Sustainable Holidays

How to have the best holidays with the less waste!

Sustainable Wrapping Paper

What is the issue with wrapping paper, you ask? Well, aside from the fact that it is paper produced for a single-use experience and will be immediately discarded, it is generally not recyclable. Wrapping paper is usually dyed and often has glittery plastic materials added to it, which are not recyclable. But don't worry, there are other options!

01

Newspaper

This one is my favorite. Not only is newspaper recyclable and easily accessible, but you can also specially select who gets the different articles and highlight the different words that describe the gift receiver. You can be sentimental, but I prefer to be a little rude.

02

Packaging Paper

Throughout the year and even more so around the holidays, many of us get countless packages delivered. Hang on to that packaging paper and you'll have sturdy, sustainable wrapping paper by the holidays.

03

Fabric Wrapping

We don't usually think about incorporating the gift into the wrapping, but if you're gifting any fabric material, it might make perfect wrapping! Scarves, blankets, t-shirts... they all do the trick!

Learn more!

How to have Festive (And Sustainable) Holiday Decorations

  •  Get a real tree! Christmas trees are farmed, just like the rest of our crops, and pull carbon from the air while they are being grown. Non-recyclable plastic trees, which requires production and shipping, have a much larger ecological footprint than a real tree.
  • Natural decorations.  You can DIY lots of decorations from natural items, some of which you can probably find right in your yard. You can make adorable hanging trees using sticks and twine or build a wreath from the cuttings of your Christmas tree. Take different cuttings and put them in decorative vases and utilize dried oranges, pinecones, candy canes, and cinnamon sticks to decorate instead of plastic decor.
  • Mindful holiday lights. Luckily, LED holiday lights have become very popular, though it is still important to avoid incandescent lights which require far more energy. You could even take it one step further and try out solar lights or lasers. Instead of decorating your large tree with traditional lights, try shining some laser lights at it!
  • Second-hand shopping! This often gets overlooked as a sustainability tactic, but shopping from second-hand stores is a very easy way to master the *reduce* AND *reuse* part of the three "R"s. Some of my favorite holiday knickknacks are from the local goodwill and, even though they were plastic, it wasn't going to end up in the landfill.  

Sustainable Holiday Shopping

1

What To Buy

Whether or not gift-giving is from the heart or an obligation, think about both the usability and sustainability of your gift. Will this item end up in a landfill? Could I buy this product from a local business instead of a big-box store? Is there an alternative to this product that produces less waste? 

Look for the practical alternative.

2

What To Look For

When shopping online (or in-store), I like to look for companies and products that are plastic-free, palm oil-free, or net-zero carbon emissions. Look at their shipping methods, too! Check out some of our favorite brands that were founded on the premise of protecting our planet. 
Our Favorite Products

3

Where To Shop

Ideally, shopping from local, small businesses is usually the way to go! Supporting local shops means supporting your local economy. Though it may be more challenging than normal, shopping in-store reduces shipping waste and emissions. Small businesses often source from other local businesses and farms, ensuring you know exactly where and how the product was made.

4

Made From Scratch

Perhaps my favorite way to be eco-friendly around the holidays is to take advantage of all the stuff I already have. For family and friends, something homemade is more sentimental, inexpensive, and sustainable than anything store-bought could be. Break out your old paint, knitting kit, or get crafty with materials you have tucked away!

Ringing in the New Year Sustainably

Conservation Corner

THREE WAYS YOU CAN REDUCE YOUR WASTE AND PROTECT WILDLIFE THIS NEW YEARS

1.

Beware of Sneaky Plastic

Cups, plates, streamers, confetti, balloons... plastic is everywhere in a typical new years celebrations! Hit up your favorite second-hand shop for decorations or a new outfit, holepunch leaves or paper instead of buying confetti (which is just shiny microplastic), and get yourself and your dishwasher ready to do a few extra dishes!

2.

Fear the Fireworks

The negative impact of fireworks certainly outweighs the colorful explosion that lasts just a few seconds. Fireworks are filled with metals and chemicals that explode in the air releasing toxins into the atmosphere and rain down on the land, water, and wildlife below, pollution the ecosystem. They also scare wildlife and domestic life! You can act sustainably by opting out of fireworks this year.

3.

Drink (And Eat) Responsibly

When planning your last meal of 2020 and your celebratory cocktails, there are many ways you can incorporate sustainability. When perusing the store looking for food ideas, go veggie instead of meat. If you're going to be using a lot of something, buy the big container instead of many little ones. Choose the brands that package in aluminum or sustainably sourced paper/cardboard instead of plastic! Smart shopping is one of the best ways to reduce your impact.