6 Easy Ways to Green Your Holidays

Date Published: December 17, 2020

Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, the amount of trash produced in the US increases by an estimated 25% (or about one million extra tons of garbage each week). It’s an especially harmful time of the year for the environment, and the current health crisis doesn’t seem to be slowing it down -- after all, waste from online shopping is higher than ever. Luckily, there are easy things we can all do to make our holidays a little healthier for the planet. Here are 6 ways you can green your holidays.

Something to remember: this holiday season comes during a very tough winter, closing out an already stressful year. While you can make a hugely positive impact on the environment by doing these things, it’s also important to take care of your mental health and protect your joy where you can find it. Do as many of these things as you reasonably can or want to, but don’t beat yourself up if you don’t have time to shop locally, or if it makes you happy to put up that extra sparkly bit of tinsel. We’re all just doing our best -- for the environment and ourselves.

1) Be mindful of where you’re shopping.

When it comes to shopping sustainably, not all retail channels are created equal. According to a recent study, the channel with the lowest carbon footprint are “brick and clicks” -- when you order online and a physical store delivers it to you (like Walmart, Target, or even a local business in your town). The carbon emissions produced are lower than you would get from going to a physical store yourself or buying from a purely online retailer (like Amazon). So good news! You can still safely shop online from the comfort of your home -- just try to give preference to retailers with physical stores.

When you’re shopping online, try not to make a bunch of little orders from lots of different places. If you can, order as many of your gifts and decorations as possible through one seller so you can cut down on packaging waste and limit the carbon emissions it’ll take to get it to you. Oh, and as easy as it is to procrastinate around this time of year, plan ahead a little so you aren’t rush shipping (because one- or two-day delivery comes at an environmental cost).

2) Travel more sustainably.

Transportation is the #1 source of greenhouse gas emissions in the US, and increased travel around the holidays has a huge impact. Of course, you don’t need us to tell you that this isn’t a typical holiday season. It’s expected that there will be 30% fewer holiday travelers this year due to COVID-19 (see the CDC’s guidance for those considering travel here).

Whether or not you’re making the trip to Grandma’s, someone in your household is likely to still need to travel somewhere over the course of the winter holidays -- to work, the grocery store, pharmacy, etc. If you are heading somewhere, choose a more sustainable way to travel. Swapping out a traditional single-occupancy vehicle for a carpool, bike ride, or walk for even just a day can save several pounds of carbon emissions.

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3) Choose your gifts thoughtfully.

Maybe it’s all those Black Friday deals, and maybe it’s just the magnetic pull of Mariah Carey playing in every single retailer, but during the holidays, a lot of Americans tend to overconsume -- that is, buy lots of stuff. Not only is it rough on your wallet, it’s bad for the environment too.

Disrupt overconsumption and make an effort to be extra thoughtful with your gift-giving this time of year. You don’t need a million gifts (and the waste that goes along with them) for each of your family and friends -- and don’t even get us started on all the single-use plastic waste of stocking stuffers and gag gifts. Take your time to pick out just one really special and practical gift for everyone on your list, and try to find things that are long-lasting and recyclable. You could even make something yourself (like a piece of art or a homemade dessert) or give them something that cuts out waste altogether (like a digital download of a video game or a donation in their name).

4) Wrap and package gifts with recycling in mind.

An estimated 2.3 million pounds of wrapping paper ends up in landfills each year because the glossy coating, foil, and glitter make it un-recyclable (is that a word?). Popular Science puts it best: “Five minutes of glittery wonder. A lifetime trying to decompose in a landfill.” Ditch the wrapping paper and try out recycled and sustainable materials like newspapers, brown paper bags, fabric from an old t-shirt, etc.

Wrapping paper isn’t the only holiday staple you should be giving a big environmental side-eye to either. In 2019, Americans purchased 1.6 billion holiday cards -- that’s enough to fill a football field 10 stories high. Opt for a handmade or recycled card instead (with a little work, last year’s cards will work great). Or better yet, in typical 2020 fashion, go digital!

5) Pick and make decorations that are less harmful.

Before you start to deck the halls and all that, make sure you aren’t inviting unnecessary amounts of single-use plastic into your home that’ll just end up trashed at the end of the season (we’re looking at you, tinsel). Choose decorations made from durable materials that you can use for several years, or make your own temporary decorations out of recyclable or compostable materials (paper snowflakes and popcorn garlands are holiday classics for a reason). Even your tree can be recycled into mulch if you have a program near you!

Then it’s time to tackle that bright, beautiful elephant in the room: holiday lights. The Department of Energy estimates that Americans burn more electricity through holiday lights alone than the entire country of El Salvador uses in a year. Luckily, you can cut that energy consumption up to 70% just by switching to LED lights. Reduce your impact even further by limiting how long you keep them on.

6) Reduce your waste at meals and gatherings.

Nearly a quarter of all landfill waste is food waste, with over 70 billion pounds of it being thrown out each year. For a lot of people, the holidays revolve around special meals and treats, so be mindful of the environmental impact of your dinner table this season. (And if you’re following guidance from the CDC, that dinner table should probably only include members of your household.)

Stick to a tight grocery list for any holiday meal planning so that you aren’t making an excessive amount of food. Keep in mind that a lot of gatherings will be smaller this year, so plan accordingly! If you do have leftovers, share them with family, freeze them for later, or get creative with some post-holiday recipes (we’re talking sandwiches, salads, casseroles, and more). Whatever you do, don’t just throw them away.