Between bustling holiday travel and a whopping 25% increase in landfill waste around this time of year (between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day to be exact), the holiday season isn’t exactly conducive to living a completely eco-friendly existence. Luckily, there are many simple ways to make your holiday season more environmentally friendly. Here are a few of my favorite tricks and tips for greening the holidays:
1.Get crafty! Most do-it-yourself projects reclaim and reuse objects for renewed use. Instead of shopping for new ornaments or festive décor, create your own. Check out my 9 DIY holiday décor ideas that can be created with things you most likely already have in your home.
2.Make your wrapping newsworthy. Instead of purchasing rolls of wrapping paper that will ultimately end up crumpled in some landfill, wrap your gifts with newspaper and tie them off with a colorful bow. I love wrapping with newspaper—not only because it looks cute, but it’s a wonderful way to recycle as well.
3.Give green gifts. Whether it’s a jar of sweetness, coasters, a homemade candle, or something from my XO(eco) Collection with BlueAvocado, both sustainable and DIY gifts are not only thoughtful—they’re environmentally-friendly, too!
4.Entertain the eco way. While it may be tempting to use disposable goods when hosting a holiday soirée, please try to abstain. Ikea has a great low-priced selection of glassware or give bamboo a try!
5.Shop smart. Reusable shopping bags are not just for the grocery store. Invest in a few shopper bags (I use this one from my XO(eco) Collection) and use them when you are out doing your holiday shopping. Think about how much paper and plastic you will save!
How are you planning on going green this holiday season? Share your tips and ideas in the comments below!
XO Lauren
A version of this story originally appeared on iVillage.