Celebrate a Sustainable Holiday Season: 10 Tips for 2024.

Your Holiday Traditions Can Change The Planet

Every holiday season, millions of gifts are exchanged, elaborate meals are prepared, and countless packages are shipped to ensure a little magic reaches everyone. From festive decor to thoughtful presents, the scale of holiday cheer is truly astonishing. But behind the sparkle lies a sobering reality: this same season of joy sees a sharp rise in waste, energy consumption, and environmental impact.

Each year, millions of tons of extra waste—from wrapping paper and packaging to uneaten food—are generated in just a few short weeks. The energy demands of holiday lights and the carbon footprint of shipping gifts across the globe only add to the strain. Yet, there’s a way to celebrate the holidays without losing their magic while giving back to the planet.

In 2024, adopting sustainable holiday traditions is a way to create the best version of the season—one that’s thoughtful, meaningful, and kind to the planet. By rethinking how we wrap gifts, decorate our homes, and plan celebrations, we can honor everything we love about the holidays while reducing waste and conserving energy.

Ready to celebrate the season at its fullest? Dive into 10 festive and practical tips to make your holidays joyful for both your loved ones and the planet.

Sign up for EcoBlvd’s newsletter for more tips, sustainable inspiration, and exclusive updates to make your holidays truly magical!

Creating Joy Without the Waste

The holidays are filled with opportunities to share joy and create memories, but they also bring choices that impact the planet. The good news? A more sustainable holiday season doesn’t mean giving up traditions—it’s about making smarter swaps that keep the spirit alive while reducing harm to the environment.

This year, let’s turn wasteful habits into meaningful changes. From sustainable gift wrapping to energy-efficient decor, these tips are packed with ideas to help you celebrate with a lighter footprint. Each tip is backed by the numbers to show just how much of a difference even small adjustments can make.

Here’s how you can make this holiday season not only magical but also mindful:

1. Wrap Smarter: Sustainable Gift Wrapping

Each holiday season, millions of pounds of wrapping paper are discarded, with nearly half being non-recyclable due to plastic coatings, glitter, or foil. This waste adds significantly to the environmental impact of gift-giving.

• Reusable Fabric Wraps: Use scarves, tea towels, or festive bandanas to wrap presents. These options double as part of the gift and can be reused year after year.
  
  
• DIY Wrapping Paper: Decorate kraft paper with hand-drawn patterns, stamps, or eco-friendly paints for a recyclable and personalized touch.
  
  
• Natural Gift Tags and Bows: Replace plastic ribbons with twine or dried orange slices, and use pressed leaves or pinecones as decorative tags.
  

2. Deck the Halls with Natural Decorations

Plastic ornaments and decorations are often discarded after one season, contributing to the 300 million tons of plastic waste generated globally each year. Many of these items take centuries to decompose, harming the planet.

• DIY Ornaments: Create holiday ornaments using dried citrus slices, cinnamon sticks, or salt dough for a biodegradable option.
  
  
• Foraged Greenery: Use pine branches, holly, and eucalyptus to create wreaths, garlands, and mantle displays that are compostable after the season.
  
  
• Repurpose Natural Materials: Make centerpieces with pinecones, acorns, or wood slices for a rustic, eco-friendly holiday aesthetic.

If you're seeking more inspiration, Forbes has compiled a list of 12 excellent eco-friendly holiday decor ideas to make your home festive, stylish, and environmentally conscious.

3. Choose Real Trees and Recycle Them

Artificial trees are made from PVC plastic and cannot be recycled, while real Christmas trees are biodegradable and renewable. Approximately 30 million real trees are sold annually in the U.S., with many coming from sustainable farms.

As designers weigh in on the live tree vs. artificial debate, here are some key points to consider:

• Buy Local: Support local tree farms that practice replanting and sustainable forestry.
  
  
• Recycle Your Tree: Participate in community programs that turn trees into mulch or compost for gardens and parks.
  
  
• Minimalist Ornaments: Highlight the natural beauty of your tree by using simple, eco-friendly ornaments like dried flowers or wooden stars.

4. Light Up Sustainably with LEDs

• Switch to LED Ornaments and String Lights: Opt for LED bulbs for holiday tree lights, window displays, and outdoor decorations.
  
