By Bethany Holtz - Outreach Manager
It’s the most wonderful time of the year but that doesn’t mean it has to be the most wasteful time of the year. Americans throw away 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year’s than any other period of the year. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanza, all that holiday trash can pile up faster than snow in a blizzard!
We’ve put together a few tips to help you reduce your plastic consumption this holiday season, while still decking all the halls.
Gifts & Wrapping
The holiday season is the perfect time to show your loved ones just how much they mean to you. A thoughtful, well-wrapped gift can bring so much joy. Consider for a moment, however, how quickly that beautiful card and wrapping paper gets tossed in the trash. We have a few tips to make sure holiday giving is as thoughtful for the planet as it is for your recipients.
Recycle your gift packaging. Before you head to the store to pick up a fresh roll of wrapping paper coated in a plastic seal, look around at what you already have. Use up all of the rolls and packaging supplies you have on hand before buying new supplies. Throughout the year, save the wrapping from gifts you receive whenever you can.
Make your own gift wrap/cards. Look for creative packaging options in your home like comics from the newspaper or your child’s art work. You can use festive ribbons or holiday greenery to spruce up your packages. The same goes for your cards. Use family photos or cut your child’s artwork into shapes. Homemade cards are more environmentally friendly and less likely to get immediately tossed. Send a funny e-card that will get a laugh that will last longer than a paper card ever would.
Handmake gifts. Use your talents to impress your relatives and friends this season. Gift them a copy of your best photograph or write a poem from the heart. Have a green thumb? Create a small plant arrangement. Good at sewing? Turn their old worn-out t-shirts into a quilt. Whatever your talents are, use them.
Shop small. Shipping creates a lot of holiday waste from packaging and fuel. Support local business and get your holiday gift list fulfilled without burning gas to visit a crowded holiday mall.
Give the gift of experiences. Presents are fun to unwrap but a more meaningful gift is spending time with those you love. Does your mom really need another sweater or would she love if you took her to lunch and a show? The same goes for your kids. Give them a few small gifts to unwrap but let them know that their big gift is tickets to a special show featuring their favorite characters or a family vacation.
Symbolic gifts. Not every gift has to come in a box. Figure out what your gift recipient’s favorite cause is and donate in their name. There are lots of great ideas out there like adopting a sea turtle hatchling in their name.
Decorating
It might be tempting to grab a new pillow from Target or that shiny wreath from Home Goods but we bet you can decorate without accumulating more plastic this year. Check out our tips below before you hit the store.
Use what you already have. Head to the attic and get out those boxes to take stock of what you already have before you buy anything new. If you’re looking to change up your décor, see if you can come up with creative ideas like putting things in different rooms or giving your wreaths a fresh look by replacing the bows.
Thrift new décor. Rather than heading to big box stores to buy new décor in plastic packaging, head to the thrift store and give something old a second life. You’d be surprised at what people donate. Some thrift stores also receive donations of wrapping supplies.
Exchange with your friends. See if any of your friends are looking to be eco-conscious this year. Get a group together to swap items like tablecloths, knickknacks, and garland. If you aren’t ready to completely part with an item, just let your friends know it’s a loan for the season.
Use natural elements. String popcorn garland, buy real wreaths, and fill your flower vases with cranberries. Find creative ways to use natural items this holiday.
Holiday Parties
The best part of the holidays is spending time with those you love. Whether it’s a work party or a big family reunion, get out your party clothes and embrace the holiday spirit. Incorporate a few of our tips for a plastic-free party that’s sure to go down in the record books.
Decorate with what you have. Whether the party is in your home or at a venue, use the holiday décor we know you already have on end. Get creative and make items like table arrangements with the trimmings from your Christmas tree and holly from your yard.
Use food as part of your décor. There are so many creative holiday food ideas. If you were going to hand out candy canes, place them in a fancy vase. Create a holiday charcuterie board or bake festive cookies that you place out on a dessert table. Display your food for everyone to see.
Ditch disposables. We know it’s easy to have plastic plates, cups, and utensils at a big holiday get together. Avoid these pesky plastic items this holiday season by using reusables. If there is ever a time to break out the good dishes, it’s the holidays. Show off what you have and celebrate. If you are worried about breakage, invest in a set of nice neutral cups/plates that you use only for parties. Consider it an investment in all of your future parties. If you absolutely can’t avoid the disposables, look into biodegradable options like those made from bamboo.