Sustainable Holiday Tips: Our Ultimate Guide to Reducing Waste Over the Holidays

Decorations

For many people, the holidays start with decorations. But while these feel-good decorations might bring joy, it’s important to consider their environmental impact too.

Use existing decorations

With so many holiday decorations already in circulation in thrift stores, antique stores, and online sites, there’s no reason to buy anything brand new. In particular, avoid decorations that are harmful to wildlife, such as the stretchy spider webs that are strung on bushes.

A vintage blow-mold jack-o-lantern, kitschy die cuts, bubble lights, and thrifted holiday mugs are all great ways to get excited for the holidays without overconsuming.

Creative reuse stores also sell materials for crafting decorations if you want to go that route. Don’t forget to save your creations so you can use them time and time again.

Get creative with costumes

The same goes for Halloween costumes, most of which are cheaply made and only designed to be worn once. Not only does buying a brand-new Halloween costume each year contribute to a lot of plastic, poly waste, but it could also pose health risks, since many costumes contain toxic chemicals like lead, cadmium, or BPA.

If you don’t have the time or inclination to make your own costume (and many of us don’t), there are several eco-friendly options:

→ Peek in your closet or visit thrift, vintage, or creative reuse stores to see what sparks ideas.

→ Alternatively, you could look for a secondhand costume, hand-me-down costumes for kids, host a costume or wig swap, or see if there are costumes available to rent in your area.

→ Finally, if you find a costume you really like, or want to invest in a custom-made one, you could make it your signature costume to wear year after year. While this won’t work for growing kids, it’s a great way to save closet space and money as an adult.

Creative reuse stores also sell materials for crafting decorations if you want to go that route. Don’t forget to save your creations so you can use them time and time again.

The bottom line? Save or swap your costumes and focus on ones that use existing resources.

Decorate with natural elements

Colorful leaves, pinecones, fir branches, and other outdoor finds can lend natural charm to your decorations and tablescapes—and can be returned to nature later.

Peek in your closet or visit thrift, vintage, or creative reuse stores to see what sparks ideas.

Bobbing for apples, or using items like orange slices or cranberries and popcorn to create garlands can also be a beautiful way to get festive using compostable items.

Dispose of pumpkins properly

If you buy decorative pumpkins, consider keeping them intact so you can use them later. Looking for zero-waste pumpkin recipes? We have a whole post on this here!

If you and your kids carve jack-o-lanterns, still use the pulp and seeds. Don’t forget to compost the shells or bring them to a farm that accepts them for pigs to enjoy.

Go green with your Christmas tree

If you celebrate Christmas, the most sustainable option is to use what you already have, if that’s a reusable tree. While we like reusability, faux trees aren’t made to be recycled, so avoid buying them new unless you plan to give them a very long life.

When purchasing Christmas trees, consider the potted kind that can be replanted, and opt for organic nurseries. As always, check your municipal guidelines to compost trees properly, and hang on to your string lights and ornaments throughout the years.

Hosting

Hosting a haunted house or holiday feast is a great way to show your love for the people in your life, but it’s easy to get carried away in the stress of it all. Here are our top tips for hosting sustainably this season.

Include the food plan in the invite

A classic holiday mishap is when you end up with far too many desserts but not enough actual dinner to go around. People love to make desserts for holiday parties, but this can lead to food waste if there’s way too much of one thing.

Faux trees aren’t made to be recycled, so avoid buying them new unless you plan to give them a very long life

If you expect people to bring something, it’s polite to include in your invitation whether your party is a potluck or BYOB so that your guests know what they’re agreeing to. Add a QR code or comments section so people can fill in slots for food.

Stock up sustainably

If you’re going to be cooking a lot this season, doing a sustainable stock-up will not only save you waste, it will also go a long way toward helping you feel more organized. Prep your pantry by refilling your Vegetable Broth Powder, soups, flours and sugars, Pumpkin Puree, and other foods that will be in heavy rotation.

If you’re going to be cooking a lot this season, doing a sustainable stock-up will not only save you waste, it will also go a long way toward helping you feel more organized.

