5 Ways To Make Your Holiday Season Sustainable
Bells jingling, cozy sweaters, and delicious egg nogs; it's officially that time of the year. Well, almost!
And while it's the time when people give gifts and plan to give back to society, it's also about reducing food waste and planning an eco-friendly Holiday season.
Statistically speaking, 43% of the food waste in the United States happens at home, and during the holidays, this food wastage increases to over 25%. And, though planning a green holiday season might seem intimidating at first, it's actually quite easy.
With that in mind, here are five easy ways to make your holiday seasons more fun and sustainable.
1. Choose Plants, Not Plastic
One thing we all love about Holidays is the food. That lip-smacking Thanksgiving Turkey to Christmas-special pipping hot egg nog are the highlights of this season. And one of the easiest ways to choose a sustainable lifestyle is to choose sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic.
One such alternative is plant-based and compostable tableware or kitchenware. We, at EcoSoul, upcycle plant waste and rely on Earth's fastest replenishing resources to carve everyday essentials that are 100% planet-safe.
2. Compost That Scrap
With food comes waste. So, to start with, you can plan to make a designated compost bin at your place. Food waste like vegetable or fruit peels, potato skins, broccoli stalks and even egg shells are compostable.
In fact, all our products are also certified compostable. Once used, you can add them to your compost bin. It's that easy!
Also, besides just reducing your waste, composting can be a great activity to do with your kids and improve your backyard's soil health.
3. Save Your Energy
Lighting up your houses is definitely the season's delight. Plus, it's a great way to spend time with your family too.
However, it also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. An average American household uses about 65 kWh of electricity every day in December.
The solution? LED. As per the research, LED lights use 85% less energy than traditional lights. Another way to be mindful of your energy consumption is putting on a timer on your lights. Moreover, you can also go for new kinds of light decorations like lasers or preprogrammed twinkle lights that can help cut down energy consumption.
4. Shop Small
Shopping at small businesses and local markets is a great way to give back to your local communities and live a sustainable lifestyle. And besides being feasible, this actually reduces your carbon footprint. Moreover, you can also reduce your carbon footprint by carpooling when going Christmas shopping.
Other reasons it's better to shop small include keeping the money flowing in your community, encouraging budding businesses and creating a sense of community.
5. Ditch The Plastics
Each year, the holiday season accounts for 125,000 tons of plastic packaging being discarded. And, where does it go? Our oceans or the landfills!
Out of the plastic produced for this season, only 9% is actually recycled. So, instead of plastic packaging, you can make your own DIY packaging from paper scraps. Moreover, besides just packaging, a lot of plastic also accounts for single-use plastic. This includes plastic straws, cups, plates, bowls etc.
And, because the holiday season is all about giving back, ditching the plastic is one of the best ways to give back to the planet. Instead, you can go for plant-based plates, bowls, straws etc, made out of sugarcane, palm leaves or even cornstarch.
Wondering where to find such products? Click here.
Wrap it Up With Sustainable Cheers
With these playful tips in your holiday toolkit, you're all set to sleigh the sustainability game. So go on, dazzle your guests with plant-powered tableware, turn food scraps into compost gold, and let LED lights twinkle merrily. Shop small, ditch the plastics, and let the festive spirit thrive in an eco-friendly stride. Happy holidays filled with joy, laughter, and a dash of green goodness!
