The holiday season brings so much joy and cheerful spirits to most of us, it also brings along an additional large amount of waste. Did you know that we send 25% more trash to landfills during the holiday season than any other time of the year in the United States? It means an increase of 25 million tons of extra waste. Here are some green tips for less wasteful and more eco-friendly celebrations this year.
If you buy gifts, consider these sustainable gifting ideas below:
- Homemade gifts – Bake your favorite cookie recipe or handmake a holiday wreath is a lovely way to show love with your personal touch.
- Gift experiences – A range of virtual classes, subscription boxes, and fun activity tickets. These ideas are two gifts in one: the gift of experience and the gift of unforgettable memories.
- Buy reusable gifts – Thinking reusable is another sustainable way to gift. We all should own one of these: thermos flask, coffee mug and refillable hand sanitizer bottle, canvas tote bag, lunch pails, napkins, etc.
- Shop locally – Buy a voucher at a local restaurant or get a subscription box at a local farmers market. Environmental benefits from buying locally are reducing your carbon footprint, protecting local land and wildlife, and supporting the local workforce.
When it comes to wrapping presents, repurposing can save a significant amount of waste. Look for items like the backside of your calendars, newspapers, magazines, or even old scarves to reuse. If you have to buy wrapping paper, opt for recycled material. For large-sized gifts, draw the item on a piece of paper or print it out and put it in a smaller box to save some wrapping paper and space under your tree. Check out more zero-waste gift wrapping here.
Putting up Christmas trees is a classic holiday tradition that many of us can't skip. Consider buying an organic potted tree instead of a cut tree. That way, you can still enjoy the festive decorations and its delightful smell while able to reuse the tree for next year or donate it to a local farm or nursery. If you have allergies, check out ideas on sustainable tree alternatives here.
