Eco-Friendly Holidays: Tips for a Sustainable Season
The holidays are a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness, but they can also be a time of excess. From gift wrap and packaging to uneaten food and discarded decorations, the environmental impact of the season is significant. With a little thoughtfulness, we can make this holiday season kinder to the planet while still embracing the festivities we love. Here are some tips to celebrate sustainably this year.
1. Sustainable Gift-Giving Ideas
Gift-giving is one of the cornerstones of the holiday season, but it often comes with waste—from plastic packaging to unwanted items that end up in landfills. Here are a few ways to rethink your approach to gifting:
DIY Gifts: Homemade gifts show effort and thought while cutting down on waste. Consider creating photo albums, homemade candles, or baked goods. These gifts often feel more personal and meaningful.
Experience-Based Gifts: Instead of material items, gift experiences like tickets to a concert, cooking classes, or a DONATE A TREE in honor of someone today with Take MAR’s new Tree Donation Gift Drive! Experiences often create lasting memories without adding to physical clutter.
Sustainable Shopping: Look for gifts made from recycled or eco-friendly materials, or shop local to reduce shipping emissions. Many small businesses offer unique, handmade gifts that support artisans in your community.
Bonus Tip: Skip traditional gift wrap and opt for reusable alternatives like fabric, scarves, or baskets. If you must use paper, try recycled kraft paper, newspaper, or paper that can be composted.
2. Eco-Friendly Holiday Decorations
Holiday decorations bring joy and warmth to our homes, but many are made from non-biodegradable materials that eventually end up as waste.
Natural Decor: Use materials like pinecones, branches, and dried citrus to create beautiful, biodegradable decorations. These items can often be found in your own backyard or sourced locally.
LED Lights: Replace older holiday lights with LED alternatives. Not only are they more energy-efficient, but they also last longer, reducing waste over time.
Repurposed Ornaments: Get creative by turning old items like jars, ribbons, or even last year’s holiday cards into unique ornaments. This is also a fun activity to do with kids!
Fun Activity: Host a decoration-making party using only upcycled or natural materials. It’s a great way to bond while reducing your carbon footprint.
3. Reduce Food Waste
Holiday meals are a highlight of the season, but they’re also a significant source of waste. The USDA estimates that about 30-40% of food in the U.S. is wasted, and the holidays are no exception.
Plan Ahead: Estimate portions carefully to avoid over-preparing. Use online tools or apps that help calculate servings based on the number of guests.
Share the Feast: Package leftovers for guests to take home or donate excess food to local food banks or shelters.
Creative Leftovers: Get creative with leftovers by turning them into new dishes. Turkey can become soup, and mashed potatoes can be transformed into pancakes.
Composting Tip: Keep a compost bin handy during food prep to collect scraps like vegetable peels and coffee grounds. These can enrich your garden soil instead of contributing to landfill waste.
4. Choose a Sustainable Tree
For many, the Christmas tree is a holiday staple, but not all trees are created equal when it comes to sustainability.
Real vs. Artificial: Real trees are often the more sustainable choice if they are grown on farms and properly recycled. Look for tree recycling programs in your area that turn trees into mulch or compost.
Potted Trees: Consider using a potted tree that can be replanted after the holidays. This option allows your tree to keep growing and supporting the environment long after the season ends.
Artificial Tree Longevity: If you already have an artificial tree, make it last as long as possible to reduce its environmental impact.
Celebrate with Take MAR
This holiday season, we invite you to join Take MAR in making the planet part of your celebrations. By incorporating sustainable practices into your holidays, you’re contributing to a healthier future for our planet and its wildlife.
Upcoming Events:
Native Tree-Planting Drive: Help us PLANT TREES to restore Florida’s ecosystems after the impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Tree Donation Gift Drive: DEDICATE A TREE to someone today! You will receive a certificate (pdf or physical) to gift to the person as proof of dedication.
Give the Gift of Impact: MAKE A DONATION in someone’s name to support our efforts. It’s a meaningful, zero-waste gift that helps the environment!
With these tips, you can celebrate the holidays with less waste, less stress, and a whole lot more meaning. Together, let’s make this season one of joy and sustainability!
