How to make this holiday season a little easier on the planet
Header image courtesy of Mandy Barker
Over time, modern society has conditioned us to consume, consume, consume as the end of the year approaches. Black Friday deals push the latest tech gadgets and holiday ads prompt us to splurge on gifts and eat until we’re stuffed. In all the rush and the excitement, being conscious of the environment can fall to the bottom of our to-do list.
Whether you’re shopping, gifting, cooking or decorating, look out for ways to avoid wasteful products and plastic. We’ve teamed up with Zero Waste NYC to share some universal tips to keep in mind as you’re preparing for and enjoying what has been coined the “most wasteful time of the year.” And if you’re in New York, you can find more info on Zero Waste NYC’s events and workshops here.
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Rethink your wrap
Americans throw away 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year’s than at any other time of the year – that’s roughly 1 million pounds of excess waste each week. Part of this increase of waste is due to the huge increase in packages and cards sent this time of year – more than 3 billion packages were sent during last year’s holiday season in the U.S. alone.
When purchasing and wrapping gifts, be conscious of the material and where you’re buying from. Britain will throw away around 200 million sheets of wrapping paper this holiday season. Choose wrapping paper that is made from recycled material and steer clear of paper that is glossy and shiny – especially anything with glitter aka pre-chopped microplastic. If you really want to reduce your waste production, think about alternative options like repurposing newspaper or using cloth that can be used over and over again. If you have to ship some gifts, try to reuse boxes and use paper for padding instead of styrofoam packing peanuts or bubble wrap.
Another great way to reduce your environmental footprint is to shop locally. While it may seem easier or “greener” to shop online, it involves excess packaging and fuel pollution, especially if you’re gifting it in person. If you are going to shop online, try buying in one big order to reduce shipping emissions and costs.
Eco-innovative Entertaining
No matter where or how you’re celebrating, the holiday season makes it easy to fall into temptations we would otherwise avoid. Single-use products and plastics are rampant during this time of the year. In Britain alone, it is estimated that more than 177 million straws and 122 million plastic cups will be used at Christmas. Planning ahead for your shopping and cooking needs can be crucial to curbing your waste production:
Prepare a shopping list for items you need try to stick to it, so you don’t over-purchase.
Forget single-use plates, cups and napkins keep it classy with ceramic plates and the nice cutlery for a change.
Avoid unnecessary “party plastics” like glitter, balloons, party poppers or those “2022” glasses you’ll only wear once. These micro plastics can easily enter the marine environment and are not fun to clean.
Choose your candles wisely. Stick to soy or beeswax based candles that won’t leach chemicals.
Reduce your annual food waste by encouraging guests to have seconds, using up leftovers and donating unused cans and other items to your local food bank or homeless shelter.
Green lighting
Satellite data from NASA shows that some cities shine 30 to 50 percent brighter during the winter holidays compared to light output during the rest of the year – and lighting is a key producer of greenhouse gas emissions. But saving energy doesn’t mean you have to sit around in the dark this holiday season. Making the switch to LED lights uses 90% less energy than traditional holiday lights, and LEDs are now available in an almost unlimited range of colors and hues.
Since most string lights are coated in a type of plastic called polyvinyl chloride (PVC), you can also green your household by replacing burned-out plastic string lights with copper wire twinkle lights. String lights might not be the most obvious thing to recycle, but they definitely don’t belong in the trash – just don’t throw them directly into your single-stream recycling bin. Check to see if there is a recycling program near you that takes string lights, which can be separated into glass, plastic and metal parts that can be individually recycled. Some shops collect holiday lights for recycling, too – do some searching around your area to see what your options are.
Decorate a real tree
Every year, more than 95 million U.S. households celebrate the holidays with a Christmas tree – but around 82% are artificial, usually plastic, and 18% are real. In the U.S., around 10 million artificial trees are purchased every holiday season, and 90% are shipped to the States from China. Not only does this create packaging waste and excess carbon emissions, artificial Christmas trees (and the strings of lights used to decorate them) may contain PVC, which can be released in the form of dust as the tree breaks down over time. When compared on an annual basis, an artificial tree with an average lifespan of six years has three times more of an environmental impact than real trees do.
This year, think about investing in a live tree that you can keep after Christmas. If you do buy a cut one, make sure to dispose of it properly – most cities offer collection and reuse the trees for wood chips for public pathways in parks. You can also look for potted Christmas trees that can either be planted outside when the holiday is over – just make sure the tree is compatible with your climate – or find a local company that rents real trees that provide temporary habitat for wildlife during the off season. Getting your tree from a local tree farm is also key to keeping your holiday carbon footprint low and keep tree farms in business.
Regardless of what you celebrate, look to nature for your inspiration when decorating your home for the holidays. Use tree clippings to dress the mantle and collect real gourds, squash, pinecones, and cranberries for your table’s centerpiece. Go for plastic free ornaments.
The giving guide
Give cleaner
Gift experiences like concert tickets and classes instead of gifting material items that typically come dressed in plastic. If you’re organizing a secret gift exchange, suggest that this year, everyone donates to a charity that reminds them of the person they drew.
Give simpler
Choose a few small gifts with meaning that will last a lifetime, like a family heirloom or something made by hand. It’s more thoughtful and less likely to get thrown out.
Give green
Look for upcycled gifts like our Parley Ocean Bags or products from sustainable brands whose values align with yours.
Give again
Regift or buy second-hand presents from thrift stores or antique shops. 35% of Americans have an unused Christmas present collecting dust in their closets, so give those items to someone else who can use them.
HOW TO TAKE ACTION
There’s strength in numbers but it starts with one. Read up, make noise, spread the word and give others the tools to do the same. This is the best way to drive world leaders to adopt policies that will slow climate change and help the oceans stay healthy so they can play their role.
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