Have yourself a green Christmas

For millions of people, the Christmas tree filled with beautifully wrapped presents underneath is an iconic image of the holidays. The smell of pine, the sight of dazzling lights and the colorful packages which lie at its base all conjure up warm memories from Christmases past. Today more people have become conscious of both trees and gifts than are good to the earth and good for your health. Below, is a list of new trends and tips to spend your holidays as healthy, green, and eco-friendly as possible.

Friendly toys. When it comes to buying gifts for babies and kids, it pays to look for products that are good to the earth and for the children. Unfortunately, green, eco-friendly toys made with organic materials are hard to find in Panama. However, finding PVC-, phthalate-free plastics, non-toxics paints etc toys is made easier through web sites like that of non-profit testing group HealthyToysorg.

HealthyToys.org includes test results for more than 1,500 toys and children's products. Each product tested was given an overall rating, as well as an individual chemical rating for cadmium, chlorine, lead, arsenic, bromine and mercury. HealthyToys lets you search by product, product code, or manufacturer for easy use, and if you don’t find the toy you’re looking for you can nominate it to be tested next.

For instance, the website approves of Fisher-Price’s classic Rock-a-Stack toy, whose rings are PVC- and lead-free, proving safe for toddlers with a tendency to place toys in their mouths. Other toys testing safe are the transformers action figures, such as the Autobot Classic Series: Red Alert and the Autobot: Hot Shot. All of the above toys are popular in local toy stores such as Felix B. Maduro’s.

Toys that top the Worst category include Disney jewelry sold under the famous Hanna Montana and High School Musical brand, including the 2 hearts and HM graphic necklace and the High School Musical crown necklace, both high on lead.

Christmas Tree. Earth911.com offers tips to make your Christmas tree eco-friendly. Here are two that can be adopted in our tropical country.

Recycled ornaments and trees. In days past it was common to see handmade ornaments decorating Christmas trees. Families would get together to make them from pine cones, foods, or anything lying around the house. Today, most opt to buy plastic ornaments from retailers instead. Try reconnecting with the holiday spirit of Christmases past by making your own ornaments. You’d be surprised of the array of materials for ornaments lying around you waiting to be used. Your favorite gingerbread cookies, paper snow flakes made out of junk mail, wrapping material leftovers, old light bulbs? the options are endless!

In the light of recycling, instead of throwing away or burning them (as if often done in Panama), consider recycling your Christmas tree by turning it into mulch for use in gardening and landscaping or chipped and used on hiking trails, paths and walkways.

LED there be light. Famous Christmas trees like the one displayed at Rockefeller Plaza and on Capitol Hill have made the switch, using 90 percent less energy than before. An easier way to be eco-friendly in Panama is changing the extra lights turned on all around the house during holidays. Instead of using regular incandescent lights, switch to LED (light emitting diode) lights this season and watch both your electricity bill and the carbon print on earth drop.

A recent AP article argues that according to the U.S. Department of Energy, ten incandescent Christmas light strands, running all night, produce 300 pounds of CO2, versus 30 pounds with LED lights. Luzdecor (Calle 50) in Panama offers Led lights. As for Christmas lights for trees or outside decoration, Luzdecor has a lights hose that comes in red, blue, green or white light. The only caveat is that given their novelty they run $30 a meter. Info.: 270-7412.