SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION: Holiday Edition

By Niamh Nugent |

From the months of October to December, Americans throw away 25% more trash than any other time of the year. The holidays call for exaggerated consumer behavior where people buy new decorations, clothes, and food in order to host parties and satisfy the season’s expectations.

Intentionally planning out your holiday season prevents overspending and overbuying. I’ve created a brief guide to sustainable consumption to inspire both environmental responsibility and economic mindfulness during the holiday season.

While decorations aren’t necessary, the holidays might not be as cheery without them. Trendy plastic figurines, ornaments, and trinkets might seem worth the impulse purchase, but considering the long-term value of an item may prevent it from ending up in a storage box or a landfill. 

Instead of buying new decorations, consider trading with friends or reusing what you already have. Avoiding new purchases is a budget and more eco-friendly way to decorate. If you plan on buying new, small businesses and second-hand shops can accommodate niche decoration plans while remaining ethical and sustainable. Making your own garlands, ornaments, and other decorations from recycled paper, thrifted vases or natural foliage tests your creativity and reduces waste. 

When people think of handmade gifts, a picture of a macaroni necklace might flash through their head. But there are endless possibilities for creative and sustainable gifts. Looking on Pinterest or, god-forbid, TikTok can lead you down a rabbit hole of upcycled art, making for more sentimental gifts over any mall purchase. 

If you aren’t confident in your abilities this year, learning a new skill like baking, painting or crocheting could serve as a creative outlet and source for your gifts next year. Until then, shopping in local stores or on small business sites, like Etsy, serves as the best option for sustainable gift buying.

Extending a sustainable approach to gift wrapping is also a great way to minimize consumption this season. Gift wrapping alone contributes to 4 million tons of waste in landfills during the month of December. Overly-shiny, printed wrapping paper isn’t easily recycled or repurposed—opting for recycled paper or upcycling newspapers, boxes, fabrics or Trader Joes’ bags serves as a circular alternative. Drawing or writing on brown paper bags also allows for a more customizable and sentimental gifting experience. 

Along with material waste, food waste increases exponentially during the holiday season. When hosting parties or bringing food to potlucks, buying seasonal fruits and vegetables can create less of an ​​environmental impact. Seasonally grown food takes less energy to grow, harvest, and transport. Winter foods like pumpkins, cranberries, and oranges can be used in a variety of ways. Centering dishes around these ingredients is more sustainable and can test your creativity in the kitchen.

Considering every aspect of your consumption may seem daunting, but minding your holiday habits can help you integrate sustainable practices into all seasons! An eco-friendly mindset may help you detach from materialism this holiday season and shed light on the true meaning of the season. Happy Holidays! <3