Make a difference this holiday season by taking small steps that can make a meaningful difference by reducing waste and your carbon footprint. And since it’s the season of giving, share these eco-friendly tips with family and friends!
Green Gift Wrapping Tips
- Reuse newspaper and paper bags in place of wrapping paper for gifts. Don’t forget to recycle the paper afterward – just remove the tape.
- Another creative idea for wrapping: use gently used scarves, handkerchiefs, or tea towels for difficult items. You can also package edible gifts using glass bottles or reusable tins.
Shop Smart, Shop Sustainable
- Bring reusable bags when you go shopping – not just at the grocery store but at every store.
- Buy products made with recycled content to help “close the loop” and support the recycling industry.
- Consider sending e-cards, make your own, or buy cards made with recycled content.
Eco-Friendly Gatherings
- When entertaining, cut down on excess waste and use real dishware and cutlery instead of disposable plastic, foam, or paper plates and utensils.
- Also, use cloth tablecloths and napkins instead of paper options.
- Make recycling easy for guests. Place recycling bins beside every trash bin, and make sure the products you provide can be reused or recycled.
- Reduce your carbon emissions by coordinating carpools with family and friends to holiday get-togethers.
Embrace Nature’s Charm: Sustainable Holiday Decor
- Make natural decorations. Instead of using plastic décor, find things in nature, including pine cones and evergreen branches.
- Buy a live, potted Christmas tree to decorate — then plant it in your backyard (if you have one!) after the holiday.
- If you do cut down a tree, be sure to recycle it after the holiday. Click here to check locally.
Bonus!
Check out our Keep the Holidays Beautiful ebook. The holidays are a time of joy for many, but amid the celebrations, it’s easy to lose track of waste. Keep America Beautiful has created this Holiday eBook so you can have all the tips and tricks to make your celebrations fabulous for your guests and Mother Nature.
In case you missed it…
Check out the Do Beautiful Things podcast hosted by Keep America Beautiful President and CEO, Jennifer Lawson.
About Keep America Beautiful®:
Keep America Beautiful®, the nation’s leading community improvement nonprofit organization, inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful® strives to End Littering, Improve Recycling, and Beautify America’s Communities. We believe everyone has a right to live in a clean, green, and beautiful community, and shares a responsibility to contribute to that vision. The organization is driven by the work and passion of 700 Keep America Beautiful® affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the collaborative support of corporate partners, social and civic service organizations, academia, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin, and YouTube. Donate and take action at kab.org.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
McCall Vrydaghs
Keep America Beautiful®