The holiday season is notoriously the busiest season of the year. We as humans get so wrapped up in the routine of lights, movies, and music that sometimes we forget to be mindful of how sometimes the traditions that make up our holidays are putting unnecessary stress on the environment.

Here are ten sustainable tips that can help you stay conscious of your environmental impact this holiday season:

Support Small Businesses

While “Support Small Businesses” is one of the most used pieces of advice when it comes to sustainability, that is because it is undeniable that shopping small is one of the easiest ways to start your journey to being sustainable! Doing your holiday shopping with family/locally owned businesses not only supports those businesses, but also lessens the amount being purchased from big corporations, who are widely known for having a large carbon footprint.

Mindful gifting

Unless you are Dudley Dursley in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, we often don’t think about the number of gifts we receive during the holidays. So why don’t we apply that when giving presents? Each year, millions of kids across the globe receive stocking stuffers that contain useless items that won’t make it past February. If stockings are a must for your holiday, it’s wise to consider stuffing your stockings with needed items like hygienics or snacks, rather than small gifts that will end up in the trash sooner than later.

It’s not just stocking stuffers that end up on the Polar Express out of the house. It’s unfortunately common that parents, friends, and significant others often focus on the quantity of gifts they give, rather than the necessity and meaning behind them. Keeping this in mind while shopping for gifts is especially important in the age of rapid overconsumption. Rather than buying your mom another new pair of slippers that she doesn’t need, thrift her a new, unique vase. Rather than buying your friend another reusable water bottle, give them a gift card to their favorite restaurant. There are so many ways to show your appreciation for someone, without adding to the piles upon piles of unnecessary items that end up in thrift stores and charity shops.

If you ask your loved one what they want for Christmas, and they struggle to find an answer, chances are there are things in their mind that they don’t want for Christmas. Try asking for a “Do Not Buy” list along with what they do want. A “Do Not Buy” list ensures that you aren’t unknowingly gifting your friends + family items that will likely be donated, regifted, or forgotten in storage.

Reuse Decorations

Each year, before the jack-o-lanterns are put back into storage, the stores begin putting out their newest line of Christmas decorations. But while the red and green colors may be tempting, it is important to think before buying. More often than not, your decorations from last year can serve the same purpose as the ones you’d be tempted to buy in-store. If you do truly believe that your tree branches need an upgrade, handmade decorations are just as pretty as store-bought, and can save you money in the long run.

Use eco-friendly packaging

More often than not, when we give and receive gifts during this time, they are neatly wrapped in pretty colored or patterned paper. While this may give our gifts a pleasing visual display, it is ultimately not good for our planet, or our wallets. Every year, America alone uses 4.6 million pounds of paper to wrap presents, approximately half of which ends up in landfills. There are many more cost-effective, environmentally friendly ways to disguise the items you’re gifting to your loved ones. Purchasing 100% paper wrapping paper ensures that you can recycle the paper after use. There are also rolls of wrapping paper specifically labeled as eco-friendly. The most cost effective, environmentally friendly way is to reuse gift bags, or even wrapping paper if possible. Storing these in a drawer or container throughout the year ensures that you never have to purchase another gift bag for birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays.

Reduce food waste

One of the best parts of holiday gatherings is the home cooked meals and treats that just smell like the holidays. But while all the food consumed may be wonderful, the waste that comes with it is not. If you’re the one in charge of cooking this season, be sure to plan your menu and know exactly how much food and ingredients you’ll need to minimize waste. 

However, it’s not only food waste that takes its toll on the environment; plastic utensils such as forks and knives also have their impact on the planet. Not only during the holidays, but in our daily lives, we should always push ourselves to use less disposable dinnerware, and use reusable plates, silverware, and cups to do our part in lessening the amount of plastic that ends up in our landfills.

Be energy conscious

While the song says “I’ll be home for Christmas,” travel is at its peak during the holidays. This means houses left Home Alone. One of the most gracious things you can do before you leave for your Christmas Vacation, is make sure to turn off all unnecessary lights and appliances, including turning off your heat if you’re going to be gone for days at a time. Your wallet, and your fellow neighbors here on earth, will thank you greatly. 

Eco-friendly Travel

If you are going to Jingle All The Way to another town, state, or even country this holiday season, it’s important to keep in mind the impact that your travels will emit on the planet. Especially if just driving short distances, offer to carpool with your friends/family, or consider using public transportation. Another useful mode of transportation is rideshare services, such as Uber or Lyft. 

These options are not only better for the environment, but also safer for everyone if your holiday plans include drugs and/or alcohol. Driving intoxicated is not merry and bright, unless you want to Die Hard.

Gift an Experience

While in the mindset of mindful gift giving, gifting an experience is another way to keep physical waste low this season. “Experience” gifts could be anything from concert tickets to gift cards to a restaurant, arcade, or bowling alley. There are many types of activities that you can “gift” for christmas. Get your friend a handful of pre-paid instrument lessons at your local music shop, or give your mom a gift card to her favorite salon/spa. Gifting something that you cannot find at a store is a great way to show your loved ones how much you really care.

Shop in store

In the days of Amazon and next-day delivery, the percent of people doing their shopping in stores is lower than ever, however the amount of waste is at an all time high. Not only do corporations like Amazon produce heavy carbon emissions, they also produce hefty amounts of plastic waste from packaging. Shopping in stores is a much more sustainable way to buy your gifts this holiday season, as it lowers the amount of plastic usage, especially when using reusable shopping bags.

If in-person shopping isn’t a viable option for you, and you must shop online, consider shopping second-hand.  Sites like Ebay, Thrifted, Depop, Mecari, and many more have a variety of items that would be perfect for your Four Christmases!

Become a Tree Hugger!

Whether you’re Jack Frost or Fred Claus, nearly everyone who celebrates Christmas, does so with a prickly green Christmas tree. Nowadays, we have smart watches, TVs, fridges, phones, and just about anything you could think of. This, of course, has made its way into our holiday season, bringing us smart trees, and lights powered by remote controls. With the uptick in new, “better” trees, comes the uptick in usage of artificial trees.

Navigating the world of Artificial vs Natural trees can be tricky. On one hand, using artificial trees can seem environmentally friendly, as artificial trees can last many years if properly cared for. This is true, however the carbon footprint created by producing and shipping artificial trees, may be doing more harm than good.

While cutting down trees to store in your living room may seem counterintuitive, there are many benefits to owning a natural tree. Given the amount of years it takes for a Christmas tree to grow to size, the amount of natural benefits those trees give to the environment have a tremendous impact on the planet.

If you plan on purchasing a new artificial tree this season, there are eco-friendly options to dispose of your old tree. Considering the harmful materials used to produce artificial trees, it is especially important not to throw away your old tree, as it will likely end up in a landfill, harming our wildlife and environment. When getting rid of your old tree, consider donating to a local thrift store, or a less fortunate family. Places like Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, and Offerup are the best places to find people in need of the item(s) you’re trying to get rid of.

Saving our earth starts with you. Do your part this season to make sure we’re able to have White Christmases for many years to come. From The Nest, we wish a Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.