Christmas, birthdays and parties

• Buy fairtrade gifts from an online eco-store or give something non-material such as a massage voucher or a football or theatre ticket. Or give your time - how about a babysitting or decorating "voucher".
• Serve organic, locally sourced food.
• Reuse Christmas decorations. Tie presents with ribbon, not sticky tape, so wrapping paper can be reused. Buy charity cards and recycle them - or email an online e-card.
• Use compostable paper plates or real crockery.
• Add some vegetable kebabs and veggie burgers to your barbecue repertoire.

weddings

• Hire your wedding dress or buy it second-hand - it's probably only been worn once.
• Send email invitations.
• Organise car pooling for guests.
• Serve organic, local food and wine.
• Use biodegradable confetti.
• Have a green wedding list at an online eco-store.
• Honeymoon nearer home - spend the travel savings on extra luxury instead.

flowers

• Buy organic or native flowers, preferably locally grown - cut flowers can use a lot of chemical pesticides and fertilisers.

outdoor activities

• Get walking but choose routes accessible by public transport.
• When fishing, observe species, size and seasonal restrictions.
• Keep motors out of the wild: get your thrills mountain-biking, climbing, surfing, kayaking, etc.
• Join a local bushcare group.

pets

• Feed your dog or cat less meat.
• Buy bulk dried food instead of cans to reduce waste or cook your own pet food.
• Consider a smaller dog or a herbivore pet such as a mouse or guinea pig.
• Put a bell around your cat's neck, or keep it indoors at night, to stop it killing native wildlife. Have it desexed to help control the cat population.
• Scoop up dog poop.
• Instead of owning a pet join a wildlife rescue scheme.

retirement

• Use your time and experience to help a local green group - it keeps you active and boosts your social life too.
• Keep active and healthy by cycling, walking, organic gardening and joining a bushcare group.

... and finally

• Choose to be buried in a biodegradable coffin as cremation releases toxic chemicals.
• Leave something to a green organisation in your will.

© Mark Mann / EcoDirectory