Plastic Free Holidays

 

Plastic Free Holidays

Written by Kristine Manganelli (Somerset County 4-H Coordinator)

The holiday season is officially upon us! ‘Tis the season for food, family, gifts, and good cheer! During this time when we reflect on what we are thankful for and make resolutions for the new year, don’t forget planet earth amidst the festivities.

During the period spanning Thanksgiving to New Year’s, Americans produce and throw away 25% more trash than any other time of the year! Between hosting parties, cooking, gift giving, and decorating, this adds up to 25 million extra tons of garbage in total, which breaks down to almost 1 million tons per week!

In fact, “If every family reused just two feet of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon saved could tie a bow around the entire planet. If every American family wrapped just 3 presents in re-used materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields. The 2.65 billion Christmas cards sold each year in the U.S. could fill a football field 10 stories high. If we each sent one card less, we’d save 50,000 cubic yards of paper”(Stanford Land Buildings and Real Estate).

We are living in a moment that demands action to prevent a world where the ocean will be filled with more plastic than fish. If we were all a bit more thoughtful about what we use and consume on a daily basis, we can ensure a beautiful future. Since much holiday décor like ornaments, tinsel, bows, and wrapping paper is made of plastic, here are some ideas on how to celebrate using less waste without sacrificing any of the joy of the holiday season.

Gift giving:

  • Purchase from companies that commit to using less packaging waste when shipping

  • Instead of material items, purchase gifts that are good for the planet such as charitable donations, experiences like park or museum passes or concert tickets, subscriptions, or memberships to organizations that help the planet like The Surfrider Foundation, The Ocean Conservancy, or Sierra Club

  • Try to buy from and support local businesses whenever possible

  • Give the gift of good habits such as reusable water bottles, straws, utensils, and tote bags

  • Buy clothing made from natural materials like cotton, hemp, and bamboo. Many clothing items are made of fibers like spandex and fleece release microplastics into the water every time they are washed

  • Make homemade gifts such as baked goods, trail mix, jams, or arts and crafts

  • Use alternatives to wrapping paper that doesn’t contain plastic such as newspaper, butcher paper, and start saving wrapping paper and bows to reuse. You can spruce up gifts by adding dried fruit, and twine instead of plastic ribbons and bows

  • Skip the wrap and use jars, tins, or baskets instead

  • Send electronic greeting cards

Decorating:

  • Make your own ornaments or garlands using popcorn, and dried fruit like cranberries and orange slices

  • Get outside to forage for natural decorations like pinecones, snips of holly, or evergreens

  • Use scrap paper to cut snowflakes

  • Instead of throwing out light strands when one bulb goes out, take time to fix broken bulbs and reuse

  • Turn off holiday lights when you go to bed or set them on a timer

  • Plastic trees are convenient but usually end up in the dump after a few seasons. Consider getting a live tree that can be composted or even a potted tree that can be replanted. Many areas have tree collections at the end of the season and will be made into mulch

  • Thrift for second-hand decorations

Feasting:

  • Avoid using single-use plastic dinnerware. Stick to real plates or if convenience is a necessity, consider compostable dinnerware in materials like bamboo

  • Skip buying individual drinks and instead serve drinks with pitchers

  • Use reusable containers for leftovers

Sources:

 
Somerset County 4-H