The merriments were celebrated, the gifts were unwrapped, and the new year was rang. With the Holiday season in our rear view mirror, GiftZip.com fixed its sights on the amount of waste that accumulates during the gift-giving season. According to the environmental experts at Plenty Magazine, each year 75 million lbs of PVC is dumped into landfills due to plastic gift card waste, a good portion of which is originally purchased during the Holidays. We’ve compiled a list of comparisons to give you a better idea of exactly how much waste that is– we think you’ll be shocked. The amount of plastic gift card waste that ends up in landfills each year is roughly the same as:

1. Hurling 8,720 2008 Hummer H2’s into the nearest landfill or driving nearly a third of all Hummers sold in the year 2008 straight from the dealership parking lot to the scrap yard.

2. 34,090,909 8 week old kittens

3. The weight of roughly 125 Boeing 7/47 Jets.

4. 4,870 adult African elephants

5. 166 Statue of Liberty’s

6. 300 million medium Burger King French Fries or 108 billion calories

7. 227,963 10 minute showers

8. 24,300,000,000 paper clips

9. 50 million iPads (Wi-Fi Model)

10. 53,571,429 Snuggies

11. 92,307,692 Partridges without pear trees

Lesson learned. Those pesky little plastic gift cards can add up to a whole ton (or multiple tons) of weight. No kittens were harmed in the making of this article. The Snuggies broke their fall. No partridges were forced from their pear trees.

Photo Attribution: Thomas Doerfer (Hummer H2), Jan Arkesteijn (Elephants), Fasil Getachew (Boeing Jet), Eldar Kamalov (Statue of Liberty), Matt McGee (French Fries), Loretin (paper clips), ColKorn1982 (Kitten), Todd Dailey (Ipads), Stannate (snuggies), Brandon Daniel (Partridge), Hollywood Row (calculate)

Numbers used: 1 Gallon = 8.23 lbs, 5 minutes of showering = 20 gallons, average adult elephant weight = 15,400 lbs, Medium Burger King French Fries = 4 oz, Hummer H2 = 8,600 lbs, statue of liberty = 450,000 lbs, Paper clip = 1.4 g, 1 pound = 453.6 grams, 8 week old kitten= 2.2 lbs, Ipad (wi-fi model) = 1.5 lbs, snuggie= 1.4 lbs, partridge = 13 oz,  Burger King french fries = 360.0 calories

How to Wrap a Gift The Eco-Friendly Way

The holidays come and go quickly. Heaps of brightly colored wrapping paper, glittery bows, and bags are piled near trash cans and stuffed into bags. We lug some of the ruins to the recycling bins and dispose of the rest all the while feeling a bit guilty for having splurged on the 2010 limited edition Santa wrapping paper now in shreds. Does this scene ring a bell?

In recent years, more attention is being paid to the amount of waste that accumulates around the gift-giving season and for good reason: According to Eco-Chick.com, if every American family wrapped just three presents in reused materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields. There’s definitely a way that you can avoid the trash bag full of paper fiasco and still go green this gift-giving season.

Still conflicted by the prospect of presenting your loved ones with a gift wrapped entirely in recycled items? We understand, but there is a way to maintain the holiday aesthetic and still save our planet a few trees and your wallet a few bucks. Before recommending this, I wanted to make sure it was actually feasible to do, so below is my gift completely wrapped in newspaper.

How to:

1. Dig into your recycling bin and find the Sunday newspaper (sure to be full of colorful ads and comics).
2. Select colorful ad, comic, or other disposed paper and wrap as usual.
3. Top it off with a bow. Cut newspaper into about 8-10 strips about 6-12 inchs in length (depending on size of the bow, mine is 6 inches) and about 2 cm wide.
4. Lay the strips on the gift you are wrapping with the side you want to show facing down in a sun or asterisk shape (*).
5. Place pieces of tape on the center of the asterisk to secure the bow to the gift.
6. Loops the strips into the center and secure them down with tape.
7. When all are secured, take an additional strip and place it in the center of the bow to cover up the tape.
8. Spread Holiday cheer!

Do you have any tips for going green this Holiday seasons? Comment and share!

Making Gift Card Giving Inexpensive, Easy, & Personal

Every season is gift-giving season. Birthdays, housewarming, Holiday parties. There are seemingly endless occasions popping up on calendars that require you purchase a gift. We’re all in search of ways to save time and money, and still deliver a meaningful and unique gift. We’re partial to gift cards, but we often hear concerns that a gift card will come off as impersonal so we’ve compiled a couple of ideas to help you avoid impersonal gift card gifts and to save you precious time and resources. Here’s a couple creative and thoughtful eGift card ideas we whipped up for your viewing pleasure.

