During the holidays, it can be easy to fall into old traditions that, while enjoyable, don’t offer much in the way of sustainability. From excessive gift wrapping to wasteful parties, our holiday cheer can have a significant impact on the environment. However, there are many things we can do to make our holidays more sustainable without sacrificing the joy and meaning of the season.
In this blog post, we will discuss the top 7 sustainable holiday traditions you can adopt this year. These traditions will help you reduce your environmental impact while still allowing you to enjoy the holidays with your loved ones.
Tips For Embracing a Sustainable Holiday
Choose sustainable decorations
- Swap out incandescent lighting with LED string lights, which can consume less energy and last longer than traditional bulbs.
- Transform natural elements into unique ornaments. Pinecones can be adorned with glitter or paint, while branches can be accented with ribbons and dried flowers.
- While candles can provide the perfect versatile accented element to any home decor, be sure to choose beeswax or other organic candles. Organic candles are ethically sourced, are usually free from potentially harmful additives, and can burn cleaner than paraffin candles, which means that they will not produce soot or smoke.
Recycled Gift Wrap
- Traditional wrapping paper can be a major source of unnecessary waste during the holidays. Instead of using traditional wrapping paper, try wrapping your gifts in reusable materials like cloth, paper bags, or old newspapers (my grandmother was notorious for using the comic section to wrap gifts). You can also get creative with your wrapping by using natural materials like twine, ribbons, and dried leaves.
Provide experiences over physical gifts
- Consider gift options such as a spa day, cooking class, or weekend getaway. These create lasting memories without contributing to clutter. Choosing an experience tailored to the recipient’s interests and preferences demonstrates a deeper level of thoughtfulness and attention to detail. It shows that you value their unique passions and want to contribute to their personal growth or enjoyment. These types of gifts can also reduce the accumulation of material possessions that can clutter homes and contribute to environmental concerns.
Avoid expedited and overnight shipping
- While the convenience of overnight shipping during the holiday rush can be tempting, it comes with a significant environmental cost. Opting for expedited shipping methods can generate up to 35 times more carbon emissions compared to standard shipping options. To minimize your environmental impact, plan your holiday shopping in advance and choose the more eco-friendly standard shipping option.
Adopt conscious food shopping and waste removal practices
- Choose locally sourced, organic, and seasonal ingredients and meats for your holiday meals. Consider reducing meat consumption and incorporating more plant-based dishes.
- Avoid disposable tablewear. Dinning with ceramic or reusable dishes, will drastically reduce trash production.
Find time to donate to organizations and charities
- If you have nonperishable, unopened, and healthy food items left over after the holidays, donate them to your local food bank.
- Consider donating books, clothes, toys, decor, and more to local thrift stores or charities this holiday season. Programs such as Make-A-Wish, and Toys for Tots will let you donate gifts to families who can’t afford them.