How To Have A Sustainable Holiday Season

by Mark Majkrzak December 11, 2023

Holidays, Christmas, sustainability, sustainability tips, plastic free, bottled water, entertaining, RAIN, spring water

The holiday season may be the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s not so wonderful for our planet. Americans toss out 25% more trash during the holidays than any other time of the year- which makes sense! We’re shopping, giving gifts, and hosting and entertaining our friends & families more than any other time of the year. Because of this, it’s estimated that the average American produces 6.25 pounds per person per day of trash, or 43.75 pounds a week during this time.

Amidst all of the joyous festivities, it's crucial to pause and consider the environmental impact of our holiday traditions. We’re not saying you have to turn into a Scrooge this season, but it’s easier than you think to decrease the amount of waste we’re sending to the landfill. We’ve put together a few tips that will make it easier than ever to celebrate with sustainability in mind this year!

Bring out the nice china - Eliminating single-use products, especially plastic is a no brainer for a more sustainable holiday entertaining event. Have fun with it and mix and match dishes you have for an interesting tablescape!
Ease up on the paper towels and single-use disinfecting wipes- There’s no doubt that you’ll have plenty of messes to clean up after your holiday baking, meal preparation, and parties! Switch to reusable cloths and towels that can be washed, sanitized, and reused over & over!
Switch to refillable cleaning bottles instead of supplies in single-use plastic. Many brands now offer products in eco-friendly packaging to refill bottles you already have. Check to see if your city has a zero-waste store that allows you to bring your own bottles and containers to fill.
Ditch the disposable plastic containers for leftovers- switch to containers that can be washed and reused or consider options like reusable beeswax wraps.
Offer your guests RAIN instead of single-use plastic bottles- with so many events during the holiday season, we understand the convenience of bottled water for your guests. Offering them RAIN takes no extra work and is fighting against plastic bottles.
Plan ahead for the trash that comes along with the holidays. Make a plan for sorting items that can be recycled and landfilled. Check out your local recycling center’s website or social media pages for tips on how to recycle the right way!
Be mindful of wrapping solutions for gifts -It is estimated that 2.3 million pounds of wrapping paper end up in landfills every year. Consider other options: reusable bags (can be used as grocery bags in the future, travel bags, etc), baskets that can be repurposed as home decor or storage, or just be mindful about saving and reusing gift bags year after year! It saves you money and keeps trash out of the landfills!

We know how busy the holiday season is for everyone, but choosing alternatives that are environmentally friendly takes very little time and effort. Don’t forget your gift to the planet this holiday season by keeping sustainability in mind!