Field Notes Inside an Integrated Communications Agency

As we gear up for another bustling gift-giving season, I’m mindful more than ever of the presentation of my gifts. I don’t mean how to make my gold bows more Martha-like. I’m thinking of how my beautifully wrapped presents are killing our environment. According to the National Retail Federation, trash from gift wrap and shopping bags totals about 4 million tons annually. And each year between Thanksgiving and New Year's, Americans increase their trash by approximately 25 percent, or an extra million tons per week. And paper accounts for more than 40 percent of what's in a typical landfill .

As the current green movement rolls on, people are looking for what they can do to stop pollution, clear out the landfills and save the planet. But there is no magical answer or one single button that can be pushed. When it comes to sustainability, what will truly make a difference are the little things individuals and companies do.

I’ve begun to notice changes around the Capstrat office. Our internal group, the Capstrat Green Committee, drives these changes. Developing innovative ideas for our environmental practices, they’ve turned Capstrat employees into green ambassadors. For example, we now use stainless silverware instead of disposable utensils and coffee stirrers and don’t supply paper cups at the water cooler. While employees gulp down the 25 cent sodas from the drink machine, Capstrat has provided us two extra recycling bins for cans. We have hosted events using sustainable caterers. We strongly encourage others not to print emails. We have switched over to paper-less meetings and defaulted all computers to double-sided printing. We’ve given everyone cardboard boxes to recycle paper at their desks. We take this paper and make notebooks for staff.

We push each other to be as green and eco-friendly as possible. Capstrat has a chance to make a difference with 80 people, and we’re not wasting that opportunity. Think of ways you and your office can be more sustainable this holiday season. For example, instead of traditional holiday cards, send out e-greetings.

One obvious personal solution is to not wrap any presents at all. Even my grandmother has caught the green bug. In recent years, I’ve gotten my ever-reliable pairs of socks wrapped in re-used gift bags, covered in recycled tissue. This could mean she’s finally run out of the wrapping paper I sold her in grade school. But, I hope it’s because she’s more aware of helping the environment.

This holiday season, keep an eye out for the little ways you can alter your routine, and wrap your presents in meaning. Try wrapping Granny’s new set of towels in your old Victoria’s Secret catalogues, and tell her you made a donation to the planet in her name. She’ll understand.