Goody Awards launches Green Plastic-Free Holiday Campaign

To prevent water pollution this holiday, the Goody Awards is launching a “Have a Green Plastic-Free Holiday” campaign (Thanksgiving-New Years.) This campaign is designed to extend the environmental awareness being raised by the Golden Goody Award (aka Oscar for social good) presentation to 5 Gyres Founder Anna Cummins at the greater Los Angeles chapter of the USNC for UN WOMEN event on December 8^th. Based on input from 5 Gyres, calls to action will be shared via Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest for how to prevent plastic pollution.

Along with giving social good awards, the Goody Awards builds awareness campaigns in support of issues and causes. This campaign is in support of the Golden Goody Award presentation at the UN Women’s Greater Los Angeles Chapter’s First Annual Special Assembly: Women, Climate Change and Human Rights. Join the conversation on Saturday, December 8^th, 2012 in Santa Monica, CA, at the SGI Culture of Peace Center (606 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA,) along with the online conversation on Twitter @GoodyAwards #EcoGoody.

To reduce the billions of plastic bottles, bags, and other single-use plastics floating out to sea, the Goody Awards will share tips for how everyone can make a difference this holiday via multi-media (press release, social media, media, video, and contest.) If you take action, tweet the specific step (example: took my own glass to our holiday party) with #EcoGoody to encourage others to take similar steps. The individual with the most tweets will receive a $100 cash gift that the Goody Awards will donate to your charity of choice.

Consumers are encouraged to think differently about plastic, and use alternatives to help keep plastic out of the oceans. And because women decide on 85% of the consumer purchases in the US, they are in a very powerful role to make change happen and preserve our precious resources. Disposable plastics are the biggest source of plastic pollution, and there are easy ways for people to get involved including:

15 Tips for a Green Plastic-Free Holiday

Parties

1. Encourage your company to have a Green Plastic-Free Holiday Party

2. BYO – Bring your own utensils, cups, containers, and straws to holiday parties and gatherings

3. Instead of plastic, use washable plates, cups and utensils or paper / bamboo products that are easy to recycle or reuse

4. Use candles for mood lighting versus plastic lights

5. Reuse food containers for holiday leftovers

Gifts

6. Buy plastic-free gifts – You can buy gifts from local artists with more sentimental meaning. You can also knit, cook or paint your own gift.

7. Give away metal straws and reusable utensils as party favors/employee gifts to encourage everyday green habits

8. Give the gift of cash versus trash

9. Buy music gift certificates on iTunes vs. CDs

10. Make your own wrapping paper and use paper not synthetic ribbon

Shopping

11. Take your own cotton bag shopping to the grocery store, Best Buy, and department stores

12. Buy juice in a box carton versus a plastic bottle or make your own fresh fruit drinks using the farmer’s market fruit in a blender.

13. Buy from bulk food bins at grocery stores like Whole Foods to avoid plastic packaging

14. Support local artists by buying gifts that are plastic-free.

15. Bake cookies for tree decorations and pass on the tinsel.

After the holidays, make it your New Years resolution to continue these Green Plastic-Free Holiday tips. For more information on this campaign and green tips visit, http://5gyres.org and http://goodaywards.com. And to buy tickets for the greater Los Angeles chapter of the USNC for UN WOMEN Event on Dec 8^th event, visit http://unwlaspecialassembly.wordpress.com/category/climate-change/