This is also a good time to rotate your spices for ones that are used heavily during the fall and winter seasons, like nutmeg, allspice, clove, cinnamon, ginger, and Pumpkin Pie Spice. Having these spices visible and within reach will help you stay more organized in the kitchen.

Planning a cookie exchange, gingerbread house competition, or cookie decorating party? Refill your baking goods, dried fruits, chocolates and candies for plenty of options.

Have a plan for leftovers

If you’re hosting, encourage people to bring tupperware with them for leftovers. Or, plan a leftover luncheon for lunch the next day with your immediate family to get everything eaten up. Saving foods with Compostable Cling Wrap is a great way to keep food fresh without the plastic waste.

This is also a good time to rotate your spices for ones that are used heavily during the fall and winter seasons

If you’re attending a party, bring reusable containers yourself in case you’re invited to go home with some food. It’s also a good idea to have reusable drinkware on hand for impromptu Christmas market mulled wine, farmer’s market cider, and cozy hot chocolate while out. Bringing your own will help create less waste from single-use cups and disposable foodware.

Save leftover sweets

Chances are there will be a lot of desserts circulating during the holidays. Keep a few secondhand or reused tea tins on hand for cookie swaps and leftovers. Many holiday desserts freeze well if you want to avoid too much sugar all at once. Pumpkin bread, shortbread cookies, cookie dough, and bundt cakes all freeze beautifully for later in silicone Stasher Bags.

Traveling

If you’re off the hook for hosting, you still might not be off the hook when it comes to leaving a trail of holiday waste. As travelers, we often tend to produce more waste per day than we do at home, so here’s how to avoid that unnecessary waste over the holidays.

Travel strategically

When traveling for the holidays this year, ask if there’s anyone in your extended family who wants to carpool in order to save gas. Depending on where you’re headed, maybe your family would find a holiday train ride more magical than flying.

If you’re off the hook for hosting, you still might not be off the hook when it comes to leaving a trail of holiday waste.

Pack plastic-free

Solid shampoo, solid conditioner, solid cleansers, bar soaps, Shave Soap, and Toothpaste Tabs are great for travel—not only do they get around the liquid limits for TSA, they also won’t leak in your bag. For more sustainable traveling tips, read our blog on what to pack!

Gifting

Between Hanukkah gifts, Christmas gifts, stockings, advent calendars, and White Elephant parties, gifting might be the part of your holiday season that comes with the most consumer pressure. Here’s how to avoid the mad rush—and the waste—during the holidays.

Focus on meaning

Gifts don’t have to be physical. Instead, you might focus on experiential gifts, donations, or caring acts of service. Gifts will go further if the focus is more on meaning and less on the purchase itself.

Depending on where you’re headed, maybe your family would find a holiday train ride more magical than flying

And if you want to opt out of giving and receiving gifts, let this be your permission. If your family is open, you might suggest celebrating around a special activity versus the exchange of gifts this year.

Try a sustainable exchange

If you opt into a White Elephant or a Secret Santa exchange, consider suggesting something sustainable. This might look like a gifting game using secondhand books, homemade gifts, or reusable items from our zero waste store.

Our Bath Brush Puck, Kinto Teapot, and Stainless Steel Airtight Containers are all great ideas for reusable gifts around a $25 price range.

Introduce people to sustainable gifts

Gifts can be a great way to show your loved ones how easy and satisfying sustainable living can be. Get them started with one of our curated gift sets like the Kitchen Bundle or Bathroom Bundle

Sweet Mint Lip Balm, a Tea Strainer Ball, Chocolate Malt Balls, and Swedish Dish Cloths, are all great ideas for stocking stuffers. Not sure what to get someone? Let them choose from our zero-waste groceries and goodies with an E-Gift Card.

Get creative with wrapping

Do you save pretty wrapping paper, ribbons, and cute gift bags to reuse? This can be a great way to avoid wrapping waste. Many cities have creative reuse shops that might have secondhand supplies you can use. Wrapping things in cloth can also make a beautiful statement for holiday gifts.

We hope these sustainable holiday hacks were helpful. Next up, stay tuned for our blog on sustainable gift ideas by following us on social or subscribing to our newsletter.