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9 Tips for a Greener New Year
by Jaime Radakovich | Posted in: Bags
Give a gift that keeps on giving – to the planet and everyone on it!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. It is also a time when consumerism and waste are at an all-time high. In fact, household waste increases by more than 25% from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.1 Waste in the form of food, shopping bags, packaging, wrapping paper, bows and ribbons contributes to an additional 1 million tons of trash entering landfills each week during that time frame. People also feel confused by the current recycling system, which undermines their confidence.2
However, there are still plenty of reasons to celebrate. Studies have shown that consumer preferences are shifting toward sustainable brands and products,3 and with each holiday season, the opportunity to try something new.
To help you ring in a greener new year, we’ve compiled a list of simple changes that can make a big impact on the planet and people. Find what works for you and start today.
1) Minimize Your Waste
Sustainability starts with you. Here are some simple ways to reduce your carbon footprint this holiday season:
- Reduce your carbon footprint and get more exercise by walking, biking, carpooling, or taking mass transit.
- Go paperless for holiday cards.
- Choose better plastics. In curbside recycling programs, #1 (PET) and #2 (PETE) are widely accepted and safer to use.
- Skip metallic and plastic-coated paper options and opt for earth-friendly, uncoated, recycled, biodegradable papers.
- Remember, sharing green goals with others can spark JOY and even more change.
2) Shop Local
While we enjoy the convenience of clicking a button, shopping locally can have a big impact on the environment and your community.
- Reduce packaging waste and carbon footprint in individual shipments. Bonus points if you bring your reusable bag.
- Support your local economy.
- Build strong community connections and encourage local entrepreneurship.
3) Holiday Decor
The holiday decoration market is enormous, with Americans expected to spend over $5B in 2024.4 Not only is that a big chunk of change, but a lot of products and goods that may eventually make their way into the waste stream. Some alternate ideas include:
- Decorate with natural items like seasonal greenery, twigs, pinecones, berries, etc.
- Make your holiday décor by repurposing items, upcycling materials or buying eco-friendly materials.
- Shop thrift stores for vintage ornaments and décor. Sometimes, a little re-imagining (or perhaps a crafty twist) is all it takes to transform something old into something amazing.
4) Holiday Lights
The holidays wouldn’t be the same without beautiful light displays. Did you know there are ways to celebrate while saving energy and money?!
- Reduce unnecessary energy consumption by using timers for holiday lights, ensuring your home is aglow at the RIGHT time, no matter where you are.
- LED lights use up to 80% less energy than traditional bulbs, which means less replacing and more saving.
- Solar-powered lights can be more expensive initially but are worth it. These run completely independently of the power grid. Charged by the sun, these lights automatically illuminate at night. They are truly a set-it-and-forget-it system.
5) Food Waste
Forty percent of all U.S. food is wasted. Food waste releases methane, a greenhouse gas that is 28 times stronger than carbon dioxide.5 There are simple ways to keep food out of landfills and on our tables.
- Serve buffet-style feasts, reducing food waste by allowing people to pick their perfect portion.
- Make dishes that are versatile and can be repurposed into other dishes or can be frozen quickly.
- Compost any leftover food if you have this option.
6) Celebrate Friendlier
The holidays are all about coming together and making new memories, and what is more central to holiday gatherings than good food? But that doesn’t need to mean creating extra waste or bags of trash.
- Provide guests with reusable dishware, glassware and napkins. Or, at a minimum, use eco-friendly single-use items.
- Set up a recycling area and clearly mark bins.
- Encourage guests to bring reusable containers or provide paper carry-out bags for leftovers.
- Where possible, use eco-friendly cleaning products before, after, and during the celebration.
7) Gift Wrapping
There’s nothing like the excitement of unwrapping a gift, and a well-appointed presentation adds even more to the anticipation. Here are a few tips for elevating the visual impression of your gifts while lowering the environmental impact.
- Reuse boxes, bows or bags that already exist.
- If purchasing, source eco-friendly wrapping paper or bags. Or get creative and read our “20 (Re)Uses for Paper Bags” blog for some great ideas on reusing paper bags.
- Wrap your gifts in fabric, which you can encourage the recipient to reuse or return to you if they wish. It’s not dissimilar to returning a plate after the cookies are eaten.
8) Gift Giving
For some, seeing a loved one’s smile after they open a gift is one of the best parts of the holidays. However, there are small ways to be more responsible when choosing gifts this season.
- Give experiences instead of consumables.
- Purchase gifts from a fair-trade company, second-hand store, or companies with sustainable business practices or products.
- Make homemade gifts if you have a hobby, such as cooking, baking, crafting, etc.
- Ditch the plastic gift card (if possible) and opt for a printed paper or emailed version.
9) Give Back to Impact
After all, the holidays are about what we can do for others. During the holiday season, you can make an impact in several ways:
- Volunteer to help a local organization.
- Donate to a charity or organization you believe in.
- Check in with a loved one and spread joy and kindness to those around you.
Sources:
1. https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/hidden-ways-holidays-harm-environment-reduce-waste/story?id=93487258
2. https://www.plasticreimagined.org/articles/americans-lose-confidence-in-recycling-but-why
3. https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/institute-business-value/report/2022-sustainability-consumer-research
4. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/10/23/2967965/28124/en/Christmas-Decorations-Industry-Report-2025-2030-How-to-Navigate-Operational-Logistical-and-Non-Sustainable-Challenges-to-Unlock-the-7-32-Billion-Market.html#:~:text=The%20Christmas%20Decoration%20Market%20grew,USD%207.32%20billion%20by%202030
5. https://www.epa.gov/gmi/importance-methane
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