The festive season is a time of gifting thoughtful presents and adding holiday decorations inside and out. However, all the cheer often means a lot of “stuff.” And a lot of waste.
Wondering how to channel your inner Santa without hurting Mother Nature? Use these tips and tricks you can make your festive celebrations more sustainable.
1. Deck the halls with LED lights
Whilst using lighting as part of your festive decor can bring a lot of cheer during this time of year, it also takes a lot of energy. LED bulbs use at least 75% less energy, so that’s a much smaller climate footprint and much lower energy bills.
Admittedly, the initial investment for strands of LED lights is higher, however with the rising cost of electricity, the lower energy bills quickly makes up for the difference in upfront costs. LED lights also last a lot longer, so you’re also saving money and sending fewer strands into landfill year after year.
2. Opt for a real tree
As they are grown locally and made from biodegradable materials, real trees are almost always a better choice for the environment than artificial trees. Another sustainable idea is to decorate a tree that exists on your property already, or even decorate a houseplant. Just be sure to dispose of it properly after you pack up the decor.
Skip the landfill, if possible, and opt to recycle trees into mulch or compost, which helps return nutrients and organic matter back to soils and nutrient cycles. Check your local council’s website to find out if—and how—they might be able to help recycle your Christmas tree.
3. When gifting, think quality over quantity
Presents don’t need to be new to be noteworthy. The best way to reduce environmental impacts associated with gifts is to reduce and reuse—and then recycle. Yes, that means you have full permission to regift, or to shop for interesting finds at second-hand markets or antique shops.
When you do purchase new items, prioritize those that are durable, made from recycled content, and can be repurposed or recycled at their end of life.
4. Splurge on experiences rather than things
If possible, gift activities or services rather than items. Bonus points if it’s something you and the recipient can enjoy together, such as two tickets to a cooking class or a couple of memberships for the museum or zoo.
5. Donate to a charity in the recipient’s name
The festive season is the perfect time to make donations to charities that are working on causes near and dear to your loved one’s heart. For a gift that will give back for years to come, consider a charitable donation in someone’s name. Plus, donations to nonprofit organizations are tax-deductible.
6. Wrap in an eco-friendly way
Even if you share experiences and charitable donations, you’ll likely have at least a few items to wrap. In that case, seek out recycled options such as newspaper comics, old wall calendars, fabric or paper maps. You can even reuse wrapping paper.
Instead of ribbon, try twine or raffia instead (or just skip the bow altogether).
7. Send recycled or plant-able cards
More than 2.6 billion holiday cards are sent each year, which can really add up in terms of paper use and environmental impact for transport. The best option is to call or send an e-card.
But if you’re set on sending a handwritten note, invest in cards printed on 100% post-industrial recycled paper. For a go-green bonus that will offset the shipping carbon footprint, send plant-able cards that are studded with seeds. After opening the card and enjoying the sentiment, your loved one can soak the card overnight, tear it into tiny pieces, plant it under a layer of soil and water it until emerging seedlings deliver another gift.
8. Right-size your menu
Looking to host a more sustainable meal? The best way to do so is to eat what you make. In our quest to show people how much we care via their stomachs, a lot of uneaten food ends up in the trash. When good food goes to waste, so does all of the water, energy, land and money it took to get it to the table.
So make your list and check it twice before heading to the supermarket. If there are leftovers, send some home with guests, or put the food in the freezer for another meal.
Using these simple tips you can enjoy a fabulous festive season whilst celebrating in a more sustainable way.
Disclaimer: The opinions posted within this blog are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate, others employed by Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate or the organisations with which the network is affiliated. The author takes full responsibility for his opinions and does not hold Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate or any third party responsible for anything in the posted content. The author freely admits that his views may not be the same as those of his colleagues, or third parties associated with the Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate network.