Over the holiday period, friends and family members will get together to enjoy food and drink and may even exchange gifts. While the holiday season is a time for fun and celebration, it is also a time of a huge amount of waste.
Imagine how much wrapping paper, gift bags, tags, bows, tissue paper, ribbons, and cards end up in landfill every year after the holiday period. Then there will be extra packaging from all the food and drink consumed. The extra waste accumulated at this time of year is something that many people feel uncomfortable about. Thankfully, there are things that you can do to cut down on your waste.
Use Recycled Materials
When wrapping gifts, consider using recycled paper rather than shiny plastic paper that will end up in landfill. Some people get creative with their wrapping paper and will use old newspaper or cut up paper grocery bags to wrap gifts. Avoid using plastic ribbon to wrap gifts. You could even place gifts in reusable tote bags with some recycled tissue paper instead of wrapping them individually.
Choose Gifts Wisely
The stores are filled with novelty gift items at this time of year and many people will buy items with packaging that cannot be recycled. There are many gifts that you can buy, particularly those that are handmade from local sellers, which will not be excessively packaged. Some gifts, such as the bee jewelry made by Project Honey Bees, are ideal because not only will you be buying someone you love a beautiful piece of jewelry, but you will also be contributing to bee conservation.
Some families choose to forego gift giving completely and will instead donate money to a charity. For young children, adopting an endangered animal is a lovely idea. The child will receive a pack with a cuddly toy and information about the animal and the charity will receive a one-off sum or a monthly commitment from the gift giver.
Cut Down on Food Waste
A massive amount of food is wasted over the holiday period every year. Most of us buy far too much food: much more than we could ever hope to eat. And unfortunately, much of this ends up getting wasted. If you have leftover food after Thanksgiving or Christmas, why not look for different recipes that you can use to utilize what’s left. You will not only try some new meals but could also save some money on grocery shopping the following week. Some people will create meals and then freeze them so that they can eat them at a later date.
If you don’t have freezer space for leftovers, there is always your local food bank, soup kitchen, or even an elderly neighbor who might be glad of the extra food.
Have Some Vegetarian Days
While you don’t have to go vegetarian for your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, why not include some vegetarian options, or even have a couple of vegetarian days either side of both days? The more plant-based foods we eat, the better it is for the environment.
And when buying the vegetables for the big dinners this year, look for organic produce that is locally grown and free from pesticides. Locally sourced food is better for the environment because it does not have to be transported from far away before it lands on your plate.
To conclude, cutting down on waste over the festive period is great for the planet. It might be that you and your loved ones agree to cut back on gifts or that you use recycled paper when wrapping. You can also do your bit by shopping local and cutting down on meat consumption.