 The season of gratitude and giving is here. Unfortunately, holiday shopping and festivities can burden the planet with added trash and emissions due to increased food waste, manufacturing, transportation, energy use and more. Take five minutes to rethink how we can be more mindful of our impact on the environment this holiday season.
Gathering
- Purchase ingredients for holiday dishes from local farms or markets
- Plan for the right amount of food using SaveTheFood.com to avoid wastage
- Avoid single-use plastic wares and choose compostable ones
- Adjust your AC and break out the ugly sweaters or fun PJs
- Opt out of using confetti or balloons
- Show guests your recycling cans and teach them Clearwater’s “Simplify to 5” recycling program
Gifting
- Use newspaper, old maps, old t-shirts, patterned cloth or paper bags to wrap presents
- Use natural ornaments like pinecones and dried flowers as decor
- Send an e-card instead
- Buy sustainable gifts from zero-waste stores
- Opt to pick up your online gift purchases instead of shipping
- Gift an experience instead of actual items
- Donate to a cause that your friend supports on their behalf
- Make known your preference for receiving pre-loved or swapped items and explain you are embarking on a sustainable journey
Decorating
- Be creative with Christmas trees – create one with books
- Make, reuse or swap holiday decors
- Switch to LED lights and set a timer to reduce energy use
- Be sure to find out the right way to properly dispose of any holiday decorations that no longer work and cannot be reused
Hosting a Holiday Party? Why Not Make Your Event Ocean Friendly!
Many people are aware of the problems plastic is causing to our oceans, wildlife and human health. Ocean-friendly events are those that abstain from using single-use plastics and instead use items that are reusable, compostable or recyclable.
Being a coastal city, we recognize the importance of taking care of our environment and waterways. You can do the same this holiday season by hosting a sustainable, ocean-friendly holiday party or celebration.
This includes practices such as ditching single-use plastic items and finding alternatives that are compostable, skipping balloons and confetti, making recycling as well as composting available and encouraging multi-modal transportation to your event for lowering carbon footprint.
Hosting a sustainable event will not only make the experience more pleasant with less waste, it is also a great promotional quality and attracts more visitors to your events.
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