(by Jennifer Berry of Earth911) – Black Friday: A day where millions of shoppers, still weary and full from the previous night’s Thanksgiving feast, flock to retail stores across the country at pre-dawn hours to fill their carts and bags with deals aplenty as the holiday shopping season officially kicks off.

Phew. Are you tired from that description? We are too, but as wearisome as that might have been, it’s nothing compared to the drain that can be Black Friday. While deals abound, crowds, traffic, early hours and the like can make the day after Thanksgiving a drain on your energy and the environment.

But don’t fret. Follow our easy guide to a greener Black Friday, and we promise you’ll not only reduce your environmental impact, but perhaps your stress level as well.

1. Plan Ahead

It may go without saying, but creating a plan of action when you wake at 3 a.m. for door-buster sales doesn’t always go so well. Getting organized a day or two early is the best way to not only maximize your time but also minimize your carbon footprint. Use our handy list to make sure you haven’t missed a step:

1. Determine what you want to buy and for whom (check out the rest of this article before you finalize that list!).
2. Check ahead to find out where the best prices – at the nearest stores – can be found. Many sites like BlackFriday.info can help you plan the best bang for your buck in advance.
3. Decide the most efficient route between stores – what way means the least amount of driving? Can you go to one store to find more than one gift?
4. Load up your car with reusable bags.

2. Gather Your Troops

As you’re gearing up to save some money on holiday gifts, your friends and family may be planning to do likewise. Is there anyone who has a similar shopping agenda to yours? Carpooling is an excellent option to reduce carbon emissions and just have some fun fighting crowds with a companion.

If the stores you’re planning to stop at aren’t far, utilize your local public transit system. Light rails, buses, subways and the like are easy ways to avoid crowded parking lots and reduce your impact. In fact, a 10 percent increase in transit ridership nationwide would save 135 million gallons of gasoline a year. We even heard that some stores in Cambridge, Mass. are rewarding shoppers who walk or ride with hot cider, freebies and discounts!

3. Try Subbing Eco-Gifts

Shopping for sustainable products is an easy way to green your Black Friday. If you aren’t sure how to identify “green” products, learn more about eco-labels before you hit the stores. Gifts made from recycled materials, Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood and electronics with the ENERGY STAR seal are usually great choices.

But buying sustainably doesn’t necessarily mean looking for “green” products in big-box stores. Products made locally or found in vintage and antique shops provide another avenue to reduce your carbon footprint by supporting your local economy or purchasing used goods. You may be able to find one-of-a-kind or unique gifts that have special meaning to their recipients, like the antique game of Labyrinth a friend of ours might be getting this holiday season…

4. Strum Your Heartstrings

Shopping for presents doesn’t need to entail purchasing physical gifts. Supporting a favorite charity or cause is a truly thoughtful alternative to trinkets and trifles. If you’re new to giving, groups such as Charity Navigator or the American Institute of Philanthropy can help you make informed decisions.

Worried you may not be able to find a good fit for the people on your list? There’s a charity out there for everyone:

• Animal lovers – Farm Sanctuary or the World Wildlife Fund are great choices.
• Outdoor enthusiasts – Support conservation with the Rainforest Alliance or the Sierra Club Foundation.
• Foodies – Bread for the World supports hunger relief around the globe.
• Sports nuts – The National Alliance for Youth Sports supports safe sports and activities for kids.

This option also saves you the time and hassle of being out on the road during the wee hours of the morning or the bumper-to-bumper traffic of the afternoon.

5. Don’t Forget Cyber Monday

Touted as the largest online shopping day of the year, “Cyber Monday” falls on the Monday immediately following the Thanksgiving holidays. Last year, an estimated 85 million people shopped online on this day, spending almost $846 million. And while some debate which day of the year is actually the largest online shopping day, the message remains clear that many people substitute buying in stores for searching for deals on the Web.

While the eco-battle between online versus in-store shopping still surges, there are definitely ways to green your online shopping. For example, order multiple items that can be shipped together in one purchase, thereby decreasing packaging material and transportation costs associated with numerous shipping orders. In fact, to have 10 pounds of packages shipped by overnight air uses 40 percent less fuel than driving yourself round-trip to the mall, according to the Center for Energy and Climate Solutions.

(From Lauren Hasler & Earth911) – The holiday season is officially in full-swing, and Thanksgiving marks the beginning of big family dinners, extensive gift shopping and elaborate decorations.

But the season isn’t all turkey, stuffing and pie. According to RecycleWorks, from Thanksgiving to New Years Day, household waste increases by more than 25 percent.

