Staying eco-friendly during Christmas and the holiday season helps to keep the planet sustainable for years to come. Anyone can be an environmental change agent, even through actions that may seem small. It only takes one person to start the change, but when more people work together, it can create considerable impacts.

It is crucial for everyone to be actively involved in helping the Earth’s environment because of the threats that environmental issues pose to all life on Earth. In doing so, we can ensure that the Earth is in good condition to support the lives of not only present generations but generations to come.

This article will list a few ways you can celebrate the holidays while also keeping the environment in mind.

7 Ways to Make Your Holiday Season More Sustainable

1. Use sustainable decorations. Switch out your less eco-friendly decorations with decorations that will help the planet. Maybe these decorations are made from biodegradable products or can easily be reused in coming years (like these sustainable tinsel alternatives, for example). Whatever the case, making the switch to sustainable decorations—even in small ways—really makes a difference!
2. Reduce wrapping waste. Instead of excessive wrapping paper, consider another option like gift bags that can more easily be reused for future occasions. Making your gift packaging more minimal reduces the amount of waste you have by the end of the holidays.

Still want to wrap your gifts? There are plenty of eco-friendly gift wrapping methods that can help you recycle, repurpose, and reuse while keeping your gifts stylish! These include newspapers, magazines, fabric wraps, and more.

3. Shop locally and sustainably. Shopping from local businesses is good for fostering your local community and also for supporting shorter supply chains. Shorter supply chains minimize pollution caused by constant travel (for transportation of goods, for example), packaging waste, and more. Many local businesses prioritize sustainability and want you to be a part of their eco-friendly practices.
4. Minimize food waste. Food waste is harmful to the environment because it wastes resources (land, water, energy, etc.) and piles up in landfills. When food rots, it produces methane, a harmful greenhouse gas that traps heat in the Earth’s atmosphere and contributes to climate change. Instead, practice conservation in your kitchen by only preparing as much food as you need, storing leftovers, composting, and more.
5. Don’t keep your lights running. As pretty as those lights look hung up on your tree, keeping them running 24/7 isn’t great for the environment. Instead, practice energy efficiency and encourage those around you to do the same. This includes turning off lights and electronics when not in use and being conscious of how much energy is being consumed among your community. Reducing energy usage can help fight the community’s carbon footprint, working against climate change.

You can also switch to LED lights, which fit all your holiday needs while using less electricity. Plus, LED lights tend to be more cost-effective and longer-lasting compared to incandescent lights, which are less energy-efficient.

6. Consider greener methods of travel. Especially if you are traveling during the holidays, keep your carbon footprint in mind and consider greener ways you can travel. Carpooling is a great way to transport multiple people from place to place without burning more fossil fuels from excess vehicles. You can also try biking or even walking depending on the location, which can also help cut your emissions down.
7. Avoid overconsumption. People tend to spend more during the holidays on gifts and other holiday finds, and this increase in consumption ultimately leads to more waste. Shopping returns after the holiday season are very common and also hurt the environment, especially if you bought online (shipping, traveling, etc.). To combat overconsumption, make a plan for what you will buy and spend only on the things you truly need (as tempting as that flashy sale may look!). 

Support Environmental Sustainability with No Limit International

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To learn more about No Limit International, give us a call at +237 699 99 02 89 / +237 675 80 85 10 or contact us via email at info@nolimitinternational.org. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the world we live in.