1. Movie Date (Fandango Bucks Gift Certificate)

Looking for gifts, but shopping on a budget? We feel your frugality. The Movie Date combo is a simple, yet sure-to-be-appreciated gift for friends and family of all ages. This eGift card is ideal for couples, young adults, family friends, or coworkers. Want it to be for the whole family? Add a few more Fandango Bucks to cover the wee ones too.

Buy it now: http://bit.ly/6SsGcN

Total Price: $18-$25 (per package)

For: This works great as a gift for couples or young adults

The eGift Card: Fandango Bucks Gift Certificates

How To: Print out $15 to $20 (more if you want to include the kids) in Fandango Bucks with a personal message.

Pair it with movie theater popcorn and candy, think Raisinettes, Milkduds, or Sour Patch Kids. Grab a couple plastic popcorn bowls (retro-style ones available at your local dollar store) or a $5 DVD from the Target checkout line.

Feedback: I did this last Christmas for my older brothers and their wives and they loved it. Because they both have young children, I offered my babysitting services for the night that they wanted to go out on the town. This gift ensures that your loved ones will have some “me” time thanks to you.

2. Night Out On The Town (Restaurant.com Gift Certificate):

Everyone loves a night off of kitchen duties. A gift of good food and family time is the perfect route to go around the holiday season when the hustle and bustle leaves families on the go constantly. Not only does a Restaurant.com gift certificate come at a discounted price to you, it allows your pals and family to use their gift when is most convenient for them.

Buy it now: http://bit.ly/4CQ6Bk

Price: $25-$40

For: This works great as a gift for couples, parents, grandparents, adult children, or coworkers.

The eGift Card: $50 Restaurant.com for $25. (Value: $50, You pay: $25)

How To: Enter your area code into the Restaurant.com directory. Find a restaurant you’re interested in or print out a $50 generic Restaurant.com Gift Certificate.

Pair it with a bottle of wine or a handmade coupon for babysitting.

Feedback: Restaurant.com never fails. The discount is extraordinary and it is a gift that we ensure everyone will use and love.

3. Book Worm (Barnes & Noble Gift Certificate):

Have a pal or relative who always has their face shoved in a book? Whether you’re buying for an avid reader, aspiring chef, photographer or something completely off the wall, a Barnes & Noble eGift card will ensure that everyone gets what they want.

Buy it now: http://bit.ly/cbC7ol

Price: $25-$27

For: This gift is a great idea for men, women, and young adults.

The eGift Card: $25 to Barnes & Noble

How To: Print out a $25 eGift card to Barnes & Noble.

Pair it with a fun, funny, or pretty bookmark.

Feedback: We heart Barnes & Noble for their selection and shipping polices. This makes a fabulous gift that will inspire your loved ones to get their read on.

4. DIY Gift (The Home Depot Gift Certificate).

Know a couple renovating their home, a family into do it yourself projects, or friends who spend a lot of time in their backyard? We got you covered.

Buy it now: http://bit.ly/9qV435

Price: $25-$50

For: Couples and families

The eGift Card: $50 to Home Depot

How To: Print out a $50 gift certificate to Home Depot.

Pair it with a box of nails, a bedazzled pink hammer, a grilling apron, a flower bulb, or a bag of seeds.

The Result: A gift that will allow your friends and loved ones to tackle home projects and encourage them to get outside.

Feedback: The Home Depot has a variety of products for the home and garden. When paired with a fun little trinket, a Home Depot eGift card becomes an instant success.

5. Entertainment (StubHub Gift Certificate):

Everyone appreciates the gift of entertainment. The beauty of StubHub is that your loved ones will be able to find awesome seats, at a discounted price from their secure platform. Most tickets come with a virtual delivery option, which allows the recipient to print the tickets from home. The best part is that StubHub has something for every family member including tickets to Broadway plays, kids’ shows, major concerts, and sporting events.

Buy it now: http://bit.ly/daAbkt

Price: $50

For: This gift is a great idea for families, couples, and young adults.

The eGift Card: $50 to StubHub

How To: Print out a $50 eGift card to StubHub.

Pair it with a printed out list of concerts, plays, and sporting events available in their area. Want something more personal? Highlight the ones you think they would like best.

The Result: An awesome night of entertainment that they are sure to remember and cherish.

Have some creative eGifting ideas of your own? Please comment and share!

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