Household waste increased by an astounding 25% from Thanksgiving to New Year's, as estimated by the EPA. Each week, a million more tons of food are thrown away than the rest of the year. 4 million tons of gift wrapping and decorations are generated each year. The vast majority of those decorations and gift wrappings will end up in the landfill.
Excessive shopping and gifting are also a problem. Around 30% of gifts received during the holidays are returned. Most of those returned gifts end up in the landfill, even if they were never used. This is because so many products are cheaply made and mass-produced that they simply find it more profitable to dispose of them than to deal with repackaging and restocking.
Overconsumption around the holidays has gotten out of hand and created massive amounts of extra waste, on a planet where excess waste is already a problem year-round. EcoForms believes the planet comes first, which is why we make our products as sustainably as we possibly can. We feel it is of utmost importance to spread the word on how to have a more sustainable holiday.
Decorate sustainably
Leave out the plastic and single-use decor. Try some DIY decorations like homemade wreaths, or plastic-free decorations that will last. Try our rice hull pots for an eco-friendly centerpiece, or some beautiful baskets arranged with pinecones and other pieces of nature.
Don't use disposable tableware
We get it, doing all of the holiday dinner dishes can be exhausting. But so is imagining all of the plasticware that will end up in the landfill. Paper plates often have wax coatings that deem them non-recyclable and non-compostable. Unfortunately, the best way to keep waste down from single-use tableware is just not to use it. On the upside, fabric napkins come in all sorts of beautiful colors and designs, as do ceramic dishes. Make your table both stunning and sustainable this year while inspiring your guests to do the same.
Repurpose and compost leftovers
Reuse as many leftovers as possible. Get creative with adding them into other dishes. If you can't reuse them and have the ability to compost, that's the next best option for fruits, veggies and breads. Food that ends up in the landfill takes a very long time to breakdown, producing greenhouse gases for months or years.
Gift sustainably and thoughtfully
Don't waste money on meaningless gifts just for the sake of gift-giving. Put some thought into your gifts and find products that align with their values and needs. Better yet, try crafting something unique that comes from the heart and will be remembered for years to come. Check out our holiday gift guide for plant lovers article for ideas.
Recycle wrapping paper or make your own
Using brown recyclable paper, you can create beautiful and sustainable wrapping paper. Try using some cute stamps or different kinds of ribbons to make it snazzy.
