In this post I will be writing about sustainability during the holidays. The holidays should be a time of joy and being together, but a lot of our holiday habits have adverse impacts on the environment.
1. Gifts
It is a kind sentiment to give others gifts in the holiday season, but it is important that we remember the environment. Consumerism is harmful for the environment and should be considered when giving gifts. When purchasing gifts, ask yourself whether it is something the receiver will truly use. Additionally, see if there are any sustainable options for what you have in mind. Look at which materials the product uses and how it is produced. Being more sustainable in your gift giving is quite self explanatory, it just requires a bit of extra though. You could also consider crafting gifts yourself, the internet is full of DIY ideas, and it adds a personal sentiment to the gifts you give. Especially in this age of covid and lockdowns people are opting to have packages delivered by post, increasing your carbon footprint, so why not see what you could craft yourself? If you aren't much of a crafter, you could also see what treasures the thrift shops hold, and give a gift with a story.
2. Decorations
Many winter and Christmas decorations can be bad for the environment. I will name a few and list some possible alternatives. A Christmas favourite is tinsel, however, this plastic product can be harmful if it isn't properly disposed of, and even if it is, there are better non-plastic alternatives. Instead of tinsel, one could opt for citrus garlands. These are very easy to craft yourself and there are many tutorials available. It involves baking orange and lemon slices and then tying them to a string, which makes very colourful, and sustainable decorations.
Another commonly used winter accessory are fairy-lights. Most of them run on batteries. Billions of batteries are thrown away annually and contribute to the earth's waste. However, an easy alternative are rechargeable batteries. Not only is this better to reduce waste, it is also more cost efficient.
Plastic snows are commonly used as Christmas decorations throughout the home. They often come in spray bottles or larger plastic snow comes in bags. These plastics are very problematic when they make their way into the environment, they are very small and difficult to get out of the environment. Instead of opting for this troublesome decoration, perhaps see what you could do with wool or cotton options to recreate snow looks. It is something that can also be reused for many years.
3. Christmas Trees
Christmas trees are objects of discussion, real or fake? The answer essentially is, anything goes. Real Christmas trees are a renewable source and can be disposed of sustainable. They do require land to grow however. But, they are better than plastic trees. If you do opt for a plastic tree, then it is best to invest in a durable tree that you will use for many years to come. As long as you keep using it, it won't be harmful to the environment. If you do dispose of it, be aware of where it is going. So, when choosing between plastic or real, keep these things in mind.
These are some environmental issues to focus on during holidays. There are easy ways to improve the way you impact the environment. Mostly, to be better, all you have to do is offer some things a bit more thought.
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