabric bags or are able to make them yourself, these can be reused year after year as a more eco-friendly alternative to paper gift wrap.

Consider a toy Swap

In many cases, parents purchase toys for their children that end up being neglected or forgotten within days. While some of these toys may be broken, many of them are usually in like-new condition. Family members or close friends who have children of similar ages could consider the idea of getting together a few weeks before Christmas and exchanging unwanted toys. Many children are not concerned about whether the toy is brand-new or not – they are usually too thrilled with the prospect of receiving toys that they have not played with before. This will not only save a substantial amount of money; it will prevent a lot of unwanted toys from being dumped in landfills.

An additional way to ensure that you and your family are able to make this Christmas season an eco-friendly one is to donate your unwanted household goods, toys and clothing to the appropriate charities. This will ensure that these items are put to good use a second time, as well as being appreciated by those who are less fortunate than we are.