Lifestyle

How to Make the Holidays the #SustainabilitySeason

Susy Alkaitis - December 6, 2020

Here’s a not so fun fact: Americans throw away approximately 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, more than any other time of year. All that extra wrapping paper, packaging, and unwanted gifts create an extra 25 million tons of annual garbage. To put that into perspective, that’s over 10 NFL sized football stadiums of waste! So how can we do our part to limit the amount of waste we generate during the holidays? Thankfully the solution is simple. 

This year we’re challenging everyone to reimagine how they gift and decorate during the holiday season. By upcycling existing items around the house, you’re able to keep more items in circulation and out of the landfill.

Here are just a few ideas of how you can make this holiday season the #SustainabilitySeason

  1. Sustainable Wrapping Paper: It is estimated that we send upwards of 2.3 million pounds of gift wrapping to landfills each year in the US. Because of laminated coverings and glitter, this wrapping paper isn’t recyclable either. We can all work to decrease that number by reusing existing paper products we already have such as newspapers, old paper bags, and reused packaging materials.
  2. Climbing Rope Wreath: Get out an old rope to make a multi-use wreath perfect for any holiday gathering! And once the New Year comes around, dismantle your creation back into its original, useful state.
  3. Upcycled Ornaments: Try this fun family activity, creating ornaments out of products traditionally destined for the trash or recycling! Bonus points awarded if tape or glue are not used in the creation process. 
  4. Cardboard Holiday Crafts: Instead of a gingerbread house, try making a decorative cardboard house that will stand the test of time (and stand the test of Sugartoothed-family members) 
  5. Handmade Holiday Masks: Globally we are throwing away an estimated 129 billion disposable masks every month, make your own cloth mask and give it a holiday-themed twist this year to add a little cheer to a hard year!

Do your part and share your #SustainabilitySeason holiday idea for a chance to be featured on our channels! Use the hashtag and make sure to tag @leavenotraceorg so we can see all of your creative ideas and why not get the whole family involved!

Let’s protect and enjoy our natural world together

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