Sustainable cheer: a guide to eco-friendly celebrations
Holiday celebrations foster joy and community spirit—yet often leave a notable environmental footprint. Let’s examine seasonal traditions through sustainable gifts, gatherings, and decorations.
As we begin the holiday season, it’s a great time to reflect on the environmental impact of our festive traditions, especially given that household waste typically increases by about 25% during this time.
Whether you’re marking the winter solstice, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, or New Year’s Eve, there are actionable steps you can take to make your celebrations more environmentally conscious.
Chelsea Dalton, project manager, sustainability office, sheds light on some of the environmental impacts of the winter holidays and offers valuable insights on more sustainable alternatives.
Decorating with intention
“It’s best to avoid single-use plastic decorations,” says Chelsea, explaining that disposable trinkets—such as glitter-based garnishes and ornaments—can contain microplastics that are especially harmful to the environment when they enter our oceans and are eaten by living organisms.
Reusing the same bows and bags annually can significantly reduce holiday waste and lessen the demand for manufacturing new items each year, ultimately minimizing the consumption of raw materials and energy associated with production.
In the debate over real versus artificial Christmas trees, Chelsea suggests that responsibly grown real trees can have a lower environmental impact. However, if you already own an artificial tree, it’s best to use it for as many years as possible instead of discarding it and purchasing a real tree annually.
It’s important to acknowledge that real trees can also have a significant environmental impact. “It takes water and pesticides to grow them, and carbon is produced transporting them,” she notes. Rental services for potted Christmas trees provide a sustainable option for those who can’t bear to give up that natural pine smell.
Mindful gifting
“Choose gifts that are both meaningful and practical.” Chelsea suggests gifting experiences—like movie or concert tickets—rather than physical items, which can often go to waste.
When wrapping gifts, Chelsea suggests being conscious of the materials you use.
Reusable gift bags are a zero-waste alternative.
However, if you opt for a more traditional approach, metallic wrapping paper—identifiable by its glossy silver surface that is similar to aluminum—should be avoided as it cannot be recycled and is sent directly to landfills.
Conscious gatherings
Sustainable practices can and should be part of the entire planning process for both home celebrations and office parties.
One easy place to start is by using digital RSVPs. This will ensure that the appropriate preparations are made for attending guests, thereby preventing unnecessary waste—such as excess food.
Digital RSVPs also help avoid the purchase of unnecessary packaging for events which remains key in reducing material waste, such as single-use drink bottles, containers, and individually wrapped foods.
Remember to avoid disposable utensils and choose a local, zero-waste caterer if possible.
Don’t hesitate to remind your guests about the local caterer you’ve chosen, or the importance of RSVPs in minimizing waste. Your efforts can inspire positive change and foster a greater awareness of eco-friendly practices.
On-campus events
For on-campus events, Chelsea encourages participation in U of T’s Sustainable Events Certification Program. The certification process helps you evaluate sustainable opportunities across all event planning dimensions—from transportation to food sourcing, material waste, energy use, and event setup and teardown.
For future inquiries and insights, Chelsea can be reached at chelsea.dalton@utoronto.ca. She offers a wealth of knowledge to guide us towards greener and more sustainable holiday celebrations.