Did you know that during the holiday season, Canadians produce about 25% more waste than usual? That equates to about 54,000 tonnes of garbage that heads straight to the landfill. Not to mention the 6 million rolls of tape, 3,000 tonnes of foil, and the 2.6 billion Christmas cards that are discarded each year.
This Holiday season, consider making eco-friendly swaps to help reduce your landfill waste. Below are 4 tips you can incorporate into your holiday planning.
Sustainable Gift wrapping
Instead of using traditional wrapping paper that cannot be recycled, consider using recyclable options like natural kraft paper or newspaper. You can also wrap presents in fabric (like scarves or blankets) that can be added as part of your gift. Bows and ribbons are a recycling facility's worst nightmare because they can get stuck in the sorting machines. Try decorating packages with natural materials like a sprig of pine or pinecones.
Shop Local or Shop Small
Buying gifts from a small business in your city is a great way to help support your local economy, and it can help reduce carbon emissions. Plus, when shopping small, you can opt out of having packages wrapped in bubble wrap, tape, plastic, and paper since items don’t need to be shipped. There are also plenty of small businesses that sell eco-friendly or zero-waste gift options, or items made out of natural materials like wood and bamboo.
Skip the plastic & styrofoam
If you’re hosting a holiday party and choosing disposable tableware - skip the plastic and styrofoam.
40 billion pieces of plastic cutlery are thrown away every year. Even if the cutlery is made from bioplastic (or advertised as being recyclable) most end up in the landfills because they cannot be properly sorted and recycled at facilities. A great way to host a low-waste Holiday dinner would be to consider birch cutlery which is 100% compostable, biodegradable, and made from birch.
Another way to set the table would be with fully compostable tableware. Most single-use molded fiber tableware contains PFAs, which are linked to cancer. It is also considered a “forever chemical” which means it can accumulate in the environment and permeate food, air, soil, and water. Opt for plant fiber tableware that is guaranteed to be free of fluorinated chemicals. These natural materials are fully compostable and a great option to serve food on for your next party.
Greenlid's 12-person compostable party pack is 100% biodegradable and compostable. Every item in this party pack is sustainably grown and made from compostable materials. These grown products replace plastic cutlery and styrofoam alternatives that can take from 500 to 1000 years to decompose in landfills and clog up our waterways.
Shop local produce
Skip trips to the grocery store, and instead try shopping at your local produce stand or Farmers Market. Local food doesn't have to travel as far to arrive on your plate, so it helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improves our carbon footprint. It is also great for our local economy and supports farmers, producers, and small businesses.