15 Ideas for Sustainable Holidays

What looks beautiful under your tree might be less so further down the waste stream. Most wrapping papers and gift bags are printed using unsustainable inks and are coated with shiny foils, reducing their recyclability. Get creative and wrap gifts with materials that you already have, like old magazines, newspapers, comics, or paper shopping bags. You can also use clean fabric like scarves, bandannas, or even pretty dish towels for a reusable wrapping. Create your own bows from scraps of paper and accessorize with twine, pressed leaves, and pinecones.

While preparing all of your favorite holiday dishes, try to support local farmers that grow sustainable meat and produce. A local, sustainably farmed roast or ham is always going to be better for the environment than factory farmed meat that has been shipped from thousands of miles away. Bonus: with fresher, higher quality ingredients, your favorite holiday dishes will taste better, too!

Why? Real Christmas trees are more environmentally friendly than fake ones, which are made from plastic that will take centuries to break down. But don’t get just any tree: many growers rely on pesticides and herbicides; and some add chemical colorants. Ask your local Christmas tree farm about their practices or search for a sustainable farm near you. Besides using less pesticides, a sustainably managed farm will plant more trees than they cut down each year. And those that they do harvest will be selectively cut in patches to maintain a healthy rotation. 

While Christmas lights don’t use as much electricity as some other decorations, switching to LED lights can save you on your holiday season energy bills because they use 95% less energy. Still not convinced? LEDs release very little heat and last about 25X longer than traditional incandescent bulbs, making them safer and more cost-effective.

Keep your holiday footprint small by purchasing locally crafted gifts from small businesses. And if you can’t find everything on your list close to home, check out our eco-friendly holiday gift guide for plenty of great gift ideas! From skincare packaging that reduces plastic waste to clothing that’s sourced and manufactured to leave a smaller footprint, every brand on our list supports reforestation.

Get creative and use things you have around the house to make your own unique, adorable Christmas decorations. This can be extra special, for example, if you use items from loved ones to create a memento ornament that will remind you of all the beautiful Christmas memories you have shared. It’s also a great project to keep kids busy when they’re on break from school, or a fun excuse to host a crafting party with your friends and family!

As the holidays draw near, many of us may wish to send a card to commemorate the season.  But as appreciated as they are in the moment, cards often get thrown away once the holiday season is over. The solution? Send a customizable e-card that plants trees!

Gift something that can be enjoyed in the future, like tickets to a game, comedy show, play, or concert, a fun day trip, a museum membership, guitar lessons, or even a gift card to a favorite local restaurant or business. You'll be supporting a local business—or their favorite team or artist—and giving your recipient something to look forward to!

With high prices affecting everyone's holiday budget, try creating a gift basket filled with homemade body care products like soaps, lotions, bath bombs, and lip glosses — or one filled with holiday cookies, infused liquors or extracts, fudge, spiced nuts, and other delicious food items. Add special touches like homemade ornaments, a favorite bottle of wine, or a book you loved this year, and it’s bound to bring a smile.

Having trouble finding something for that certain person on your list who has everything? There are countless nonprofits and charities that do great work, so find one that resonates and make a gift in their name! It doesn’t have to be a large donation to be meaningful and impactful. Have an environmentalist on your list? Consider planting trees in their name!

In the spirit of the season, sometimes we can get caught up in the excitement of buying what we think is the perfect gift. And perhaps you have a few of those “perfect” gifts tucked away in the back of your closet. Set some ground rules and get a group of friends or neighbors together for a gift swap! You never know what treasures you might find.

Every year, millions of Christmas trees end up in landfills. We know that, especially when living in an urban setting, it can be challenging to properly dispose of your tree, but many municipalities offer solutions. So look into what local programs are available, like turning your tree into mulch or wood chips, or even donating it toward an environmental project like stream bank stabilization. 

Often, stockings are filled with cheap plastic items that end up broken, lost, or discarded once the holiday season ends. Instead, fill them with delicious homemade treats and a few small, thoughtfully chosen gifts to round things out. Stockings are a fun part of the Christmas tradition, and with a little thought, they can be transformed from wasteful to awesome!

As the snow falls, we understandably respond by cranking up our thermostats. This year, get cozy with some Christmas themed PJs and a snuggly blanket by the fire. Play board games, tell Christmas stories, and take advantage of the opportunity to slow down and make memories with your loved ones. After all, that's what the holiday season is all about.

Before you hit the eggnog with your usual gusto, look into quality local wines, liquors, and microbrews that are crafted using organic ingredients and sustainable practices. Local vintners, brewers, and distillers often use less additives and preservatives and incorporate regionally available ingredients, so you’ll be in for a special treat — and perhaps less of a post-holiday hangover.