The holiday season is a wonderful time to enjoy with family and friends, but it can also have a large negative impact on the environment. This year, make your holidays more sustainable with these tips.
Sustainable gifts
Instead of buying more new stuff, which puts a strain on the planet with extra greenhouse gas emissions, consider buying gently used items at thrift stores in town. Another approach is to gift local experiences instead of stuff. Think Alameda Theatre, Altarena Playhouse, or Rhythmix Cultural Works tickets to shows, a round of Golf at Corica Park, a family pack at the Pinball Museum, or gift certificates to a favorite restaurant. Home-baked goodies are also a welcome treat. Or consider planet-friendly gifts like reusable tote bags, coffee mugs, and water bottles. For your environmentally-minded friend, visit the Replenish Marketplace on Webster for gifts in refillable containers. Another tip for large families to reduce holiday stress and overconsumption is to do a Secret Santa drawing instead of everyone buying gifts for everyone.
Decorating
Use LED lights instead of incandescent lights to save 80-90% on electricity used. For outdoor lighting, put the strings on a timer so they don’t shine all night. Thrift stores are good places to look for holiday decorations.
Gift wrap and holiday cards
Avoid glitter and overly shiny paper when purchasing gift wraps and holiday cards so they can be recycled. Even better, use gift bags or tote bags which can easily be reused by the recipient. Or wrap with alternatives such as newspaper or dish towels.
Earth-friendly parties
Instead of using disposable plates, napkins, and utensils, provide reusable plates, cloth napkins, and silverware. If you don’t have enough to throw a party, you can borrow a party kit from Alameda Natural Grocery. What a great service they provide to the community! Then be sure to set out bins for recycling, composting, and garbage so guests can properly sort their trash.
Holiday meals
Food waste is a big problem during the holidays. Plan for exactly how many guests you have so that you don’t prepare way too much food. Ask guests to bring reusable containers to take home leftovers. Then use up the remaining leftovers completely by making soup out of the turkey carcass, black-eyed peas and ham out of the ham bone, and gnocchi or potato pancakes out of mashed potatoes. Compost food scraps, including bones.
Holiday travel
Many families travel to visit relatives during the holidays. Consider buying carbon offsets for your travel. Most airlines offer carbon offset options. If possible, choose a direct flight that consumes less fuel than trips with a connecting flight.
Happy holidays, everyone!
Joyce Mercado is the author of Save the Planet in Your Spare Time: A Climate Protection Handbook for the Busy Person, a member of Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda (CASA), and President of the Rotary Club of Alameda. Her columns are collected at alamedapost.com/Joyce-Mercado. She can be reached at [email protected].
