By: Ananya
December is here! The giving season is upon us, accompanied by the usual cheer and euphoria that overcomes all holiday enthusiasts during this time of the year. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, gift-giving has probably become an important part of your checklist! However, it’s important that we all be mindful of the environment and the role we play in the giant ecosystem that is Earth, even in the midst of festivity. An often-overlooked side of Christmas is the astonishing amount of waste that is born out of unwanted gifts, non-recyclable wrapping papers, and discarded trees. Consumers in the United Kingdom alone throw away 277,000 miles of wrapping paper each year- that’s the distance between the Earth and the Moon! In addition to that, the extra waste produced during the holiday season in America amounts to 25 million tonnes of garbage. The sheer amount of waste that we produce is so astronomically high that it is simply impossible to imagine a number that large. Therefore, we should all strive to make that number a little smaller, one environmentally-conscious act at a time. To help kickstart the process, this article will outline different ways we can celebrate an eco-friendly holiday.
Firstly, approach gift-giving with an open mind. Instead of keeping shopping as the first option, venture into more creative avenues to truly make your loved ones happy. Original, homemade gifts go a long way in showing your affection and hard work. These kinds of gifts are often the most heartwarming and cherished, and they ensure that you actively participate in an eco-friendly gift-giving process, since you use preowned materials and organic methods. When it comes to wrapping your gift, think out of the box! A more nonpolluting, artistic, and clever way to wrap your gifts is using newspapers or magazine pages. Colorful scrapbook papers, fabrics, or papers with memorable pictures glued onto them enhance the gifts before they are even opened! If you are going shopping, make sure to buy high-quality gifts- ones that are made sustainably and are worth investing in. Keeping these pointers in mind while also thinking of your eco-friendly ideas is a sure-fire way of doing your part in nurturing the environment during the holiday season.
When it comes to holiday decorations, the type of Christmas tree to buy often becomes a heated debate. Around 7 million trees are dumped in the month of January, but a way of evading this is to either rent a Christmas tree or buy a real tree. Renting trees allows sellers to loan people trees for the holiday month, and then replant them once the period is over. It’s a win-win for both you and the environment! However, if you want to buy a real Christmas tree, ensure that it is locally grown and has the seal of the ‘Forest Stewardship Council’. If both criteria are fulfilled, your tree has been grown in proper environmental standards and you have nothing to worry about. The last resort is to buy a fake Christmas tree, an option that is not recommended but can be feasible if you plan to use your tree for a very long time- 20 years long! As for holiday decor, make your own! With the help of sites like Creativ Company and National Trust, you can get your creative juices flowing by building long-lasting Christmas decor without sacrificing the quality of your ornaments. Ask friends or family to help you with the process and make the project more enjoyable. This is an effective way of getting more involved with the spirit of the holiday season, learning new skills, creating handmade tchotchkes, and bonding with loved ones.
In conclusion, the steps that have to be taken in order to have an eco-friendly holiday season start with you! These methods have a personal touch and focus on disturbing the environment as little as possible, while also ensuring high-quality Christmas décor and more time spent with loved ones. We hope you are conscious of the environment during this month, and we wish you a very happy holiday!
A.W
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