10 Eco-Friendly Holiday Tips for 2023

How to Have a Green Holiday Season in 2023

Your Holiday Traditions Can Change The Planet

The 2023 holiday season is upon us, and you might be wondering how to stick to your cherished traditions while still being eco-friendly, especially as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) predicts a substantial surge in household waste, potentially increasing from 4 million to 5 million tons. This festive time of year often brings forth a whirlwind of consumption and waste, but with a touch of green spirit, you can make a positive impact.

But, no need to worry!

At EcoBlvd, we're dedicated to making your holidays easier, more enjoyable, and greener. Whether you're selecting thoughtful presents or transforming your home into a winter wonderland, we've compiled 10 sustainable tips to guide you through the holiday season. These suggestions span a wide array of eco-friendly practices, from eco-conscious gift wrapping and natural decorations to eco-friendly holiday travel and sustainable gift-giving.

 

By incorporating these tips into your holiday celebrations, you can significantly reduce your environmental footprint while preserving the traditions you hold dear. It's our mission to help you enjoy the festivities without compromising on sustainability. Let's make this holiday season one to remember, not just for the memories you create, but also for the positive impact you make on the planet.

 

Are you ready to make your holidays greener? Sign up for EcoBlvd's newsletter, and stay informed about eco-friendly tips, exclusive offers, and more as you navigate the 2023 holiday season with sustainability in mind.

 

1. Use Sustainable Gift Wrap

The holiday season brings a flurry of beautifully wrapped presents, but it's important to remember the environmental impact of traditional wrapping paper. Did you know that approximately 4.6 million pounds of wrapping paper are produced each year, with nearly 50% ending up in landfills? To make matters worse, most wrapping paper and gift bags are printed with unsustainable inks and adorned with shiny foil, making them impossible to recycle.

 

But there's good news! You can achieve that same charming, under-the-tree look with sustainable alternatives while reducing your carbon footprint:

The pretty paper that covers your gifts under the tree isn't so pretty when it covers the other parts of the planet.

  • Repurpose Newspapers: Give your gifts an eco-friendly twist by wrapping them in old newspapers. Not only is this a creative way to recycle, but it also adds a unique touch to your presents.
  • Upcycle Paper Shopping Bags: Turn plain paper shopping bags into distinctive and sustainable gift wraps. Get creative with paints, stamps, or natural dyes to design one-of-a-kind packaging.
  • Fabric Wrapping: Consider using clean and attractive fabrics like old shirts, dishcloths, scarves, or bandannas as reusable wrapping materials. These fabrics can be used repeatedly, reducing waste and adding a personal touch to your gifts.
  • Creative Touches: Put a sustainable spin on your presents by adding decorative bows made from twine, pressed leaves, or pinecones. These eco-friendly embellishments not only look charming but also contribute to a rustic and sustainable aesthetic.

By choosing these alternatives, you not only reduce your environmental impact but also add a touch of creativity and sustainability to your holiday celebrations. So go ahead and wrap your gifts with a clear conscience this 2023 holiday season!


2. Make Sustainable Holiday Decorations Or Use Natural Decorations

 

Decorating your home for the holidays is a beloved tradition, but it's essential to do so sustainably. Instead of filling your home with plastic decorations that will eventually be discarded, consider these eco-friendly alternatives:

  • Natural Materials: Opt for decorations made from wood and other natural materials, such as pinecones, twigs, or dried flowers. These items not only bring a rustic charm to your home but also have a lower environmental impact.
  • Wintry Bouquet: Create a captivating wintry bouquet by spray-painting branches white, silver, gold, or any color that suits your holiday theme. Use non-toxic, water-based paints to add a festive touch. Arrange these branches in a vase or place them in a clear container filled with pinecones to make an elegant, rustic centerpiece.
  • DIY Decorations: If you have materials lying around, consider crafting your own unique holiday decorations. It's a creative way to add a personal touch to your home's decor and create lasting memories.
  • Memento Ornaments: Making ornaments from cherished items can be a special way to reminisce about beautiful memories. It's a heartfelt way to add sentimental value to your holiday decorations.
  • Crafting with Family and Friends: Engage your loved ones in crafting sessions during the holiday break. It's a fantastic way to bond with family or friends and create sustainable decorations together.

