Sustainability During the Holidays

Charlotte Nelson '23 ~ November 2021

According to the EPA, homes in America produce 25% more waste from Thanksgiving to New Years Day than they do at any other time of the year. With the recent COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference coming to a close, it is the perfect time to re-evaluate how your well-intentioned gifts impact our planet.

An initial indicator of a sustainable gift is where the materials are sourced. Labels and language to look out for are: “Certified B-Corporation,” “Carbon Neutral Certification,” “Certified Vegan,” “Cruelty-Free,” and any other labels featured in the EcoLabel Index. Using these guides and doing more research into the product you are purchasing can deter potential greenwashing. Greenwashing is when large corporations appear to have sustainable practices, when in reality, they have a large carbon footprint. Frankly, we vote with our dollars, so take one extra step this holiday season to make sure you are supporting companies that align with your values.

If you are still lost surrounding sustainable swaps for all of your holiday shopping, here are some suggestions.

For your Yogi friend, instead of gifting them an over-processed foam mat, opt for a cork yoga mat that, if disposed of properly, will biodegrade. The fashionista is always hard to shop for but if you are going to try, look for brands like Cee Cee’s Closet, basics from Pact, and women’s styles from ABLE. For the self care gurus, treat them with products from the women-owned brands Blendily, Activist Skincare, or even make them a DIY Sugar Scrub. If a relative just bought a new home, help them out with some conscious cleaning products like a refillable one from Blueland, a reusable and compostable Swedish Dishcloth, or wool dryer balls to reduce static in the laundry.

Make a positive impact this holiday season for the planet and for our future.

Title Photo: “Christmas holiday time gift shopping concept” by Marco Verch Professional Photographer, Flickr, CC BY 2.0