The holidays are not kind to the planet. 25% more waste is created between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day than any other time of year, based on a study from the late 90s, and that number has probably only gotten worse. Based on this, the average US citizen, who creates five pounds of trash in a normal week, will create 6.25 pounds of trash per week during the holidays. With a population of around 335.7 million people, the US creates approximately 419,625,000 more pounds of trash per day during the holiday season. A large part of this number is unwanted gifts, meaning gifts that end up getting thrown away or even returned. While the intention when returning an item may be for it to go to someone who loves it more, returns account for five billion pounds of waste to landfill every year. Not every return is fit to be resold and not every company has the means to sort and repackage.
Give thoughtfully
Every year, I am gifted at least one mug, but usually a few. Don’t get me wrong, I love mugs, but how many Homegoods Christmas mugs does a girl need? This is an example of hyper-consumerism, where unnecessary items are bought just to be bought. Hyper-consumerism is amplified during the holidays, by people buying gifts just to buy gifts.
Buying gifts that are better for the planet doesn’t have to mean giving reusable straws and grocery bags. It means putting thought into gifts and picking things that the receiver will get use out of. A great way to pick thoughtful gifts is to start brainstorming early. This is helpful in two ways. It allows more time to come up with something thoughtful and personal for each person you are shopping for. It also allows more time to order from small businesses. Small businesses are generally better for the environment in a number of ways, plus you get to support someone’s dream! However, because of their size, preparing and shipping items can take a bit longer. Order in November to give it time to get to you for Christmas.
Give experiences
Remember, all “things” end up in landfill eventually. A great way to give something more sustainable is by gifting an experience. One year, I bought my mom and I tickets to go to a “Paint Your Pet” themed paint and sip night, and she loved it. The same year, I got my dad and I (nosebleed) tickets to a Celtics game. Even a couple years later, those are some of the gifts I am most proud of. It meant a lot to them, because we got to spend time together, and experiences result in little to no waste at all! This is also great because it works for a variety of budgets! For cheaper options, you can buy tickets to a local museum, plan a picnic, or create a playlist. If you’re looking to splurge, get tickets to their favorite artist’s next concert, or plan a weekend getaway. No matter what you decide, an experience is always a thoughtful gift.
Give secondhand
For some reason, gifting second hand is seen in a negative light. I think this is a shame. By buying something second hand for a gift, you give something that otherwise would’ve gone straight to a landfill a new life. When you are secondhand shopping, there are so many unique and one-of-a-kind options to pick out. Examples of things to buy secondhand are necklaces, sweaters, planters, knick-knacks, and more!
Bonus tip: Sustainable wrapping
One of the most wasteful parts of the holidays is gift-wrapping. It’s meant to be thrown away and a lot of it can’t be recycled. To give gifts more sustainably, avoid buying new gift wrap. Save gift bags you are given and reuse them. You can also wrap gifts in cloth which can be used to wrap over and over again. Use old newspaper or maps. My personal favorite is to wrap gifts in brown paper bags from the grocery store, and add a piece of ribbon or reuse a bow. This way, I am not using anything new to wrap, and it gives the gift an extra cozy feeling.
By being more thoughtful when picking out gifts, you will end up with a gift that means more to the person receiving it, and therefore less likely to end up in a landfill by January!
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