There’s no better feeling in the world than giving gifts to loved ones during the holidays. The only downfall? How much waste we produce by doing it. Here are a few basic tips to be more sustainable this holiday season!
Buy Local
As easy as it is to veg out on the couch and online shop, it’s time to start buying local. Buying local will not only benefit neighborhood businesses, but will help out the environment as well. Industrial pollution, aka pollution coming from big businesses who produce the majority of your holiday gifts, accounts for about 50% of pollution present in the United States.
In fact, “last-mile delivery” or expedited shipping from big business, is doing more harm than good to our environment. Although the instant gratification of overnight delivery is extremely rewarding, it is detrimental to our air quality. Instead of shipping an item that will add more greenhouse gases into the air, take a walk downtown and pick out some local luxuries!
Sustainable Gifting
As the old saying goes, you get what you give. The same goes for gift giving this holiday season. Don’t worry, being a sustainable gifter doesn’t mean that you will have to compromise the magic of the holiday season. It just means you’ll have to take different steps to deliver it!
Give to Give Back
Instead of breaking the bank this holiday seaso, give the gift of environmental volunteer work! If you check out Great Nonprofits, you can scope out environmental organizations in your area for the whole family to get involved in.
On a strict timeline for the holidays? No worries! You could always make a charitable donation as a way to show your appreciation for a friend or family member. For instance, you could participate in One Tree Planted’s Treecember, and purchase trees to plant in your loved one’s name.
Gift Wrapping
There’s nothing worse than having to throw away the piles of wrapping paper, tissue paper and gift boxes at the end of the holidays. Unfortunately, our piles of garbage collectively amount to around 25 million tons of trash by the end of the holiday season.
Instead of splurging on wrapping paper, consider using old newspaper, reusable bags, or fun magazine paper to decorate your gifts. You might surprise yourself with how creative you can get with your designs!
If there are any other ways to be sustainable this holiday, let us know! Show us how you’re being more sustainable this holiday season on Instagram with the tag #myxitup.
