Jasper Larkins, Zero Waste Humboldt
According to a Stanford study, the holiday season (November through December) produces an additional 25 million tons of waste on average. Between excessive gifts, wrapping paper, single-use dinnerware, and Christmas lights, December is the most waste-filled month of the year. However, many simple changes to the holiday routine can allow for a more sustainable season.
Gift Giving
Presents are a central part of the holidays. They are an excellent way to show friends and family appreciation and love; however, gifts are one of the largest waste producers of the month. Quality over quantity is a great phrase to guide shopping for holiday gifts. Over 90 million items are returned after Christmas every year. The energy used to transport items back and forth can be saved by simply shopping with intention. Gifting an experience, such as tickets to a concert or show, or buying gifts that are meaningful, is a wonderful way to value quality over quantity. Buying gifts with little to no packaging, or hand-making gifts to give to loved ones, are also sustainable options. A crucial part of gift-giving is the surprise factor, which involves wrapping paper or gift bags. Purchasing wrapping paper made from recycled materials, using reusable fabric or newspaper, or reusing last year’s gift wrap will also reduce waste. Stepping up sustainability in the gift-giving game creates a significantly more zero-waste holiday.
Holiday Feast
The holidays are when family and friends gather together and create many memories. A staple of the gathering is the holiday feast which generally includes many side dishes and main courses. It can seem easier to buy single-use cups, napkins, plates, and utensils for large gatherings. Still, these items end up in landfills producing carbon emissions that contribute to the rising temperature on our planet. Using reusable dishes is the best way to ensure a zero waste feast. It is also essential to keep leftover foods from going to waste. Cooking enough for everyone who plans to attend or storing leftovers to eat over the next few days are also great ways to ensure no food is thrown out. Purchasing organic and non-plastic packaged foods also allows for waste reduction.
Christmas Trees
Purchasing a real tree from a sustainable vendor, or borrowing, renting or reusing a fake tree are both sustainable options. Many people reuse Christmas ornaments, which is preferable, though investing in wooden or glass ones instead of buying new plastic ones is best (unless they are thrifted, of course). One of the most significant energy uses during Christmas is the lights that decorate the house and the tree. Switching to LED lights is an excellent option because they use less energy and tend to last longer. Turning the lights off during the day will also allow for significantly less energy to be used.
The holiday season is a magical time for many. Keeping sustainability and zero-waste efforts in mind allows our planet to stay healthy. While some of these zero-waste suggestions may not be cost-friendly, many are easy to implement into the holiday routine.