Save Paper and Energy with Holiday eCards

By Chris Baskind in Christmas, Holidays, Living

There’s no need to waste paper on holiday cards. With nearly everyone having email access these days, eCards are an eco-friendly way to send season’s greetings.

Have you mailed your holiday cards yet? No? You’re not alone. Holiday greeting cards have followed the general decline of written personal correspondence. From an environmental perspective, that’s not necessarily bad news. But there’s something nice about reaching out to from distant friends and family members around the holidays.

Which is where eCards can come in handy. No paper; no wasteful shipping — and you can leave them until the last minute without feeling guilty.

Not all electronic greeting cards are created equal. There’s no shortage a free cards, and some of them look great. But there’s nothing festive about exposing your card’s recipient to a site full of tacky ads or dubious email privacy policies. Do your homework when choosing an eCard vendor, and consider some of the paid services.

Hallmark has a quality mix of free and paid eCards. Blue Mountain, offers a $15.99 one-year eCard membership program and has a clear privacy and anti-phishing policy. Looking for a nature-themed card? Check out the Nature Conservancy’s free eco-greetings, with many outdoor images supplied by its members.

So start typing. At least you won’t have to lick the stamps.

Originally posted 02. Dec, 2008 | Tags: Christmas, eCards, Holidays