3 ways to be eco-friendly this holiday season
According to ABC News, from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, household waste increases by more than 25%. Each holiday season, we have fun ripping open wrapping paper, buying single-use cups of holiday drinks, purchasing silly gag gifts, and throwing our money at fast fashion on Black Friday. It’s easy to get caught up in the fun and ease of the festivities, but as we enjoy the white winter, let’s also consider the growing issue of global warming. Here are three ideas for being a little more economically conscious while still enjoying the most wonderful time of the year.
A big part of receiving gifts is the exciting tearing away of brightly colored wrapping paper to reveal a new toy or gadget. Now it would be a shame to get rid of this loved tradition. A great way to keep gifts wrapped without contributing too much to landfills is to wrap them in recyclables. Not plastic water bottles or forks, recyclables such as paper grocery bags, newspapers, or even some magazine pages. This Thanksgiving, instead of throwing away the paper bags your groceries come in, consider saving them to wrap up your loved ones’ gifts! If you have small kids at home, coloring paper bags to create homemade wrapping paper designs is a great activity. Additionally, during the holiday season, most newspapers and magazines are filled with holiday images and stories. Reusing these papers is a great way to be chic and sustainable this year.
Secondly, another big issue around the holidays is overconsumption. Buying gifts and clothing from large corporations certainly adds up, and the junk we accumulate in our homes each year is no exception. Most of the time, these cheap gifts end up being thrown away by the time spring cleaning comes. As much fun as it is to shop online for people in your life and pick out a funny joke mug for your dad or a candle dish for your mom, consider taking a more earth-friendly approach by looking in vintage or thrift stores. A lot of the time, thrift stores have great and sentimental gifts, such as vases or photo albums. This year, take a sentimental approach with your gifts. A good idea is to find a vintage ceramic plate for cheap at a secondhand store and use some food-safe ceramic markers to write a sweet message to a loved one, creating a beautiful customized dinner or cookie dish.
The Regional’s last suggestion is to take a natural approach to decorating this season. Instead of buying cheap plastic tinsel and garlands, consider using nature to decorate your home. It’s not necessary to spend hundreds of dollars on expensive wreaths and poinsettias; many incredible winter decorations can be found in your own backyard or for cheap at your local grocery store. Pine tree branches can be frosted with eco-friendly branches to create beautiful centerpieces. Orange slices and cranberries can be strung together to form graceful garlands that not only provide a lovely sight but also a delightful aroma.
This year, as our hearts grow with holiday spirit, let’s leave a little room for the greatest gift of all: Earth.
