5 Ways to Go Green and Protect the Planet This Holiday Season 

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Well, it may be for us, but for the planet? Not so much. 

Between increased travel burning through fossil fuels, millions of pounds of extra trash heading to the landfill, and piles of food going to waste, Mother Earth may not appreciate the holiday season as much as we do. While no one is asking you to cancel your holiday plans, there are few simple things you can do to help make your celebrations a little nicer to the environment. 

Skip the Wrapping Paper 

Special coatings, glitter, textured details, and metallic embellishments all make wrapping paper unable to be recycled, resulting in approximately 2.3 million pounds of wrapping paper heading to the landfill every year. This year, try using reusable tins and bags or even fabric like decorative dish towels to wrap your gifts, or opt for reusing paper you already have like newspapers, magazines, or even some of your kid’s drawings from school. If you do opt for wrapping paper, make sure you’re choosing a one that’s able to be recycled, or even made of recycled paper already! 

Decorate a Real Tree 

Believe it or not, real Christmas trees are better for the environment than plastic ones! Compared to a sustainably grown tree, plastic trees have 10X the carbon footprint, meaning you’d have to reuse the same tree for 10 years to offset the emissions. Just make sure you’re disposing of your real tree properly afterwards. Check with your local tree farm to see how they recommend you recycle your tree as different parts of the country have different eco-friendly options. 

Make Room the Right Way

As you prepare for an influx of guests and gifts, you may feel the squeeze of just too much stuff in your home. Before you grab the trash bags, start your decluttering with sustainability in mind. Items that are still in good condition but no longer serve you can find a new life somewhere else.

You can even earn a little extra holiday cash as you declutter. ecoATM recycles your old phones and tablets and pays you cash on the spot, helping you clear out the drawers just in time for the holidays. 

Do a Little DIY 

There’s something so special about a DIY gift! Instead of buying something inexpensive that will eventually end up in a landfill, try consumable gifts you can make at home. Great options include infused olive oils, homemade bread or baked goods, custom spice mixes, or bath scrubs. It’s a thoughtful gifting option that comes right from the heart. 

Gift Something You Can’t Wrap 

Zoo memberships, a cooking class, or even a homemade coupon book are all thoughtful gifts that will make their holiday but produce no extra waste and keep their home clutter-free. You can even double down on your eco-friendly efforts and donate to a charity who’s doing good for the planet in their name! 

Making the holidays a little greener won’t make them less merry! Take steps this year to have a holiday that’s kinder to the planet.