Sustainability During The Holidays

November 22, 2021

By Avery McKitrick, Sustainability Coordinator

For many, the holidays are a time of being with loved ones, enjoying a warm drink by the fireplace, and taking a much-needed break from work and school responsibilities. But the holidays can also mean bad times for our recycling bins, landfills, and rapidly warming atmosphere. Why are the holidays often shrouded in an air of environmental harm, and how can we work to reduce our footprint this season?

There are several sources of environmental harm that are typically present during the holidays. Here, we’ve laid out ways that you can reduce waste, lower your greenhouse gas emissions, and embrace the sustainability spirit.

Reducing waste is an excellent beginning to a green holiday season. Start by choosing sustainable gifts. I’ve been there— shopping for your dad who insists he’s easy to shop for, but you never know what to get him. Skip the knick knack this year and give your loved ones experiences. If material gifts are more your speed, choose something local, sustainable, and packaged with minimal packaging. When the holidays are over, be sure to sort your trash correctly. Did you know that paper holidays cards and wrapping paper that contain glitter or shiny materials cannot be recycled? Ribbon and plastic wrapping should also go into the trash, rather than the recycling bin. When you’re done with your live tree, dispose of it sustainably by composting it. The waste sector is responsible for about 5% of greenhouse gas emissions globally, and that percentage can be reduced through composting (Lou et al. 2009).

Another way to embody sustainability this year is by committing to lowering your greenhouse gas emissions. If you’ll be travelling this holiday season, choose to drive instead of flying. Air travel is predicted to account for 40% of the global carbon emissions by the year 2050 (Higham et al. 2017). If you must fly, purchase carbon offsets for your trip through companies that offer it. For your meals, aim to reduce meat consumption. Industrial livestock farming is predicted to be responsible for 14.5% of greenhouse gas emissions globally (Stoll-Kleemann et al. 2017). Introducing a few vegetarian or vegan options into your holiday meals can greatly reduce your personal contribution to climate change. And for those celebrating with candles this year, opt for candles made from beeswax, soy, and other sustainable materials. Traditional paraffin candles are made from petroleum products. Choose candles for your holiday celebrations that are made from more sustainable materials like beeswax or soy.

Finally, celebrate the Earth by embracing the sustainability spirit with your holiday celebrations. Many organizations offer opportunities to volunteer on or around the holidays. You can feed the hungry in the spirit of Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger. Or maybe participating in a Christmas bird count in the spirit of Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land is more your speed. You can also donate to an organization that promotes sustainability this holiday season. There are a number of nonprofit organizations that directly support sustainability by supporting education, women, low-income individuals and families, and fighting hunger.

However, and with whomever, you choose to celebrate this holiday, don’t let your celebration come at the expense of the Earth.

 

< More News