5 Tips for a Sustainable Holiday Season

As the holiday season arrives, it’s a great time to consider how sustainability fits into your celebrations. Here are a few tips on how to bring your care for the planet to the holidays.

Sustainable giving: If you’re still looking for the perfect gift for someone special in your life, consider some sustainable options. You may choose something from a local vendor for a unique gift that no one else will have, an experience you can do together (like concert tickets or a night out at new place you’ve been waiting to try) or an item that promotes a sustainable lifestyle (like a reusable cup or a nice tote bag).

Meals: As you plan your holiday menu, try to consider what ingredients are in season or look for locally grown/raised ingredients to cut back on the greenhouse gas emissions associated with your meal. Resist the temptation to use disposable plastic silverware for your big holiday meals, and instead stick to reusable options to reduce waste.

Travel: Short-haul flights have the biggest carbon footprint per mile traveled. If you’re traveling a short distance, consider driving, if possible. You can reduce waste by refilling reusable toiletry containers instead of buying disposable ones for your travel. You can also bring your own reusable water bottle to refill instead of buying bottled water along the way.

Decorations: An easy way to cut back on the environmental impact of your holiday decorations is to use LED lights, which are much more energy-efficient compared to traditional lights, and to install timers on outdoor lighting. These easy swaps are safer, more sustainable and wallet-friendly!

Wrapping gifts: Every year, Americans use an estimated 4.6 million pounds of wrapping paper, and less than half of it ends up getting recycled. Many wrapping papers that are shiny, metallic and glittery are not recyclable and end up going straight to landfills. Look out for plastic-free wrapping papers that can be recycled, try using old newspaper to wrap gifts or look to reuse gift bags, cutting back on your holiday waste year after year.

Get Involved With Sustainability at Methodist!

Interested in learning more about Methodist’s sustainability efforts? Visit the sustainability page on the MHS intranet. To get involved in efforts to foster a culture of sustainability at Methodist sign up for the Sustainable Health Implementation Plan (SHIP) Ambassador program.