A Sustainable Holiday

Keeping sustainability in mind during the holiday season is sometimes difficult, but we have all the tips to make it a little bit easier to be eco-conscious this season!  

Reusing Bags, Paper and Boxes

Millions of rolls worth of wrapping paper are thrown away each year. Wrapping paper often isn’t recyclable either because it can be covered in glittery plastics or similar non-recyclable material.  A more sustainable alternative can be to recycle gift wrapping material you already have, use newspaper, or use reusable bags.   You could also wrap gifts using what’s called the Furoshiki method. Furoshiki is a traditional Japanese gift-wrapping cloth that is given with the intention for it to be reused. You simply tie the fabric around your gift/box and reuse it over and over and over again. You can thrift tea towels or scarves, and then these double as a gift, or the recipient can reuse them as gift wrap, too! 

Buying a Natural Tree, or Using your Artificial Tree for Over 20 Years

Buying a natural tree actually has a carbon footprint that is 3 times less than buying an artificial tree. However, if you reuse your artificial tree for more than 20 years, the footprint would be smaller! After the holidays, you can use your natural tree for useful things like firewood, mulch, and creating natural habitat for wildlife. Christmas trees can be left outside or even in water to naturally decompose and will create a unique space for animals to hide.   

Heading to the Thrift Store for Unique Gifts for Your Family, or Providing an Experience as a Gift Instead

Thrifting is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, and many thrift stores support local charities. Buying used items is a great way to save money. Experience-based gifts also result in less waste, since you do not have any more stuff lying around and don’t require a lot of wrapping. A gift card for an eco-vessel experience could be the perfect gift! 

Participate in a Decor Swap

Looking to freshen up your holiday decor, downsize or upgrade your collection? A local decor swap could be just the solution! This fun and easy way to exchange gently used items with others also helps lessen the waste entering our landfills. Plus, you don’t have to spend anything on your decor to feel refreshed! Local low-waste or eco-stores are a great place to look for swap events.