  
• Add Solar-Powered Lights: Use solar string lights for outdoor displays to harness renewable energy.
  
  
• Use Timers for Lighting: Set timers to control when lights turn on and off, conserving energy during off-peak hours.

5. Host Low-Waste Holiday Gatherings

• Cutlery & Dishware:  Hosting large parties can tempt us to use paper plates and plastic forks, but resist the urge. By doing this, you will reduce the amount of waste you generate.
  
  
• Cooking: There is just as much importance to what you cook as to what you serve it on. When it comes to sustainability, not all foods are created equal.
  
  
• Waste:  Food waste occurs throughout the year, but the indulgence of the holidays can make it even worse. Don't overserve people, and stick to your grocery shopping list. Avoid unpopular dishes and stick to minimal ingredients or natural ingredients for easy composting too!

6. Plan Sustainable Holiday Travel

• Carpool for Road Trips: Reduce emissions by traveling with others and filling your vehicle to capacity.
  
  
• Choose Public Transport: Take buses or trains, which are more energy-efficient options for long distances.
  
  
• Offset Carbon Emissions: Purchase carbon offsets for flights to balance the environmental impact of your travel.

7. Give Thoughtful, Sustainable Gifts

• Some of Our Favorite Brands: Explore Everlane for classic, high-quality basics made from recycled materials, On Running for comfortable shoes crafted from renewable materials like merino wool and sugarcane, or Girlfriend Collective for activewear made from post-consumer plastics. Biossance offers clean beauty essentials with sustainable packaging for skincare lovers.
  
  
• EcoBlvd Favorite: Gift Reforge and Revive iPhone 16 cases made from 100% recycled plastic, or compostable phone cases, our  Mojave and Laguna. Add the PowerPlant wall charger or Bamboo wireless chargers for a stylish and practical way to power up that even matches their phone case. Plus, every purchase supports nonprofits like the Ocean Conservancy and Mojave Desert Land Trust through EcoBlvd’s commitment to donating 2% of proceeds as part of 1% for the Planet.
  
  
• Waste-Free Experiences: Choose gifts that create memories, like concert tickets, local classes, or meditation apps like Calm. These gifts are personal, impactful, and leave no waste behind.

8. Choose Items with Plastic-Free Packaging

Packaging contributes to a staggering 82.2 million tons of waste in the U.S. annually, with much of it being non-recyclable. Opting for plastic-free packaging when shopping for gifts can help combat this waste.

• Biodegradable Materials: Look for items packed in compostable materials like cornstarch-based plastics, mushroom foam, or kraft paper that can decompose naturally.
  
  
• Recycled and Recyclable Options: Choose products packaged in 100% recycled cardboard or paper, often labeled with certifications like FSC or post-consumer content.”
  
  
• Minimalist Packaging: Support brands that use minimal materials, such as fabric drawstring bags or shredded recycled paper, and avoid unnecessary plastic fillers.

9. Recycle Old Electronics as You Receive New Ones

The holidays are prime time for upgrading gadgets, but outdated devices should never go to waste. With only 17.4% of global e-waste recycled, millions of electronics and accessories end up in landfills annually, harming the environment.

• E-Waste Recycling Centers: Drop off old devices like phones, tablets, and chargers at certified e-waste recycling facilities or local retailer programs.
  
  
• Trade-In Programs: Many retailers and carriers offer trade-in opportunities that provide store credit or discounts while ensuring old gadgets are responsibly recycled.
  
  
• EcoBlvd’s Roundabout Recycling Program: Send used phone cases, chargers, and cables to ensure proper disposal and repurposing and get a 25% discount on your next order! Complement your new gifts with a commitment to sustainability.

10. Share the Spirit of Giving

The holidays are about generosity, making it the perfect time to give back—whether to the community or the planet.

• Volunteer Your Time: Help those in need by serving meals at a shelter, organizing a donation drive, or supporting nonprofits that align with your values.
  
  
• Support Environmental Initiatives: Participate in tree-planting events, beach cleanups, or conservation projects to make a tangible impact during the season.
  
  
• Inspire Collective Action: Encourage friends and family to join you in volunteer activities, creating meaningful memories while making a difference together.

Conclusion:
Whatever way you celebrate this year, we wish you a safe, joyful, and sustainable holiday season and hope that these tips will follow you well into the new year!