Sustainable Holiday Tips
As we approach the holiday season, it’s important to consider what impact our practices have on the world around us. Winter holidays are a great time to spend with family and friends and practice meaningful traditions. Unfortunately, according to Green Citizen, the waste accumulated during the holiday season in the United States is 25% higher than the rest of the year. This leads to a million extra tons of waste every week! Practicing sustainability through holidays can often fall to the last priority. Luckily, with a little planning and awareness, the holidays can be a great time to learn a few new tricks!
For events that involve food, the most important consideration is how much is being made and how much food is wasted. The solutions here are simple: plan out how much food will be made according to how many people will be attending and save the leftovers or send guests home with leftovers. Additionally, choosing to serve some plant-based alternatives can help lower your carbon footprint and cater to those who eat plant-based. This is a wonderful way to try new things and maybe find new favorite recipes!
When it comes to holidays that include gift-giving, there are many things to consider that will make your holiday more sustainable. When choosing gifts, choose something practical and long-lasting, considering the recipient's needs can even make for a more meaningful gift. Gift-giving doesn’t have to be wasteful. You can give gifts that help others reduce waste in their lives! Similarly, making homemade gifts can be a fun way to include more personality in your gift and repurpose items. When wrapping gifts, use reusable bags or items around the house.
Thinking about what companies you support around the holidays is important. Try to support brands and companies committed to sustainable environmental and social practices (pay attention to labels, but do your research beyond that to avoid greenwashing). Buying locally is a great way to support local businesses, reduce waste, and lower your carbon footprint. If you plan on ordering gifts, try to order from companies that use recycled/recyclable packaging. Additionally, if it's possible to shop in person, you can avoid the waste of ordering gifts online (packaging and shipping).
If you celebrate Christmas and are buying a real Christmas tree, try to find a tree that was grown with sustainable practices rather than artificial coloring and heavy pesticide usage. When getting rid of your tree, some trees can be repotted and in Switzerland, there are even initiatives to recycle trees by allowing them to decompose in lakes. Last year the FUS Christmas tree was recycled in this way!
Mindful decorating is another way to reduce your negative impact. Holiday decorations can produce significant amounts of waste over time and consume high amounts of energy. Instead, buy long-lasting products and consider making decorations at home to be more sustainable, save money, and get creative!
If you’re traveling for the holidays, remember that buses and trains are less polluting than flying. Further, consider using the trip as an opportunity to learn more about the local culture and think about all the ways you can give back to the community you’re staying in. Regardless of how you spend your holidays, be respectful of other traditions and perhaps take the time to learn about other celebrations around the world.
Celebrating the holidays is a great time of the year to have fun, relax, and be with loved ones– and it can also be another opportunity to make a positive impact on the world we live in!
By Grace Meller
Green Office Scholar