Simplifying The Holiday Season

We can try to pretend it’s not happening... but it’s happening. The holiday season is here! During this time of year, people are consuming more, whether it’s purchasing new gifts for loved ones or finding a good deal for yourself. This time of year is filled with the idea of “MORE”. We want to help you transform your holidays from a period of stress and shopping, to a time that has MORE joy, connection, and tradition. We’re excited to share sustainable gift giving ideas, as well as other useful tips and tricks for creating a low-waste and less stressful holiday season. It’s a great way to lessen the impact on our wallets and the environment!

A 2022 National Survey conducted by the Center of Biological Diversity showed that 90% of Americans wish the holidays were less materialistic.

Celebrating The People and The Planet You Love

Let’s redefine holiday traditions and celebrations in ways that respect land, waters and wildlife and refocus on what really matters. When people talk about why they love the holidays, they usually describe spending time with family and friends, eating good food, having fun and relaxing. Yet too often we feel trapped by all the shopping, spending, and frenzied preparations that accompany these celebrations. It’s time to think outside the (big) box. It’s time to celebrate holidays wrapped in more meaning and less stuff. It’s time for holidays with eco-friendly gifts and traditions that encourage creativity, increase connection, ease stress, save money, reduce waste and help the environment.

Sustainable Gift Giving

Let’s celebrate secondhand shopping, and make secondhand your first choice this holiday season. Choosing secondhand gifts keeps good items out of landfills and helps avoid the destructive extraction and production of raw materials needed to create new products. Gifting gently used items used to be viewed in a negative light, but shopping at thrift stores can allow for some truly unique finds or vintage throwbacks. If buying a new item is something you can’t avoid, choose in-person purchases if you can to avoid unnecessary shipping from multiple companies. Support local farmers markets, artisans, and small businesses. These practices uplift the local economy while minimizing packaging waste and the carbon footprint of transportation! Invest in durable items that will last over time. Instead of gifting single-use or novelty items, focus on quality. This will reduce the need to trash items that break easily or are difficult to repair.

Sometimes the best gifts don’t fit in a box. Gifts of experience, time, skill, or donations are also great gift options for friends and loved ones. This year, think outside the box and encourage your friends or family to request and give nonmaterial gifts that are truly meaningful and bring people closer together. Inquire if there’s a skill someone wants to learn, an experience they want to try, or a favorite local business or charity they want to support. Gifting experiences like trips, concerts, or a dinner can be more meaningful and welcome than a physical item. Plan out a day with a loved one to visit an area you’ve been meaning to explore. Donating to a local charity on behalf of your gift recipient is another alternative with a lasting impact. Making a gift is also a great alternative; things like a knitted scarf, tasty food, or a personalized decoration can be a great way to let your recipient know you’re thinking of them this holiday season. All these alternatives equal out to more memories and less “stuff”.

Hosting An Eco-Friendly Holiday Gathering

There are lots of ways to make your party less stressful and more sustainable (for you and the environment).
1. Feature local and in season foods on your menu. Utilize your local CSA (community-supported agriculture) or community garden. This can help simplify planning while supporting your community. Serving plant based foods, or making meat a side is a more sustainable and cheaper option.
2. Plan ahead and finalize your menu early. Knowing exactly what you want to make and how many people you’re expecting will reduce last-minute grocery store runs and help reduce waste.
3. Borrow and share specialty cookware and appliances with your neighbors. Buy Nothing groups and kitchen tool libraries offer great ways to borrow kitchen tools without having to buy them. If you need extra dishes, opt to borrow or thrift them instead of using disposables.
4. Use natural decorations. Leaves, dried flowers, or sprigs of holly can all brighten a space and bring seasonal cheer.
5. Host a skill share. Hand over the activity planning to a talented friend or family member who’s excited to share their skills with the rest of the party. Together, you can all learn a new craft or recipe.
6. Encourage guests to bring reusable containers to take home leftovers and reduce food waste.
7. Send digital invites and holiday cards. This eliminates tons of paper and saves the trees.
8. Compost or recycle any extra waste that might be produced during the event.