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Ways to make holidays sustainable
01
Reuse decor or make your own
Rather than getting new decorations each year and discarding the old, consider making your own, thrifting decor, or setting up a group that exchanges decor. There is so many DIY's that can be made from upcycled material! If you are getting rid of decor, consider donating it.
02
Sustainable wrapping
Did you know an additional 5 MILLION tons of waste is generated over the Christmas season, 4 MILLION of which is wrapping paper and shopping bags? THAT IS WILD. What can we do about this? First and foremost do not forget your reusable bags when shopping for others, this can prevent so much plastic waste. Additionally, traditional wrapping paper cannot be recycled, luckily there are alternative options to consider:
-Recyclable/compostable wrapping paper
-Reusable fabric bags/wraps
-Newspaper
-Reusable totes
-Natural kraft paper
-Baskets
-Jars/tins
03
reusable Dishes & Silverware
Plastic utensils are ranked one of the most harmful types of waste to ocean animals. Plastic utensils are often given when getting carry out, typically without asking if needed in the first place and more quantity than needed. Use reusable table settings instead of plastic plates/silverware to avoid unnecessary waste.
04
Christmas trees
Consider getting a real Christmas tree instead of a plastic tree. There are services which will recycle your tree at the end of its life. Sometimes even local zoos will accept trees as a treat to the animals! Did you know you can also take your old/broken light strands to your nearest Home Depot, Lowe’s, Ace or True Value to be recycled through a third party company to avoid landfill waste?
05
Shop local
When buying groceries for your gathering, shop locally and support local businesses. Shopping locally can help reduce your carbon footprint, support your community, and help you find quality products.
06
Flowers
Instead of buying fake flowers, consider real ones! Artificial flowers are non-recyclable and may contain bleaches and dyes that can be toxic to the environment if handled improperly. At the end of your flower arrangements life you can:
-Make potpourri
-Create art
-Make candles
-Compost them!
07
compost
Food scraps account for 22% of waste in landfills. Organic waste in landfills decomposes anaerobically, meaning without access to oxygen, this is different from aerobic decomposition, which is how organic waste naturally decomposes. When food scraps break down without oxygen, it produces greenhouse gases which pollute the atmosphere and contribute to global warming. Composting is the perfect way to reduce harmful gas emissions while also helping the planet.
08
bring reusable containers
Did you know that plastic take-out containers and packaging make up 82.2 MILLION tons of waste each year? If you are sharing leftovers, bring or provide reusable food containers. If you order take-out, make sure you ask for no silverware/napkins/straws or support restaurants with eco-friendly alternatives. If you ask ahead of time, some restaurants will allow you to bring in your own food containers to carry out your order, make sure to call ahead and ask.
09
Reusable lighters
Did you know that more than 350 MILLION disposable lighters end up in landfills EACH YEAR? This can contaminate our food, land, and water with hazardous waste. Using electric, rechargeable lighters are more economical and environmentally friendly. There is no lighter fluid, and no worry of the smell of gas in the air + they’re reusable.
10
CARDS
Did you know in the U.S, 1.3 BILLION holiday cards are sent each year? Although sending greeting cards is a common tradition, there are alternatives!
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E-cards - send a virtual card that can be saved and creates no plastic waste
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Wishcloths - These are greeting cards that can also be reused as a dish cloth (that's genius)
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Plantable cards - Cards infused with seeds that can then be planted
11
repurpose scraps
When preparing meals be sure to save your scraps, they can be used!!! This is the perfect way to avoid food waste.
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Collect kitchen scraps: skins, stems, tops, bottoms (they can be frozen for up to 6 months)
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Place scraps into a pot, filling the pot about 3/4 of the way
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Fill the pot with water just until the scraps start to float
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Add spices of your choosing
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Bring the mixture to a boil, then let it simmer for at least 30 minutes
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Strain the mixture saving the liquid in a jar
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Refrigerate vegetable stock up to 4 days, or freeze up to 3 months
12
Place cards
Consider upcycling your place cards this year, find things that can be repurposed around the house and make it fun! These are some of my favorites:
-Leaves
-Wine Corks
-Pinecones
-Newspaper clippings
-Scrabble letters
13
conscious cleaning
When reducing the use of single-use plastics we don’t often think about cleaning products. Not only can cleaning supplies contain harmful chemicals, they also create so much plastic waste. By investing in glass reusable cleaning bottles we can prevent the use of both harmful chemicals and plastic waste by creating our own natural cleaners.
14
Buy in Bulk
Whether you are hosting a party or simply gathering supplies for several holiday recipes, consider buying in bulk to prevent individual packaging plastic waste. A helpful tip is planning out your dishes ahead of time to see what you need the most quantity of!
15
use Reusable bags
100 BILLION plastic bags are wasted each year. It can take up to 1,000 years for a plastic bag to disintegrate. Why all of this waste when there is such a simple solution? Bring reusable bags with you whether you are grocery shopping, retail shopping, or picking up take-out - together we can make a change.