Reduce waste this holiday season
The holiday season is a festive time of year for many, and it is a time when we can show those we hold close how much we care about them. We must also reflect on how to protect and give back to our planet during this time of year.
More money is spent on consumer items during the holiday season than any other time of the year. All these products purchased from Black Friday to New Year create waste materials such as wrapping, packaging, single-use decorations and shipment materials. Americans throw away 25% more waste during the holiday season than any other time, equating to 25 million tons of garbage annually. If everyone does their part, reducing waste during the holidays can have a significant global impact.
Here are some fun and simple ways to reduce your holiday waste this holiday season:
• Furoshiki inspired. Instead of wrapping gifts in paper, feel inspired by Furoshiki, a traditional Japanese gift-giving style, uses reusable fabric and bows instead of single-use materials. Create a Zero Waste gift wrapping that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
• Multipurpose gift wrapping. Wrap gifts in something that could be of use later. For example, put cookies in a mason jar rather than a single-use package. It becomes a two-in-one gift.
• Create your own wrapping paper. Kids can get in on the fun. Rather than buying new wrapping paper that will be eventually thrown out, create an experience for everyone by recycling newspapers. Draw and paint all over the newspaper and then wrap the gifts. Your gift recipients will undoubtedly be looking at the paper before they rip it off.
• Cardmaking for the whole family. Create unique holiday cards by making them by hand using recycled materials. Magazines, newspapers and crafting supplies will come in handy for creating simple and fun holiday cards. Display your own photos on the front of the card.
• The gift of experience. Make an experience together with a gift. Take your loved one or family to a movie, skiing, a theme park, a new trail to hike or even out to a nice dinner. An experience can be more significant than a material possession because it creates a memory and connection with others.
• From the heart. Try making a gift by hand, whether it’s a piece of art, a homemade dessert or a photo album. A handmade gift avoids plastic and Styrofoam pollution and carbon emissions.
• Reduce energy usage during the holidays. Buying LED light bulbs for trees and decoration will reduce energy use and save money. Another good tip is to put lights on timers to turn off when you are away or asleep. Many stores carry light timers, especially during the holiday season.
• Replace plastic decorations with the beauty in nature. With a hole-punch on maple and other leaves, create colorful tabletop decorations with red, green, yellow, and orange to replace glitter. Glitter is micro-plastic and bad for wildlife. Tree and shrub boughs and branches smell great and are beautiful. Take them back outside when the holidays are over.
• Shop local. E-commerce has caused the average household to generate much more waste. Eliminate all of
the extra cardboard, plastic and Styrofoam transport packaging by shopping in our local stores.
There are many simple, practical solutions to reduce your waste this holiday season.
Advance planning is the key to Zero Waste at any season, event, celebration or workplace. Make it a team effort and shared goal with friends and loved ones. You can have dinner parties, give presents to one another and ornament homes and neighborhoods with lights and decorations. However, when the holiday season comes to a close this year, you will share in the knowledge that you reduced waste and enjoyed it. This can be a new holiday tradition for your children to enjoy the presents and decorating without plastics and wasteful practices.
To learn more, and to share your holiday waste reduction ideas, email zerowastehumboldt@gmail. com.
Zero Waste Humboldt is the only organization on California’s northwest corner that specializes solely on waste reduction solutions. For more information, visit https:// zerowastehumboldt.org. Sophia Maghran is an intern with Zero Waste Humboldt.