How to Celebrate a More Sustainable Holiday Season

Community, caring for others, and hope: these values are at the core of the winter holidays. But this time of year is also characterized by consumerism — from pressure to give that perfect gift to decorations galore. Between Thanksgiving and New Year, Americans throw out 25 percent more waste than we do the rest of the year — that adds up to one million extra tons of discarded wrapping paper, tinsel, and unwanted gifts each week. And all those twinkling lights, trees, plus holiday travel result in 1,400 pounds of extra climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions per person. 

That doesn’t mean we have to cancel the holiday season and all our cherished traditions. With creativity, it’s possible to focus on those core values and celebrate a more environmentally-friendly holiday season. Here are some of our tips: 

Rethink Gift-Giving

At one time or another, most of us have forced a thank you for a less-than-exciting gift, received trinkets that eventually break or end up in the Goodwill bin, or made judicious use of a gift receipt. Despite our best intentions, a solid quarter of returns and up to 15 percent of Goodwill donations get sent to landfills. You can show your loved ones you care — while also caring for our planet — by gifting less, gifting fewer things, and gifting more thoughtfully. 

One possible way to dial back your gift-giving: try giving experiences. Make a reservation at a restaurant that you and your loved one wouldn’t normally visit. Buy an annual pass to a museum or theater, or tickets to a concert or play. 

Consider gifting secondhand. Peruse used books, antique furniture, and vintage clothing stores. (Three Penny Mercantile, Dynasty Vintage, and Oracle Room, and Revive are just a few local shops offering high-quality, curated, and trendy second-hand clothes and furniture.) 

If you do buy new, focus on quality over quantity. Think about buying your loved one the one high-quality thing they really need, such as gear or clothing that will last years and years, rather than multiple gifts. If you attend a family gathering, try a gift exchange: instead of getting a small gift for each family member, have everyone draw a random name and just get one or two gifts for that person.

For more ideas on how to reduce gift-related waste, check out this thoughtful gift guide from the New York Times.

Decorate Sustainably

Good news to those who love the woodsy scent of a real Christmas tree. In terms of their environmental impact, these holiday centerpieces are pretty innocuous. That’s because they draw greenhouse gases out of the air as they grow. Plus, research suggests they can actually support a diverse community of birds and insects, especially in places where populations are declining. But there’s a caveat: When a tree is thrown in a landfill post-New Year, as millions are each year, it releases around 16 kg of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. Composting makes it possible to cut those emissions down by more than 75 percent — a properly composted tree releases anywhere from zero to 3.5 kg of carbon dioxide. Fortunately, Ashlanders have a few options for climate-friendly tree disposal. On Saturday, January 11, Scout Troop 112, in partnership with Recology, will collect Christmas trees for free — these trees are then handed to the Ashland Parks Department where they are chipped for trails. 

If you want to reduce the carbon footprint of your decorations, consider upgrading your outdoor lights to LED bulbs. In the United States, holiday lights eat up around 3.5 billion kilowatt hours of electricity — equal to around 350,000 homes, according to an analysis published by the energy company Arcadia. By switching out your incandescent bulbs to more efficient LED lighting, you can cut down on electricity use by a whopping 75 percent.