‘Tis the Season to be Sustainable: Your Guide to Celebrating Consciously

Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, many people will flock to stores to purchase decorations for their homes and yards. Food and drinks will be bought by the plenty to keep refrigerators full for visiting friends and family. Gifts will be purchased on a whim, hoping the recipient will make use of them. During this holiday period, a lot of money is spent on things that may quickly end up in the garbage. Improper disposal of trash can lead to holiday waste becoming marine debris if it blows out of garbage trucks or trash cans. Organic trash that makes it to landfills creates Landfill Gas as it breaks down, a mixture of gases that is primarily composed of methane, a greenhouse gas.

There are many ways to decorate and give gifts during the holiday season in an eco-friendly manner, limiting the demand for single-use items that will end up in landfills. Check out some ways to celebrate sustainably below!

Shop in Store

Online shopping may be a convenient way to purchase gifts, decorations and even groceries for the holidays. Unfortunately, this convenience comes at a price- the endless bubble wrap, plastic bags, cardboard boxes and tape used to get these items to your door. One study found that online shopping produces over 4.8 times as much waste as shopping in person! So grab your reusable bags and head to the store to minimize the waste of shopping.

Reuse Wrapping Paper

Gift-giving is an essential part of holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, and gifts are often disguised using wrapping paper. Wrapping paper is typically not recyclable due to its glossy, metallic, or glitter designs, and will end up in the landfill after an extremely short period of use. Rather than purchasing brand-new wrapping paper, try reusing items you have at home as packaging instead. Paper bags from grocery stores can be deconstructed and used as wrapping paper, which can then be decorated with drawings, bows, or stickers. Smaller paper bags can be decorated in the same manner and used as a gift bag.

Caption: Trader Joe’s bags used as wrapping paper. Photo Courtesy of Debbie Johnson Osgood

Decorate with Donations and DIYs

Holiday decor such as lights, wreaths, ornaments and other decorations may only be used a few times before it is disposed of due to changes in trends or personal style. Instead of throwing these items in the trash, consider giving them to a friend or neighbor or donating them to your local thrift store. In return, seek out used decor rather than purchasing brand new. Maybe you can swap lights with a neighbor who is looking to switch things up!

Holiday decor can easily be made by hand using items you may have lying around your house. Rather than buying ribbons or garlands to hang around your house or on a Christmas tree, you can create these using items you may have at home! This can be done by connecting edible items like popcorn, cranberries, or orange slices with a needle and thread, or by creating paper snowflakes.

Brands like Ecofetti are looking to minimize our carbon footprint while celebrating by developing water-soluble confetti. Consider ringing in the New Year with this sustainable alternative to glitter or plastic confetti.

Minimize Food Waste

During the Holiday season, food is typically an important part of many people’s celebrations. Family recipes are brought out, and festive beverages and desserts are crafted. For many, some holidays are about finding comfort and community in their kitchens. Unfortunately, it is estimated that food waste increases by 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Rather than sending your leftovers to the landfill, consider bringing them to a neighbor or friend, or to a person in need. Many people can not count on a full stomach during these holidays and may appreciate your leftovers.

Caption: Graphic Courtesy of Madison Champion

Whether it is shopping your home to create DIY decor or sharing leftovers with a neighbor, there are many ways in which we can reduce our carbon footprint during the holiday season. While we cherish time with family and friends, we must remember to celebrate our time on this Earth and give back to our planet by acting sustainably!