So, start off your holiday season on the green foot by making a few small, eco-friendly changes this Turkey Day. It’s easy to get the entire family involved, have fun and decrease the burden on your wallet as well.

1. Shopping for Food

Before you rush to eat yourself into a Tryptophan-induced coma, take a minute to think about where your food comes from.

When shopping for your Thanksgiving meal, keep two words in mind: organic and local. These keywords will guarantee a fresher, more nutritious meal.

If you buy local, not only can you enjoy fresh food, but you will also support your local economy. Check for farmers’ markets, family farms, community-supported agriculture programs and U-Pick options in your area for the freshest produce, eggs, dairy and grass-fed meat. Also, consider buying organic wines to be more eco-conscious without sacrificing quality or taste.

Also, don’t forget the vegetarians at your table. The Vegetarian Resource Group estimates that 3 percent of Americans, between 6 million and 8 million adults, are vegetarians. For example, the Organic Consumers Association developed a healthy vegetarian Thanksgiving menu which includes stuffed acorn squash with corn bread dressing and chestnut gravy.

If you’re going to have a large crowd, buy food in bulk to reduce packaging waste and save money. And of course, bring your own reusable shopping bags to the grocery store.

2. Crowd Control

At least 28 billion pounds of edible food is wasted each year – more than 100 pounds per person. One of the best ways to reduce your waste this Thanksgiving is to plan ahead for the meal and practicing portion control.

Use Less Stuff created a handy list of approximate per person food and drink portions:

• Turkey- 1 pound
• Stuffing- ¼ pound
• Sweet potato casserole- ¼ pound
• Green beans- ¼ pound
• Cranberry relish- 3 tablespoons
• Pumpkin pie- 1/8 of a 9 inch pie

After the meal, evaluate how many people were present and how much of each dish was consumed. By keeping track each year, you can make a more efficient, less wasteful Thanksgiving meal in the future.

3. Do Something Fun!

Instead of firmly planting yourself in front of the TV for the day, consider getting some fresh air or playing a board game. Take advantage of the time together with friends and family while decreasing your energy usage.

Try bundling up and playing some football outside instead of watching it. Split the whole family into teams and get everyone involved. Make sure the winners get to go through the pie line first!

4. Traveling Tips

According to Use Less Stuff, if each family reduced holiday gasoline consumption by 1 gallon (about 20 miles), we would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1 million tons. Invite nearby friends and family and neighbors to your house for Thanksgiving dinner and encourage them to do the same.

If you must go over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving, turn down the thermostat and turn off the lights to save energy while you’re gone.

5. Setting the Table

There are many options when it comes to table setting, all dependent upon how many guests will be present at your Thanksgiving celebration. If it is going to be a small gathering, get out your nice china for the occasion. Cloth napkins are also a plus.

If you’re expecting a big crowd, organize it like a potluck and ask your guests to bring dishes and silverware for themselves. If disposable place settings are your only choice, opt for biodegradable and compostable utensils, napkins and plates, such as those from Biodegradable Store.com.

The average dishwasher uses between 7 and 15 gallons of water per cycle. After the meal, be sure to fill the dishwasher to capacity before running it to save water and energy.

6. Crafty Decorations (Yes, You Can Do It!)

Add a little extra elegance to your table with homemade decorations. Most materials can be found in your craft cupboard or backyard. Have the kids chip in with a pre-Thanksgiving craft day. Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

• Acorn napkin ties
• Dried leaf place cards
• Corn or leaf print place mats
• Pinecone turkeys
• Painted gourds
• Festive fall arrangements of pumpkins or corn cobs
• Make your own cornucopia

If there is a tablecloth or other decorative item you’ve been eying, make sure it’s a purchase you’ll be happy to reuse in the future. Some decorations can even become new family traditions.

7. Lose the Leftovers

Once the party is over, it’s time to decide what to do with all that leftover food. Don’t forget to donate your leftovers to a food bank or nearby homeless shelter. And remember to compost your food scraps.

If you decided to buy your Thanksgiving supplies in bulk, the containers from your various products are perfect for storing large quantities of leftovers. Make sure your guests leave with a portion of extra food to take home. After all, one of the best Thanksgiving traditions is noshing on leftover turkey sandwiches and mashed potatoes for lunch the following weekend.

8. Recycling Isn’t a Chore

Last, but not least, get back to the basics and recycle. Encourage your guests to pitch in and clearly mark recycling bins. Recycling all packaging, as well as any beverage containers, will significantly reduce the number of times you have to take the trash out, as well as the amount of garbage you send to the landfill.