Each Christmas, revelers glorify live trees. But later, millions of firs, pines, and spruces end up decomposing in dumps, releasing methane into the environment. Now some green-thumbed companies are renting out trees, which they tend the rest of the year. If you prefer to buy, look for local growers with advice on where to recycle. To complete the natural look, make ornaments from collected and dried foliage.

Whether illuminating the menorah during Hanukkah, the kinara during Kwanzaa, or tea lights during Diwali, consider how the candles are created. They are often manufactured with paraffin wax, a petroleum-based fossil fuel. Affordable and cleaner alternatives include those made with soy, ethical beeswax, and coconut wax. Using artificial lights? LEDs are eco-friendly.

Some 2.3 million