Between extra consumption, increased packaging waste and chemical off-gassing from candles and decorations, the holidays can be a hazardous time for the environment. Thankfully, there are quick and easy ways to celebrate the holidays in style and in an eco-friendly way.
Start by ditching the store-bought gift tags. Use family snapshots or paint swatches, or cut images out of old books or last year’s greeting cards.
1. Wrap wisely
Wrap gifts in eco-friendly packaging like maps, comic books, children’s art, magazines, newspapers, tote bags or scarves. Or wrap gifts inside other gifts. For example, you can tuck small trinkets inside socks or slippers. A cookbook can slip into an apron pocket, and skincare products can be nestled inside a towel. Travel mugs, ceramic coffee cups, bicycle helmets and beach or garden pails are also empty vessels begging to be filled.
2. Get a truly green tree
The verdict is officially in: a real tree is better than a fake one from an environmental perspective. Even though artificial trees last for years, real Christmas trees help improve air quality while they’re alive (while artificial trees slowly give off potentially harmful gases), use fewer natural resources and don’t create chemical waste.
When you’re decorating, consider using homemade ornaments fashioned out of recycled materials. Hit up a craft fair if making all your own ornaments seems daunting. And be sure to use energy-efficient lights.
3. Give thoughtfully
The Grinch may have said it best when he wondered at all of the “packages, boxes or bags” that usually come with the holidays. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t give gifts! Just consider giving gifts that come with less packaging, like a symbolic gift from a charity or an experience-based gift like yoga classes or tickets to a comedy show.
Alternatively, you can always cook or bake your way to your loved ones’ hearts. Try some of the delicious date-filled recipes in this issue of alive@work.
4. Serve meatless foods
Yes, it’s possible to create a delicious and filling holiday feast without the meat. Why should you consider it? Each 1 kg (2.2 lb) of edible turkey accounts for an estimated 3.41 kg (7.52 lb) of greenhouse gas emissions.
If you’re set on the bird, you can still help the environment by taking a “demitarian” approach: reducing the amount of meat served and focusing on the veggies instead.
5. Select toxin-free scents
Many conventional candles are made with byproducts of petroleum refining and can contribute to poor indoor air quality. Consider natural candles made from soy or beeswax, with nontoxic wicks, and skip the artificial air fresheners. There are no better holiday scents than natural ones: a real Christmas tree, baked cookies or apple cider.
