Green, lush and beautiful- UNICEF urges all to enjoy eco-conscious celebrations this year end!
The holiday season is upon us—a time for joy, connection, and some serious festive cheer, laughter, and lots (and we mean LOTS) of food!
Whether you are preparing for Christmas, Diwali, Hanukkah, Mawlid al-Nabi, Kwanzaa, Lunar New Year, and many others observed across the globe, it’s essential to recognize an unintended consequence of the season: the increase in solid and food waste and the additional strain on natural resources.
Let’s be real—there’s nothing festive about overflowing trash bins. The holidays often lead to significant environmental impact.
Are you eco-conscious? Some hard truths
Did you know?
- Globally, about one-third of all food produced is wasted, and this increases during festive seasons.
- Wrapping paper, often single-use and non-recyclable, contributes significantly to holiday waste (seriously, glitter paper is basically the villain of recycling!)
- Decorations and gifts, while beautiful, often come with a hidden environmental cost due to packaging and production processes.
Here’s how you can have eco-conscious celebration
Simple ways to celebrate sustainably
- Gift thoughtfully: Opt for experiences (like e-tickets to a concert), handmade gifts, or homemade goodies (think cookies, not glitter bombs!) or donations to causes that align with your loved ones’ values. Bonus: they don’t come wrapped in three layers of plastic.
- Wrap it right: Wrapping doesn’t have to come with trees in distress. Use scarves, reusable bags, or even last year’s map of the subway (it’s the thought that counts) to wrap gifts creatively. Did you know that the Japanese art called Furoshiki and Origami are great alternatives?
- Embrace leftovers as heroes, not villains: Too much food? Plan meals mindfully: Prepare just enough food to avoid waste. Share with a neighbor or local shelters, freeze it for later, or host a “leftover potluck.” Waste not, want not.
- Decorate with love, not landfill: Bring out the classic, reusable decorations—or get creative with nature. Pinecones? Twigs? They’re basically free décor.
- Spread awareness: We’re sure your creative gift wrapping will be a great conversation piece -start conversations with friends and family about small changes everyone can make to reduce their holiday footprint.
Want more inspiration? Check out our Holiday Guide – Eco Tips for the Holiday Season for simple ideas to celebrate sustainably and keep the planet smiling through all the festivities.
This holiday season, let’s show that celebrations don’t have to cost the Earth. By making meaningful changes, we can spread cheer while reducing our footprint, making our celebrations even more meaningful.
Looking Ahead: New Year’s Eco-Conscious Resolutions
As we ring in 2025, let’s set goals for a greener year! Check this New Year’s Eco-Resolutions: Make 2025 a Greener Year!
Let’s make this season one of joy, reflection, and positive action for a better, greener world. Let’s end the year with full hearts, not full bins.
Thank You !
A special note of thanks to UNICEF for this article.
Warmly (but not too warm, let’s save energy!)
NYHQ Green Team and GSA Team
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