There are some who open gifts very carefully in order to save the wrapping paper, they were some of the first ever recyclers, reusing long before it was a popular thing to do.

It's a great idea because most holiday wrap is not recyclable, in part because of the heavy dyes and metal used in the product.

So how do you make sure you capture the spirit of the season while still being earth friendly?

Kris Kurtz has a few answers. She opened her eco-friendly shop Humboldt's Legacy 20-years-ago.

She says we can all make environmentally responsible choices during the holiday season that are also creative.

"100 percent recycled paper gift wrap and bags. You can even wrap things in tea towels," said Kurtz.

With all the toy recalls due to lead, and questionable plastic products Kurtz says people are searching for more natural and less dangerous solutions.

Kurtz has a few solutions and one really is a blast from the past. "Children's wooden toys and they're all painted with lead free paint," explains Kurtz.

Overall, she's pleased to report that more people are choosing what she calls eco-friendly gifts.

"We in just our everyday choices can make a huge difference just by voting with our dollars," and that's something Kurtz encourages everyone to do.

It's not just gift wrapping and presents we can be environmentally conscious about during the holiday season. You can even plan for you dinner and cleanup to be eco-friendly.

"Bamboo plates and they are biodegradable," offers Kurtz.

That's not all; there are corn-based paper bowls that can be composted.

For dishwashing, there is biodegradable dish detergent, and for snacks, organic and fair trade chips, chocolate and coffee.

Don't forget your holiday free-range turkey.

Resource Conservation Manitoba reminds you to also keep in mind other factors like recycling and use of electricity.

"LED lights are a lot more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs that people used to use," insists Randall McQuaker from the environmental agency.

If you're really keen you can even pick up an organic tree that's grown without pesticides.

Resource Conservation Manitoba has a full list of ideas on how you can be a part of "Greening the Holidays."

Checkout our Web Links for that list.

With a report from CTV's Shaneen Robinson