“How to Have an Eco-Conscious Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa”
Architectural Digest recently published The Ultimate Guide to a Sustainable Holiday Season.https://www.architecturaldigest.com/reviews/home-improvement/sustainable-holiday
Last month we shared their ideas for a sustainable Thanksgiving. Many of those ideas are also relative to celebrating our December holidays such as eco-friendly traveling, giving back to the community and volunteering.The guide also offers additional tips for enjoying greener December holidays .
Here is their advice for an eco-conscious Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa: As we approach the festive seasons of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, there’s an opportunity to embrace the spirit of giving without taking too much from our planet.
Tips for Green Holiday Shopping
Between bags, boxes, and packages, holiday shopping is a huge waste generator. Consider these alternatives for a greener holiday:
Experiences over things: “Experiences over physical items are often the most thoughtful gifts,” says Clark. Consider gift options such as a spa day, cooking class, or weekend getaway. These create lasting memories without contributing to clutter.
Online shopping hacks: Today, most people shop online. To reduce waste, bundle your online purchases and look for retailers that use minimal packaging or eco-friendly packing materials.
Quality over quantity: Consider the quality and usefulness of the gifts you buy rather than focusing on how many you give. Invest in gifts that are built to last, reducing the need for replacements and ultimately cutting down on waste.
Thrifting over buying new: Thrift stores, vintage boutiques, and consignment shops can make great places to purchase gifts. From decor to clothes and shoes to like-new toys for kids, these businesses have tons of valuable inventory. Some even donate proceeds to worthy causes.
Conscious food shopping: Choose locally sourced, organic, and seasonal ingredients and meats for your Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa meals. Consider reducing meat consumption and incorporating more plant-based dishes.
Eco-Friendly Decor and Festive Ambiance
These holidays are synonymous with tasteful decorations.
Upcycled ornaments: Before buying new decorations, take inventory of what you already have. Old decorations can be spruced up or repurposed with a little creativity.
Sustainable lighting: When using lights to spruce up your windows and landscaping, opt for energy-efficient ones. For example, LED lights use up less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last significantly longer. They are available in various colors and styles, so you won’t have to compromise on a festive look.
Eco-friendly Christmas tree***: If you opt for a real tree, ensure it’s sustainably sourced. Alternatively, choose an artificial tree made from eco-friendly materials that you can use for many years. Make it a habit to turn off your Christmas lights before bedtime to save energy.
Wrapping and Packaging Alternatives
Gift-giving means wrapping paper, bags, and tissue galore. Consider these alternatives:
Reusable or biodegradable gift wrap: Skip traditional wrapping paper, which often can’t be recycled due to dyes and additives. Opt for reusable alternatives, such as cloth bags and scarves or biodegradable products.
DIY wraps: Make your own wrapping paper using materials you already have, such as old maps, sheet music, newspaper, or even children’s artwork.
How to Clean Up After the Holidays
The holidays can leave behind a lot of clutter and mess, making it a crucial time to focus on sustainability through cleanup. Here are some expert tips:
If you have leftover decorations or gifts from last year you still haven’t used, consider donating them to a local thrift store rather than throwing them out.
“Donate any packaged leftover foods to your local food pantry and try to compost all expended food waste,” offers Barnett.
“If you have a real Christmas tree, consider recycling it. Many communities offer Christmas tree recycling programs. Alternatively, convert the tree to mulch to use in your garden.
As you clean up, keep a record of what you need and what you can go without in the new year. Donate or recycle what you can, and responsibly dispose of the rest.
You can also use this time to learn how your habits affect the environment and resolve to be less wasteful in the new year. “Take advantage of tools online that can help you assess what your biggest impacts are so you can more mindfully reduce them,” says Clark, noting that there are online resources that help you calculate your personal carbon footprint. “There are also many free courses on sustainability available out there,” she adds
In Conclusion
The holidays are a time full of giving, appreciation, and love, but shopping, cooking, decorating, and hosting are huge drivers of the growing amount of pollution plaguing our planet. “Because we often rely on fossil-fuel sources to generate electricity to manufacture products and rely on gasoline or diesel to transport those goods, our overconsumption also leads to increases in the amount of greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere, driving much of the changes we are experiencing and will continue to experience with our climate system,” says Clark.
Following these sustainable holiday practices allows you to transition from the holiday season to the new year with a greener footprint (and possibly a cleaner conscience). While they seem like small efforts, they can make a big difference in reducing waste and conserving resources.
***Aerial pesticide spraying of natural Christmas trees can impact local communities and the environment. An artificial reusable tree made from recycled plastic and made in the USA rather than overseas may have less impact on the environment. (G.S.Powell, Pullen Earth Ministry Team)
Resources
The Ultimate Guide to a Sustainable Holiday Season. https://www.architecturaldigest.com/reviews/home-improvement/sustainable-holiday
For more ideas
This Christmas Season Consider Traditions, Gift Ideas and Celebrations That Protect God’s Creation, December, 2022
