Going evergreen for the holidays

Dreaming of a green Christmas?

From biodegradable greeting cards to solar-powered Santa decorations, consumers have countless ways to celebrate an eco-friendly holiday season this year.

And in this tight economy, here's some good news: Going green doesn't mean having to spend a lot of it.

"It's a massive misconception," said Sophie Uliano, a Los Angeles author who wrote "Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life." "People think solar panels, hybrid cars, organic jeans and very expensive skin care. But that doesn't have to be the case."

The holiday shopping season officially started Friday with the traditional day-after-Thanksgiving sales. This year, an eco-friendly Christmas is on consumers' minds -- along with an uncertain economic situation.

Many say they will shop less and cut their holiday budgets by hundreds of dollars. So in addition to slashing prices and extending store hours, retailers are boosting their selection of green products this year to attract shoppers.

"The outlook is not for a great Christmas season," said Richard Giss, a partner in accounting firm Deloitte & Touche's consumer business division in Los Angeles. "All retailers are looking for some edge. If they can be seen as the eco-friendly retailer, that will help them."

In Deloitte's annual holiday survey this year, nearly half of consumers said they were willing to pay more for green gifts, despite the bad economy, and one in five said they would purchase more eco-friendly products this holiday season than in the past.

"People are starting to become sensitized in ways that they previously weren't to green issues," Giss said. "It's very hard to argue that you shouldn't do the right thing, and more and more people are accepting this as the right thing to do."

Whether you have already adopted an environmentally friendly lifestyle or are just starting out by recycling here and there, here are cost-conscious ways to green your holidays with something besides pine branches.

Green gifts

Finding an affordable, eco-friendly gift is easier than you might think. These days, brick-and-mortar stores and online merchants carry a wide selection of green products such as bamboo fiber bathrobes and stuffed animals made from recycled sweaters.

At Kellygreen Design + Home, a specialty store in Silver Lake, owner Kelly Van Patter said environmentally minded holiday shoppers have purchased the store's reusable water bottles, 100% recycled paper goods and eco-friendly bath products as gifts.