Caring for the environment is a continued effort, but it seems like doing so can be substantially more difficult during certain periods of the year. An excellent example of this is the holiday season, where gifts, disposable decorations, and other non-eco-friendly activities define the season. But while it may seem like you have to give in and push your values aside for a few months, there are plenty of strategies you can use to benefit the Earth during this joyous time. Let’s take a look at six simple ways to care for the environment during the holidays.
1. Reduce Your Overall Food Waste
The holidays are typically accompanied by a great deal of food waste, largely because individuals cook way too much food believing that they’ll need it all to feed themselves and their families. If you tend to cook too much, see if you can reduce your overall food waste by cooking the amount your family typically eats.
2. Volunteer for a Cause Close to Your Heart
Helping the environment can be a hands-on activity if you’re looking to volunteer your time during the holiday season. Find an organization near you that’s also trying to support the environment. You should also stay on top of environmental changes and developments in environmental technology to see where your support might be needed most.
3. Go With Green Wrapping Paper and Cards
Keeping your gifts a surprise and watching the joy on your loved ones’ faces as they open their gifts is part of the joy of the holidays. However, the packaging you currently use might not make the environment as happy. Look for eco-friendly wrapping alternatives and similar products you can use instead, whether this means using old newspapers or cards made from recycled materials.
4. Opt for LED Lighting
LED lighting uses much less electricity than other forms of lighting that you may use to decorate the interior or exterior of your home. Consider replacing your lights with LED lighting and asking around to find someone to take your old holiday lighting off of your hands so that it doesn’t end up in a landfill.
5. Purchase (and Recycle) Organic Christmas Trees
While fake Christmas trees often seem like a better alternative to real trees, the reality is that real trees are far more eco-friendly. That being said, they often have a wide range of inorganic materials sprayed onto them to make them more appealing to buyers. See if you can find an organic Christmas tree lot near you.
6. Gift Experiences As Well As Physical Products
One great way to cut down on waste is to gift experiences instead of physical gifts. If your loved ones are asking for concert tickets or something else, gift these to limit how many physical products you’re giving out.
It can be difficult to be eco-friendly during the holidays, but it’s certainly not impossible. Use the six methods above to care for the environment instead of engaging in the same habits as others during the holiday season.
