Let’s be honest — the holidays can be a maelstrom of impulsive purchases and massive overconsumption. So, to make the holidays more sustainable (both economically and environmentally), it’s time to examine everything through a sustainability lens. From garlands and groceries to gift wrapping and guest rooms, the goal this holiday season is to cut our carbon footprint contributions while also curbing credit-card debt.
Decoration DI-Why
There are two points to consider before blowing a paycheque on pretty glitter wreaths and oversized mercury glass balls. First: can you do it yourself with supplies you already have or bits and bobs you can pick up for pennies? The two main components needed for sweet Christmas Village DIY project are scraps pieces of 2x4s and white paint. These five Christmas table centrepiece DIY ideas don’t require a florist consult or a fortune to pull together.
When thinking about how to make holiday home decorations more sustainable, the second consideration is reusability. Make sure what you do end up buying is going to stand the test of time and can be used season after season. Surprisingly, artificial Christmas trees could actually be more sustainable than the real kind thanks to their longevity. Home Depot’s Grand Duchess Balsam Fir Christmas tree went viral on TikTok thanks to its thick foliage and 2,000 colour-changing LED lights.
But if you can’t do without that sweet pine-sap smell and do opt for the real thing, here are some eco-friendly solutions for your Christmas tree post holidays.
Wrap It Up
If we truly want the holidays to be more sustainable, we can’t ignore the scattershot of shredded wrapping paper strewn across the floor post presents. The super shiny (and oh-so-pretty) holiday wrapping paper is often not recyclable, meaning those paper piles are predestined for the landfill. Let this year be the year sustainability sways you in a different direction when it comes to gift wrapping.
Since the demand for reusable gift bags is on the rise, so too are our choices. If you have a specific holiday motif or particular holiday colour palette in mind, you’ll have a greater chance of finding it this year than any previous holiday season.
But, if you still can’t spot the perfect pattern, you could also explore furoshiki, the Japanese art of gift wrapping. This ancient art utilizes fabric squares to securely fold around and protect the present within. Pick up fabric with a print that suits your taste, or even better, head to a thrift store to scoop up some unique vintage swatches or scarves.
Related: 16 Gift Ideas for the Women in Your Life
Good for Guests (Good for You)
The holidays are a prime time for hosting house guests — but is your home up to snuff (or sniff)? Sustainability is more than swapping out single-use plastic shopping bags for cloth ones (but that is a good start!). It’s rethinking our spaces, what we put in them and how we care for them.
If you’ve ever walked into your home office/guest bedroom and thought “Does mould have a smell?” it’s time to tackle that potentially harmful hunch head on. These are the 10 most common household odours — and how to eradicate them. Keeping our spaces clean and in good knick means reducing the need to replace damaged items or repair neglected areas.
The same goes for guest bedding — there is a really gross reason you need to wash those pillows more. But before you toss them into the washing machine, make sure you’re not making any of the five big laundry mistakes. Avoiding rips, tears or bleach stains while washing guest sheets and towels prolongs their use and diminishes the need to repurchase them as often.
There is also something to be said about the sustainability of investing in quality guest-room pieces upfront. Opting for the cheaper (and possibly less comfortable) mattress can, at first, seem like a frugal choice. But when it starts to disintegrate under the in-laws on night two and you have to shell out for an emergency replacement, the regrets are real. Look for an organic mattress that uses sustainable eco-friendly materials such as natural latex, wool and cotton (the Silk & Snow organic mattress ticks all the boxes).
