Tips for a Sustainable Holiday Season

12/08/22

Every year during the period that falls between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, Americans gather with family and friends to celebrate the holiday season. With all this celebration can come activities that increase our carbon footprint and generate waste. From the large amount of electricity used for holiday lights to the tons of trash that is thrown away during this time period, the need to celebrate the holiday season in a more sustainable manner continues to grow in importance each year.

Here are some ideas you can consider for celebrating the festive season in a more environmentally friendly manner:

  • Decorating with LED lighting uses less energy and lasts longer than traditional incandescent lights.
  • Should you decide on adorning your household with a live Christmas tree, recycling it at the end of the holiday season can ensure that your tree won’t end up in the landfill, where it would end up producing methane, a greenhouse gas with 80 times more warming potency than carbon dioxide.
Sustainable wrapping material
  • Using sustainable or recycled gift wrap or making your own out of materials such as kraft paper, newspaper or reusable cloth can reduce the amount of material that ends up in landfills.
  • Discarding plastics in favor of reusable and compostable alternatives can also reduce waste generated during the holiday season.
  • If you will be traveling, consider utilizing eco-friendly transportation options such as carpooling, electric vehicles, and public transportation whenever possible.

Interested in even more ways you can be sustainable during the holidays? See here! 

Happy Holidays! We wish you a safe, happy, healthy, and green festive season!