NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher: Ways to go green during holidays, gift-giving

FORT FISHER, NC (PRESS RELEASE) — This holiday season, the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is encouraging the community to take the pledge to give green and live green by thinking sustainably when planning celebrations and gift-giving. 

Surviving as a sea turtle hatchling is tough. On the beach, hatchlings must escape natural predators like birds, crabs, raccoons, and foxes to make it to the sea. Once in the water, hatchlings are consumed by seabirds and fish. Few survive to adulthood, with estimates ranging from one in 1,000 to one in 10,000. According to the aquarium, humans are also responsible for their obstacles to survival when they say “yes” to plastic bags and other single-use plastics.

Being a sea turtle is hard. Shopping with a reusable bag is easy. 

“At the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, we’re green all year round! It really is the thought that counts—so let’s all think green. We have some great ways to get started today to take individual actions that can create a wave of actions to protect our oceans and marine animals,” NCAFF communications manager Deyanira Romo Rossell said. 

Scan the QR code and take the pledge to be green (Photo: NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher)

For the Aquarium, the more the greener this holiday season when it comes to saving species. Here are some tips and ideas to get on course and even guide others:   

• Shop at malls, department stores and grocery stores with your own reusable cloth bags. Avoid single-use plastic bags.  
• Take your own drink tumbler with you to the coffee shop to fill up on your favorite winter coffee or tea. Avoid those plastic lids and cups.  
• When getting together with friends or family to eat out, skip the straw and take your own reusable containers for leftovers. Avoid foam or plastic containers.  
• Repurpose paper bags and use twine to wrap gifts or use materials you have around the house. Avoid buying wrapping paper and bows.  
• Choose bar soaps and lotions or those in glass to give as gifts. Avoid plastic bottles.  
• Showcase your baked goods in tin or glass containers. Avoid plastic containers. 
• Choose a real tree. Avoid fake trees made of plastic. 
• Switch to Bird Friendly® coffee and cocoa. Find out more at Raise a Cup for Otters.  

Pledge to Give Green, and Live Green and take action today.  You’ll earn a badge that you can download to post on your social media pages and inspire others to go green this holiday season.