I have always been an advocate in the fight against climate change, ever since I was young. I was in all the clubs, and earth day was the best holiday. So ever since then, I have always been searching for how to have an eco-friendly Christmas.
When I get into something, I really get into it. I have always been a collector, and I love starting new hobbies and making them my whole personality. So, when I was in middle school and learned about global warming, I knew that was something I was going to be passionate about, and I ran with it.
I was that girl who was making sure everyone was recycling correctly, no one was wasting water, and items were being donated instead of tossed. I was like the eco-friendly monster that watched over everyone in my life. Let’s be honest, I was probably a little annoying.
I still am a little annoying. Nothing has changed, I still quip when my mom runs the sink without using it. So when the holidays come around, I am doing everything I can to have an eco-friendly Christmas. I’m trying to avoid that trash bag full of ripped-up wrapping paper.
For eco-friendly tips that are easy for you to follow all year long, check out this article!
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Why Should you Care About Having a Eco-Friendly Holiday Season?
It is scientifically proved that the climate of the earth’s atmosphere is warming. This is causing a whole host of issues for the environment, plant life, and animals. And unfortunately, I am an animal, all humans are. So it is our responsibility to fix this issue that we created.
But not even just global warming, which is going to have a massive impact on the life of humans on this planet. But the massive amount of trash and waste that humans create every single day is enormous, and most of it isn’t being recycled. Soon we are going to be living like Wall-e!
All of this is why it is so important to care about being eco-friendly in general. But especially during the holiday season, when festivities can become incredibly wasteful.
Tips & Tricks to Having an Eco-Friendly Christmas
1. Regift!
Sometimes, someone buys you something, and you… hate it. It isn’t anyone’s fault, not every gift can be a winner. Especially if it is something from a coworker or acquaintance. A lot of times, those generic Christmas mugs and unwanted fuzzy socks get thrown in the trash or donated (which is still a great option).
But, a fantastic way to save the planet this Christmas while also saving money is to regift them! Just make sure you aren’t giving it to the same person though! That would be awkward.
In my garage, there is a box full of generic holiday gifts just ready to be regifted. If I am attending a Christmas party or visiting family friends, I know exactly where to go to find a little something to spread holiday cheer.
2. Donate!
Like I said above, donating is a fantastic way to get rid of gifts you don’t particularly want. Instead of throwing it away, donate it to your local thrift store or charity shop.
If you have a child who got way too many toys this year from relatives, there are charities that will take new, or used, toys and give them to kids who didn’t get a visit from Santa Claus this year. Some of them run after Christmas ends so you can clear out any unwanted and unplayed toys.
Toys are a huge problem when it comes to plastic waste. Most toys are made with plastic now because it is cheap and cleanable. However, it breaks easily and ends up in landfills. So the more you can donate, the better for the environment.
3. Think Before you Gift!
A huge way to get rid of waste and to avoid needing to take steps 1 and 2 on this list is just stopping and thinking before you gift. Ask yourself these questions:
- Will the gift-reciever actually use or enjoy this gift?
- Does this person already have stuff like this?
- Am I buying this gift for the sake of buying something, or will the gift-reciever actually find joy in it?
- Can the gift-reciever use this gift for a long time, or will it be used once and then goes to waste?
By asking yourself these questions, you can understand whether this is a gift that will be enjoyed and used, or if it will be in the garbage can by boxing day. Trust me when I say, everyone has enough mugs! Unless they specifically ask for it, get them something else!
4. Use Reusable Wrapping or Reused Materials
One of the major waste contributors of the holidays is wrapping paper. You use it once, it looks pretty for a couple of hours, and then it is ripped off and thrown away. So finding alternatives to wrapping paper that are eco-friendly is the way to go. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Tote bag: They can reuse it, and it is cute!
- Scarf: Wrapping a gift in a scarf is like two presents in one.
- Old newspapers: It is going to get thrown away anyway. Plus, it looks cool!
- Hold it behind your back: This might not be cute, but it is effective and waste-free
Simply taking away the need for wasteful wrapping is a major step towards having an eco-friendly Christmas.
5. Gift Sustainable Items
Like I said, most of the time the Christmas gifts we are buying in-store are not sustainable. They are made of plastic, easily breakable, and end up in the trash. So if you are truly trying to have an eco-friendly Christmas, think of some things that will help others do the same.
A couple of ideas for what you can gift are:
- Reusable food wraps (Check it out here)
- Reusable produce bags (Check it out here)
- Plastic-free shampoo and conditionar bars (Check it out here)
I am far from perfect, but I do everything in my power to be as waste-free as possible. Although the changes I make are small, they can have a huge impact on the environment and the climate.
During a time when waste is abundant, I hope these tips are useful in your efforts to have an eco-friendly Christmas. Just doing one of these steps is impactful. Never feel like your efforts are too small.
But individual efforts are not the only thing that is going to save this planet. The big companies that are creating most of the pollution and waste in this country are to blame. So we need to push for better laws that regulate this. Email and call your local lawmakers!
It is the best of both worlds! Individual efforts and business regulations will save this planet!
I hope you have a fun and eco-friendly Christmas!
