The winter season holds more holidays than any other season. Holidays like Christmas, New Years, and Valentines day, bring people together and give them a cause for celebration. Parties, food, and gifts are fun, but what would make the season even more wonderful is being mindful of the environment. According to some, “...each person produces an additional 1,400 lbs of CO2 emissions during the holiday season.” Excess CO2 emissions contribute to the Earth’s rising temperatures, causing precipitation changes, rising sea levels, and more dangerous effects.

There are plenty of ways to make the holidays more sustainable. Gifts are a large contributor to the harmful waste the holidays create. To help stifle this issue, pick out presents that are reusable, handmade, or experiences rather than objects. Along with the gift itself, the packaging used can make a difference as well. Single use wrapping paper creates a lot of waste, but gift bags can be reused for years.

To help get into the Christmas spirit, many people put up decorations. Instead of buying new decorations every year, use recycled materials to make wreaths, ornaments, and more. Consider using natural elements like pinecones or evergreen branches as well. Lots of ideas for homemade decorations can be found online or on Pinterest. When looking for Christmas lights, opt for LEDs because they use almost 80% less energy than incandescent lights. Nice gifts and decorations can be found at the thrift store too.

A big part of the holiday season is the large amounts of delicious food people get to enjoy. To avoid excessive food waste, plan meals ahead of time. Maybe even try buying ingredients from local farmers. Save leftovers instead of throwing them away and share what isn’t wanted with neighbors and friends.

By incorporating these practices into the holiday season, people can enjoy a festive yet environmentally friendly winter, and rest easy knowing those mindful choices have kept them off the naughty list.