Updated December 2022

 Sustainability Guide for the Holidays

It can be pretty easy to go overboard during the holidays. From taking advantage of Black Friday bargains to decking the house with a bunch of holiday knick-knacks, we can all get a little carried away sometimes.

You might be wondering just how to have a sustainable holiday and trust us! A low waste, sustainable holiday season is possible! From sustainable holiday shopping and decorating tips to gift giving ideas, we’ve got you covered for making the most out of this season without being wasteful and adding more clutter to your home.

Shopping

Stick to a plan and a list!

There is just something about hearing those first few notes of “All I Want for Christmas”, to seeing major discounts and extravagant holiday displays that make it seem like you just HAVE to have whatever is being sold to you. If you make a game plan and a list before you head out shopping, it will be easier to stay on track!

Say NO to free items

We get it. Saying yes to getting something for free sounds like a no brainer. It’s easy to accept a free gift-with purchase for example, but it’s usually not what we need in the first place. We are giving you permission to say no! Even if that feels counter-intuitive to our consumer driven culture, we are all about saying “no” to things that don’t align with our values (single use plastic, for example). It will feel better in the long run and ultimately keep clutter out of your home.  

Say YES to clutter-free experiences

Here are some fun, free alternatives to the holiday shopping madness that we’d recommend saying yes to!

• Get the family together for a game night. Stick with the classics and play Apples to Apples or Monopoly. Switch it up and get to know each other even more than you already do by answering questions from The And’s Family Edition. Sync Jackbox Games to your TV and have everyone play digital games such as Quiplash.

• Walk around and look at the holiday lights in your neighborhood or go watch one of the holiday boat parades happening in Marina Del Rey and Newport Beach.

• Find ways to incorporate gratitude this season and write letters to loved ones you haven’t seen lately or find some DIY crafts on Pinterest to do at home together to give as gifts to friends and family.

• Host a pot luck for your whole crew! Try out that new recipe you’ve been waiting to use. I’m going to try out a vegan and gluten free version of noodle kugel for a Hanukkah pot luck I’ll be attending!

• Opt. outside! We love the idea of getting outside for a hike or heading to a park for a picnic - or better yet, hike to a beautiful spot to have a picnic! There are so many benefits to spending this often-stressful time of year in nature. From feeling grounded to saving money and sharing the beauty of our natural world with loved ones, we will always say a hearty yes to opting outside!

Decorations

While you’re outside, be sure to collect some beautiful ornaments straight from mother earth. Twigs, holly, bark, rosemary, pinecones, etc. make great decorative embellishments on packages or on your tree. Get creative with your sustainable holiday crafts!

• Instead of using plastic decorations, like tinsel, go old school and thread some popcorn or cranberry on string and use that to decorate your tree or mantle. This is a fun one to do with kids! https://www.saltycanary.com/diy-old-fashioned-cranberry-popcorn-garland/

• Take coffee cans or beer growlers and add pine branches or eucalyptus plants into them. Then decorate them with single glass bulbs (which can also be rescued from thrift stores for super cheap!). The coffee cans can be wrapped in twine with a glue gun for a bit of rustic DIY holiday magic.

• Create your own wreath! Pebble Mag has created a list of 5 DIY Christmas Wreath ideas. To make their most classic idea, all you need is a metal coat hanger, foliage, dried orange slices, ribbon, and twine (optional).

• Eco Child’s Play has a great list of kid friendly Christmas crafts. My favorites are the Wine Cork Reindeer, Pine Cone Owls, and Snowmen made from socks!

• Skip the crowded Christmas tree lots and contact a local nursery to invest in a potted tree that can be replanted after the holidays: https://www.sunset.com/garden/how-to-care-for-a-living-christmas-tree.

Gift Giving

We love being generous, but why not show our loved ones we care without breaking the bank, cluttering each other’s homes, and avoid adding to the nearly 5 billion pounds of retail returns that end up in landfills. Here are some ways to give sustainably:

Second Hand Gifting:

You can find so many awesome things without creating demand for more new products.

I personally look for everything I want on The Real Real first. They take and resell designer brands at marked down prices, and only if they are in pristine condition. They have some INCREDIBLE finds at reasonable prices.

Next, I check Poshmark, Depop, and ThredUp - everything is super trendy, and there’s so much to choose from. I can find pretty much anything I want clothes and accessories wise on these!

Then, I check my Buy Nothing group on Facebook - a group determined by your geographical location where people in your area gift their no longer wanted items to the community for free! My group is always gifting appliances like Nespresso machines and awesome furniture!

Some of my favorite used items that I have acquired are: artwork, home decor, jewelry, handbags, and coffee table books (any books are great used).

Additionally, vintage is totally in. Shop at secondhand stores for some great bargains on unique pieces for your loved ones.

Wrapping

For wrapping your gifts, skip the brand-new wrapping paper and get creative with these fun DIY ideas for sustainable holiday gift wrap:

• Wrap in newspaper. The WSJ and comics section often have great graphics that make for unique wrapping paper.

• Use a handkerchief or tea towel instead of paper.

• Use Pebble Mag’s method of stamping a home made design onto your wrapping paper to give it a special flare.

• Cut up last year’s holiday cards to create to and from tags.

Experiences

Give the gift of experiences! You can get really creative with this one depending on your loved one’s personality. Here are some experiences we are always on board with:

• Yoga class - try Sacred Fig’s online subscription program

• Dry Bar blowout

• Massage - book one in home through Zeel

• Wine tasting - take a trip to Cielo Farms in Malibu

Words and acts of service

• Hand-written letters and hand-made cards from kids make a cherished gift that often is more memorable than getting the latest gadget

• How about cooking a delicious dinner for your parents? Or surprise your spouse with breakfast in bed. Something thoughtful will go a long way to making your loved ones smile this holiday season.

Donations

• Choose to give back to those who may not have a family or ability to spend the holidays safely indoors. We have a few local charitable organizations that we love to give to throughout the year, and who have some awesome upcoming holiday giving campaigns! Pick a favorite charity and see what their greatest need is this year.

It’s important to give back and be sustainable this holiday season.  

Originally Published 11/13/2020