Go green this holiday season

Simple ways make your celebrations more sustainable.

While all those packages and wrapping paper are the remnants of joyful celebrations, they’re likely headed for the trash. In the United States alone, household waste increases by 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. That’s about 5 million tons of garbage. However, with some minor changes, conscious individuals can greatly increase sustainability this holiday season.

Adding mindfulness to holiday meals

When hosting holiday meals, it’s easy to get carried away and make more food than everyone can consume. And while washing dishes is a hassle, single-use plastic and paper dining products create waste. Consider these tips for a thoughtful feast:

• Shop local. Supporting local farmers – many of whom use organic growing methods – is good for your community and cuts down on the distance your food must travel.
• Compost waste. Instead of throwing away uneaten food, set up a composting station to recycle your scraps into fertilizer for your garden or other plants.
• Skip the paper and plastic. Opt for reusable dinnerware and cloth napkins instead of disposable options. Then, store leftovers in reusable glass containers rather than single-use plastic ones to keep them fresh and curb additional waste.

Putting purpose behind your gift giving

Each year, about 2.3 million pounds of wrapping paper ends up in landfills. A thoughtful approach to gift giving can significantly reduce waste:

• Consider experience gift options such as a spa day, cooking class or yoga class. These create lasting memories without contributing to clutter. Even a gift card to someone’s favorite restaurant creates minimal waste.
• Bundle your online purchases and look for retailers that use minimal packaging or eco-friendly packing materials.
• Explore thrifting and antiquing. These businesses have a wealth of terrific finds, and some even donate proceeds to worthy causes.
• Skip traditional wrapping paper, which often can’t be recycled due to dyes and additives. Choose reusable alternatives, such as cloth bags and scarves. You can even make your own with materials like old maps, sheet music or newspapers.
• Repurpose wrapping paper as tissue paper for bagged presents, shred into confetti for your New Year’s party, or use it in DIY projects and crafts.
• Shop local. Supporting small businesses is a great way to give back to your local community and live more sustainably.
• Carpool. Bring friends and family along on your shopping trips, and make sure to bring your own reusable shopping bags.

Whether you’re able to implement all of these practices or just a few, it will go a long way toward reducing waste this holiday season.

Sources: architecturaldigest.com; moveforhunger.org