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. Get A Real Tree & Recycle It

There's nothing more traditional than the allure of a real Christmas tree—bringing it home from the forest or your local tree lot, filling your home with the fresh scent of the holiday season. On the other hand, artificial trees offer the convenience of reuse and built-in lights.

In comparison to artificial trees made of non-biodegradable plastic, real trees prove to be a highly eco-friendly choice. Even though around 30 million trees are harvested during the holiday season, it may seem counterintuitive to the environment. However, pine trees grow rapidly, and when one is cut down, three seeds are planted in its place. This sustainable practice, supported by organizations like The Nature Conservancy, ensures that buying a real tree means you're supporting local tree farmers and helping maintain healthy forests for generations to come.

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

  • Support Local Tree Farmers: By selecting a real tree, you're not just decorating your home; you're also supporting local tree farmers. These farmers work to maintain healthy forests and replant new trees when others are harvested. It's an environmentally friendly cycle that helps preserve green spaces for generations to come.
  • Reduced Environmental Impact: Real trees are far more eco-friendly than artificial ones made from plastic, which can take centuries to decompose. Opting for a real tree can help reduce your environmental footprint and contribute to the health of our planet.
  • Less Decoration Required: The natural beauty and fullness of real trees mean they don't demand excessive decorations. They can look stunning with minimal adornments, embracing their innate charm.
  • Easy Clean-Up and Reuse: While a real tree may shed its needles over time, it's a straightforward process to clean up. Plus, real trees are often collected by local programs for recycling or repurposing, minimizing waste, and supporting sustainable practices.

Considering these benefits, a real tree offers an authentic and sustainable choice that embraces tradition while making a positive impact on the environment. This holiday season, go the extra mile by not only getting a real tree but also exploring options to recycle or repurpose it when the festivities are over.

4. Use Energy-Efficient LED Holiday Lights With A Timer

The holiday season wouldn't be complete without the magic of beautiful light displays adorning Christmas trees and brightening house exteriors.

However, the traditional lights we're accustomed to can be energy-wasters, pose fire risks, release toxins when discarded, and are often non-recyclable despite containing valuable materials like copper.

Fortunately, advancements in technology provide an eco-friendly solution: LED lights. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, LED lights consume up to 80 percent less energy and have a lifespan 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.

But the advantages of LED holiday lights go beyond energy savings:

  • High Energy Efficiency: LED bulbs are designed for optimal energy efficiency, do not contain mercury, and remain cool to the touch, making them a much safer choice compared to traditional bulbs.
  • Long-lasting: Thanks to their epoxy lenses, LED holiday lights can shine bright for as long as 50,000 hours with proper care. Even if one bulb goes out, the rest of the string remains lit.
  • Connectivity and Versatility: Unlike incandescent holiday lights, which can typically connect only four to five sets, LED strings allow you to connect 40 to 50 sets together, depending on the light count. Due to their minimal power consumption, they can run on batteries or even solar panels, saving you both energy and money.

To make your holiday lighting more eco-friendly and convenient, consider using timers or wireless apps to control your LED lights. This way, you can illuminate your holiday display at just the right times, ensuring your holiday cheer shines brightly without causing unnecessary energy waste.

5. Host Eco-Friendly Holiday Celebrations

Having a holiday party doesn't have to be damaging to the environment! These eco-friendly ideas will impress your guests and save money and time.

  • Cleaning:  Choose non-toxic, natural, and environmentally friendly cleaning supplies if you need to clean the house before your guests arrive.
  • 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.

    The United Nations even recently received a report from 107 scientists suggesting promoting plant-based food production can help fight climate change. stating that “Where appropriate, shifting food systems towards plant-rich diets – can lead to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to current dietary patterns in most industrialized countries.”

    However, If you’re not interested in cooking or eating vegetarian or vegan, look for meats with a smaller carbon footprint, like fish or poultry, with a smaller carbon footprint.
  • 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. Consider Eco-Friendly Holiday Travel

It's easy to overlook the environmental impact of holiday travel, but your choices can make a difference. When considering your holiday travel options, keep in mind that transportation is a significant contributor to carbon emissions. Here are some eco-friendly travel tips to help reduce your carbon footprint:

