While the holiday season is meant to be a time of joy, love, and generosity, it often brings an increase in excess and waste. The good news is that celebrating doesn’t have to come at the planet’s expense. With a bit of thoughtful planning and creativity, you can reduce your environmental impact, save money, and still enjoy all the warmth and magic of the season.
Rethinking Holiday Decor: Natural and Reused
One of the most sustainable ways to decorate is by repurposing items you already own, reducing the need for new purchases. Instead of buying new decorations, try rearranging vintage treasures, thrifted finds, and family heirlooms to create a distinctive and meaningful holiday atmosphere.
Embrace Natural Materials Nature offers a wealth of biodegradable decorating options. You can opt for materials like wood, dried citrus, and pinecones to add warmth and elegance
• Dried Citrus: Dehydrated orange or lemon slices are fragrant and can be strung into garlands or ornaments. You can easily make these by baking slices at 200°F for 3–4 hours
• Pinecones: These can be painted gold, silver, or white for a festive look, or piled into baskets for a simple centerpiece. They also make excellent additions to wreaths or door swags
• Wood: Wooden decorations, such as birch logs or wood slice ornaments, are durable and eco-friendly. You can even create a rustic Advent calendar using a wooden board and snowflakes
• Greenery: Gather conifer clippings, berries, and bittersweet branches from your own backyard to create a DIY wreath. For a quick project, arrange evergreen branches in a hanging basket with birch twigs and dried flowers
Upcycling Projects Get crafty with items destined for the donation pile. Old sweaters can be cut and framed in mini embroidery hoops to make cozy ornaments. Similarly, outdated artwork can be painted over to create new winter-themed gallery pieces
The Christmas Tree Dilemma
While artificial trees are reusable, they are made from petroleum products (PVC), consume resources during manufacturing and shipping, and inevitably end up in landfills where they do not biodegrade . Real, live trees are often the more sustainable choice because they are a renewable resource that contributes to air quality while growing
For an even greener option, consider these alternatives:
• Live Potted Trees: Using a potted tree, such as a Norfolk Pine, allows you to reuse the same tree for years . If the tree becomes root-bound, it can be repotted or eventually replanted outdoors
• Tree Disposal: If you choose a cut tree, ensure it is chipped and mulched after the holidays rather than sending it to a landfill. Never burn Christmas tree branches in a fireplace, as this can cause a dangerous buildup of creosote.
Lighting the Way Efficiently
You can significantly lower the impact of your holiday lighting by switching to LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights, which use up to 95% less energy than traditional bulbs and last far longer . For outdoor displays, solar LED strings are a highly efficient option . Additionally, remember to turn off tree and house lights at bedtime to avoid wasting energy.
Sustainable Gifting and Wrapping
Gift-giving often generates massive amounts of waste, but new traditions can curb this.
• Simplify the List: To reduce consumption, consider drawing names so that each adult family member buys only one meaningful gift
• Shop Smart: Look for locally made items to reduce transportation emissions, or choose gifts made from recycled materials . Battery-free toys are also a wise choice, as discarded batteries are an environmental hazard
• Regifting: Passing on a gift you do not need to someone who can use it is a practical way to prevent waste.
Eco-Friendly Wrapping Avoid glossy foil or metallic wrapping paper, which contains heavy metals and is difficult to recycle. Instead, wrap gifts in fabric scraps, old maps, calendars, or comics. If you unwrap gifts carefully, you can save ribbons, bows, and paper for reuse next year.
Homemade Cards Store-bought cards consume significant resources. A personal and sustainable alternative is to create your own cards using the artwork from old calendars or children’s drawings
Ultimately, sustainable holidays are about deepening your connection with the world around you. Consider starting new traditions that celebrate nature, such as a family hike or an annual bird count on Christmas Day. You can even “decorate” an outdoor tree with seed bells or pinecones coated in peanut butter, offering much-needed food for birds throughout the winter.
By making these conscious choices—from reducing waste to embracing natural decor—you can celebrate a joyful holiday that helps protect the planet
