10 Holiday Sustainability Tips
- Use recycled and eco-friendly wrapping paper materials. The best Christmas sustainability tips are those that prevent the 1.3 tons of wrapping paper ending up in landfills annually. Old newspapers and thrifted wicker baskets are some options for zero waste gift wrapping.
- Invest in LED Christmas lights. LED lights are 80% more energy-efficient, emitting brighter light so you can save energy all season long.
- Send a seed-filled card. Let’s be honest, how many of us actually save Christmas cards? If Christmas-cards are a must, support pollinators by choosing plantable paper embedded with wildflower seeds.
- Gift an experience. The holiday season produces an extra 25 million tons of garbage a year, meaning the most zero waste gifts are those that don’t involve a physical gift at all.
- Create your own DIY decor. Ditch that plastic tinsel and create your own garland from pine cones instead. If you don’t have time, opt for other sustainable-made options like eco-friendly Christmas crackers and reusable advent calendars.
- Prepare an eco-friendly feast. Planning a menu and portioning ingredients ahead of time is one of the best food waste solutions.
- Participate in a gift swap. Get rid of something old and replace it with something new-to-you rather than just purchasing new items. Use this sustainability tip for Christmas, birthdays, and more.
- Opt for homemade sustainable stocking fillers. Freshly baked goods and other home-made goodies are a better alternative to mass-produced store-bought stocking fillers.
- Shop mindfully. Purchase ethical gifts that are practical and likely to be used more than once. Better still if they provide ways to be more sustainable for the recipient, too, like a zero-waste starter kit or compost bin or herb seeds to mention a few.
- Use natural candles. Normal candles are filled with synthetic scents, petroleum wax, and lead wicks that don’t always burn clean. Sustainable candles made from natural waxes are far less harmful when burned.