  • Air Travel: Air travel is a major source of carbon emissions. According to the EPA, one long flight can release the equivalent of nearly 14% of the annual emissions from your car. When driven, the same route would result in 1.26 tons of carbon emissions. If you must travel by air this holiday season, consider purchasing carbon offsets from reputable sources to make your trip carbon-neutral.
  • Car Travel: If you're hitting the road for the holidays, try to carpool as much as possible. The more passengers you can fit in your vehicle, the lower your carbon footprint per person. Additionally, consider renting an electric vehicle, which is an excellent way to reduce your emissions. A study published in Environmental Science & Technology suggests that driving with more passengers and flying with higher occupancy have similar climate impacts.
  • Public Transportation: Opt for eco-friendly public transportation options, such as buses, trains, and light rail. Services like Greyhound, Megabus, Amtrak, and LightRail trains are both cost-effective and environmentally responsible. Public transportation can significantly reduce the number of individual cars on the road, thus helping to lower carbon emissions.

Being mindful of your travel choices and selecting eco-friendly options can contribute to a more sustainable holiday season. Remember that even small changes in how you travel can have a positive impact on the environment.

7. Give Sustainable Gifts

Look for businesses and shops that are members of 1% For The Planet (just like us!) that donate at least 1% of their total revenue to carefully selected nonprofit organizations. Contributions to 1% For The Planet go to grassroots nonprofits that do meaningful, impactful work to protect and conserve the environment.

Make your holiday gift-giving eco-conscious by choosing sustainable options for stocking stuffers and larger presents:

Stocking Stuffers: Enhance the tradition of holiday stockings by filling them with thoughtful and eco-friendly items:

  • LifeVine Charging Cables: These eco-conscious charging cables, boasting a generous 6-foot length, offer not only sustainability but also the convenience of extended reach. They provide fast syncing and charging for your devices, ensuring efficiency while reducing environmental impact through their use of 100% recycled post-consumer materials.
  • PowerPlant Dual-Port Wall Charger: Not only does it offer the convenience of dual ports for charging multiple devices simultaneously, it also uses 100% recycled post-consumer materials. This charger is equipped with Power Delivery and Quick Charge fast charging technologies, ensuring your devices are powered up rapidly while minimizing environmental impact.

Gifts: When selecting larger gifts, opt for presents that have a lasting impact:

  • Compostable Phone Cases: Choose from a variety of festive designs or from our over 200 designs on our rugged Mojave and clear Laguna eco-friendly phone case, you can also customize your own to suit your loved ones' preferences. - Placeholder until updated Winter/Holiday Collections.
  • Bamboo Wireless Charger: Choose from 10 stylish designs to elevate your charging experience while maintaining a sustainable and stylish approach. This eco-friendly charger offers 15W fast charging, ensuring your devices are powered up quickly and efficiently, all while making an eco-conscious statement.

By giving sustainable gifts, you not only spread holiday cheer but also give a gift to our planet by promoting responsible consumption and environmental stewardship.

8. Look For Plastic-Free Packaging:

This holiday season, regardless of whether you're shopping online or in-store, make sure to look for products that have minimal packaging, if any at all!

9. Recycle Your Old Cellphone and Its Case

Do you wonder what to do with your old smartphone, tablet, and all of its accessories? You are not alone in this issue, as it is estimated only 17.4 percent of electronic waste is properly recycled worldwide.

10. Donate Your Time or Money to an Environmental Cause


The holiday season is not only about giving and receiving material gifts but also about giving back to the community and the planet. Here are some meaningful ways to make a difference during this festive time:

  • Volunteering: Celebrate the holiday spirit by volunteering your time to make a difference for your community and the planet. Opportunities are endless, from cleaning up local rivers and beaches to providing crucial environmental education resources to schools.
  • Charitable Donations: Consider donating to a charity as a more sustainable alternative to traditional gift-giving. Charitable donations generate no waste and are often tax-deductible.
  • EcoBlvd's Charitable Initiatives: EcoBlvd offers a unique way to combine gifting and charitable donations. When you purchase our clear Laguna phone cases, we donate 2% of the proceeds to the Ocean Conservancy. Similarly, sales of our rugged Mojave phone cases contribute to the Mojave Desert Land Trust. Furthermore, a portion of the proceeds from LifeVine's Charging Cables and the PowerPlant Dual-Port Wall Charger support environmental education and renewable energy initiatives.

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! 

November 22, 2023
Tags: carbon offset eco-friendly decorations holiday season holidays plastic-free sustainable gifts
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