There are a plethora of reasons to be grateful for the holidays, whether it is the family gatherings and warm feelings or the more tangible items like seasonal foods and gifts. However, there is an overlooked, ugly side to all this merriment-- the holiday season’s troubling impact on the environment. Mass consumerism, coupled with excessive waste, are often not the first thoughts that come to mind when the holidays are mentioned. Unfortunately, these troubling outcomes are just as ingrained into the season as the positive associations Americans have with the period from November to December. Read below for a list of simple changes you can implement to make this holiday season merry and bright, and light on the environment.

1. For one, skip purchasing new Christmas decorations and get crafty. From remodeling old cardboard boxes into gingerbread houses to crafting cinnamon stick decorations, not only does repurposing everyday materials make a creative new tradition, but it also reduces the need to purchase often short-lived decorations that can be potentially toxic. There are also a multitude of innovative alternatives to the traditional Christmas trees that reduce the number of trees headed to landfills every year.

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2. Deciding between an artificial tree or a live one? Experts are now recommending purchasing a potted Christmas tree. With about 15 million Christmas trees being thrown out after the holiday season in the United States alone, in addition to the amount of water, pesticides and fertilizers invested into growing Christmas trees, the greener alternative may appear to be artificial trees. However, a study conducted by an environmental consulting firm in Montreal considered various environmental factors including greenhouse gas emissions, resource usage, pesticides and human health and found it would take reusing the same artificial tree for 20 years for it to be more eco-friendly than purchasing a newly-chopped tree each year. Plastic trees have also been found to contain non-biodegradable PVC and possible metal toxins, including lead. A potted tree, on the other hand, lives for years and is both carbon neutral and renewable

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3. With all the excess waste generated during the holidays, being mindful of the environmental footprint each gift leaves is a significant part of having a more eco-friendly holiday. Rather than gifting items that will eventually find their way to the landfill, consider gifting meaningful experiences or more sustainable presents, such as plantable colored pencils. Toy rental services even exist to help curb the 68% of toys that are discarded after the holidays. Greeting cards are another staple to rethink, with around 2.6 billion being sold annually in the United States, approximately enough to fill a football field 10 stories high. Opt for sending loved ones festive e-cards or videos of yourself to skip paper altogether and add a more personalized touch to the season.

4. Make use of wrapping paper alternatives and reuse or recycle decorative paper when possible. Almost half of the paper consumed in the United States annually is used to wrap and decorate objects. Homemade wrapping paper offers a creative solution to this shocking statistic. This can take the shape of anything you have lying around your home, from newspapers to empty potato chip bags. Also, if given a gift, make sure to recycle the wrapping paper or save it for future gifts. While shiny paper, glittery nylon ribbons and stick-on bows cannot be recycled, matte wrapping paper can be recycled, unless it contains metal or plastic, and tissue paper can be composted.

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5. Choose the greener options when purchasing gifts, and try to shop locally this holiday season. Exploring local small businesses supports the economy, offers unique products and reduces the need for shipping and packaging costs. However, if online shopping feels unavoidable, make an effort to shop ahead of time. While quicker shipping may seem appealing, choosing a later delivery time allows companies greater flexibility in scheduling deliveries, meaning the shipper can wait until a truck is full to transport the products, as well as generate a more efficient route to its final destination. Additionally, if you are considering shopping online, DoneGood helps find ethical and sustainable alternatives. If using Amazon, look into Amazon Smile, where 0.5% of the money spent on a purchase is donated to a charity of your choice.

6. Spread light this holiday season with LED lights. Decorative holiday lights account for approximately 6.6 billion kilowatt hours of electricity consumption every year in the United States. Switching the bulbs on your Christmas lights to solar powered or LED lights is a less harmful alternative. LED lights use about 80% less energy and last longer, which allows you to cut down on buying new lights and your energy usage. Additionally, purchasing a timer allows you to control what hours of the day the lights are turned on, helping to further conserve energy.

7. Keep the environment in mind when setting the table. Single-use dishware uses more energy and resources than its reusable counterpart, so try to avoid disposable dishware during gatherings. Grocery shopping also plays a significant role in the impact you have on the planet. An easy adjustment to your holiday menu can be adding in more grain or vegetable based dishes in favor of meat-dominant dishes. It is also beneficial to your health as well as the environment to incorporate foods that are in season and have certified sustainable seals such as Rainforest Alliance Certified items.

8. Consider avoiding travel, but, if not feasible, make an effort to offset your carbon. Now, more than ever, avoiding large in-person gatherings is safer, and technology, such as Zoom and Skype, can overcome any distance. However, if you do choose to travel, look into carbon offsets. A carbon offset project works to sequester carbon, such as through reforestation and agroforestry projects. Purchasing carbon offsets supports environmental efforts and provides incentive to communities to conserve forests. Companies such as CarbonFund and Carbonify provide the opportunity to offset the carbon footprint produced through traveling.

While this holiday season may look different for many, adding these simple, more environmentally-conscious choices to your holiday festivities can prevent exacerbation of the detrimental impact the pandemic is having on the environment to a much greater extent. During a year filled with so much change, why not bring in more meaningful changes by introducing sustainable traditions to your holidays?