My UK colleague's X'mas and New Year's greeting message

It was a creative piece... Thanks Katy, for your thoughtful greeting message. I just got the package today. Hope you don't mind I share it here on my blog.
Happy New Year to K and R. Hope you guys (even thought R didn't share your brilliant GREEN vision) and your family a prosperous 2010.


Here is what I got from Katy:

Here's Katy's and R(her BF)'s top 10 Green Christmas tips that'll help you to save money, reduce your Christmas carbon footprint and have a more eco friendly and sustainable noel.

1. Don't forget to turn off your fairy lights
Christmas tree lights left on for 10 hours a day over the 12 days of Christmas produce enough carbon dioxide to inflate 12 balloons. Alternatively don't have them on at all, they are a massive fire hazard and you could burn your house down - adding even more to your carbon footprint.

2. Reuse this Christmas card
Why not use this Christmas card as a gift tag? Your friends will think you are tight, but you'll be the one with extra beer money in your pocket. You can get the first round instead. An estimated 1.7 billion Christmas cards are sent each year in Britain, the equivalent of 200,000 trees.

3. Use recycled wrapping paper
Yes non-recycled paper feels better but we all know it's the gift counts rather than what's inside.

4. Create Green Christmas Traditions
Walk to the pub on Christmas Eve, you can also enjoy more organic cider than if you had to drive back.

5. Deck the halls with real holly
Instead of spending money on artificial Christmas decorations that won't biodegrade, let nature decorate your home. Be a hippy. Make some salt dough. String some popcorn together, it looks rubbish but tastes good.

6. Christmas trees - get a real one...... honest.
Although artificial trees last for many years they are made from metal and derivatives of PVC, which requires large amounts of energy to make and also creates by-products such as lead which can kill you, your children and their pets. Transporting them from China also adds to the carbon footprint.

Real trees are carbon neutral, they are clever like that. They take in as much carbon dioxide as they grow as they will emit when burnt or left to decompose. Replant it for next year - save those pennies.

When buying a tree - make sure the grower is a lovely one. Some people grow trees and cut them down willy-nilly. This is bad. Buy from a small-scale sustainable grower and/or make sure the tree has Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accreditation, you can go to www.soilaccociation.org/christmas for a list of producers.

7. Recharge those batteries
Instead use rechargeable ones, charging them will give you an hour’s peace and quiet from the electronic keyboard Santa bought for the kids.

8. Buying an organic turkey
They taste better too.

9. Recycle your unwanted presents
Give those weird scented drawer liners your aunty always gives you to give to patients at the local hospital or hospice

10. Give a charity or environmentally friendly gift
Give poor family a goat. No it is not just an extra mouth to feed

(R's contribution to these tips was limited. He does not share my vision for a low-carbon Christmas.)