Celebrating the holidays sustainably
Christmas may have originated as a religious holiday, but gift giving, family time, and coziness resonate with almost everyone. Many people in the United States are not Christian and don’t celebrate Christmas, but still enjoy holiday traditions like cookies, gift exchanges, and having a
small, fragrant tree in their homes.
This month at Stardust, we are focusing on how to celebrate the holidays without excess waste.
A truly green Christmas tree
79% of American households will have a Christmas tree this year, whether it’s real or artificial, according to the American Christmas Tree Association. But which is the more sustainable option?
According to the Independent UK, the
most environmentally sound option is to have a locally sourced real tree.
“A natural two-metre Christmas tree that does not have roots and is disposed of into a landfill after Christmas produces a carbon footprint of around 16kg of CO2… If disposed of properly, a two-meter tree has a carbon footprint of four and a half times less.”
An artificial tree’s carbon footprint is
around 40 kg of CO2, ten times greater than a properly disposed of real Christmas tree. In order to match the carbon footprint of a real tree, you would need to use your artificial tree for at least 10 years.
This could be a great option, but maybe steer away from temporary fads, like this year’s pink tree trend.
Recyclable decorations
Another sustainable idea is to skip the tree altogether. But if you still want to get into the holiday spirit, paper snowflakes are a
great option.
They are easy to make, recyclable, and come out looking almost as unique as real snowflakes. If you use recycled paper, they are a truly sustainable decorating option.
Giving and receiving gifts is wonderful... until you’ve accumulated gifts where the thought was appreciated, but the actual gift and its packaging feels wasteful and not useful.
How can we show love and appreciation with gifts that don’t inevitably create more waste?
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Make something! Food options are always good (cookies, chili oil, jam, infused liquor), and so are crafts, like knitting and embroidery
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Something vintage or thrifted
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Donate to a nonprofit or charity in your loved one's name (give to Stardust this Christmas to get merch & enter our raffle!)
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For packaging, save gift bags and ribbons people give you, or repurpose jars, clementine boxes, or newspaper, or make an origami box.
Warm and happy holidays,
Thalia Bloom
Constellation Writer
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