How to Have a Zero-Waste Christmas in 2023

Happy Christmas season! It’s the most wasteful time of the year, but it doesn’t have to be. Let’s dive into how you can have a less wasteful Christmas and overall holiday season.

GIFTS

Tell people what you want and ask what they want

This can still be fun and lead to surprises! You don’t have to just give them one thing to get you, instead offer them 5, 10, or 15 items you want/need and they can still surprise you off that list. The same can go in reverse, ask them for a list of items they may want and you can surprise them off this list. Now, everyone can be surprised with gifts they will actually want, need, and use versus something they may just throw away or donate or hide in a closet somewhere.

Don’t throw out unwanted items or old items

Instead, donate them, sell them, or re-gift them. PLEASE do not send a good, new item to the landfill just because someone got you something that you don’t like. Unwanted gifts happen in a world full of consumerism, but please dispose of them responsibly. Our landfill trash goes up 25% each year around this time so let’s all do our part to reduce that number by finding other uses for our unwanted items.

You don’t necessarily have to get them something eco…

If they want an item and will use it for a long time, that IS eco-friendly! It doesn’t always have to be a zero waste swap, something made with natural fibers, something made locally, or anything else that’s eco-friendly (now, you can almost always find what they want secondhand, so at least try that). What I’m saying is, if you buy someone a reusable water bottle just because it’s eco-friendly and they never use it, that’s so much more wasteful than you buying them a second-hand Xbox that is clearly not very eco-friendly BUT they use it every single day (or often) until it’s no longer usable. Speaking of…

Got a gift in mind? Check secondhand first!

For example, this anniversary, Dan has been wanting Crocs and I have been wanting a film camera and Dan and I both found each other the exact gift the other wanted, though they aren’t the most eco products, we both found them second hand to reduce our environmental impact!

I have found so many gifts secondhand and received so many secondhand gifts that I still cherish: iPad, wedding ring, camera attachments, clothing, binoculars, camping gear, bikes, and so much more. You can find stuff in great shape to save you money and the planet this holiday season.

Experience gifts are usually a great gift

Gifts that create little-to-no waste and memories are so much more fun than some junk someone may or may not even use or cherish for a long time. Here are just a few examples of experience gifts but there are so many more I outline in my 2023 Gift Guide:

Extreme sports: skiing, snowboarding, sky diving, go-kart racing, etc
Lessons: piano or other music lesson, swim, dance, gymnastics, cheer, other sports
Classes: pottery, painting, sewing, crochet, silversmithing, woodworking, etc
Museums: art museum, children’s museum, science museum, history museum, etc
Sports and Rec: trampoline park, laser tag, mini golf, golf, batting cages, tickets to a local game, ice skating, roller skating, etc
Beverages: winery tour, brewery tour, pub crawl, distillery tour, etc

Edible gifts are also great

They might not last forever but they can be meaningful, delicious, and clearly put to good use! Things like cookies, pies, meals, or even a recipe book so the gift-receiver can make the items themselves are wonderful gifts.

Don’t fill stockings with junk

Instead fill them with useful things such as snacks, school supplies, office supplies, bathroom essentials, gift cards, tickets, and other things like that. Stockings don’t have to be stuffed to the brim, so don’t feel obligated to rush to the dollar store to fill it with junk just to fill it. Be mindful about filling it with gifts they will actually use and enjoy. Check out my full zero-waste stocking stuffer guide here!

DIY gifts this year!

Get crafty this holiday season to save some money and waste. DIY gifts can be SO meaningful, especially if the person asked for it and/or will use the item. Things I’ve made in the past: crocheted bags, crocheted pot holders, crocheted hats (can you tell I crochet?), cookies, breads, paintings, as well as I have taken family photos for someone as a gift.

Opt for an eco-friendly gift

You can also take their gift list they gave you and try to find an eco-alternative for it. For example, candles! Traditionally they are so wasteful, made with paraffin (petroleum) wax in hard-to-recycle containers. Instead, there are tons of eco options out there. This can also go for phone cases, kitchen gadgets, and more!

You can also choose from my longgggg lists of eco gifts from past videos made with sustainability in mind (each of these posts contains over 100 ideas!):

Omit wrapping paper or opt for eco-wrapping paper

There are SO many ways to wrap gifts in a more eco-friendly way such as using what you already have, using recyclable wrapping paper, using reusable wrapping paper, or just not wrapping gifts this year. You can check out my full zero-waste wrapping guide video here or blog post version here.

Alternatively, you can simply reuse gift bags, ribbons, wrapping paper, and so forth. Take good care of it, be gentle with it, and save it for next year. Even if it was designed to be single-use, it doesn’t have to be!

Recycle paper wrapping paper

Not all wrapping paper is created equal, meaning not all of it can be recycled. Plastic or plastic-coated paper is NOT recyclable:

Plastic

Plastic wrapping paper generally cannot be recycled, at least not curbside. If when you bunch up the wrapping paper into a ball it bounces back close to its original form, it’s plastic or contains a lot of plastic in it. Throw this away!

Plastic-paper combo

Mixed materials are very difficult to recycle, so don’t place it in your recycling bin. If it has obvious signs of plastic in the form of glitter, film, beads, etc, it’s not recyclable. Some are not so obvious such as plastic-coated paper. If it’s very shiny and slick to the touch, it’s likely got plastic in it. Better to be safe than sorry, throw this away.

100% paper

If the paper when scrunched into a ball holds that ball shape for the most part, it’s 100% paper! Other signs that is it paper are it is kind of rough to the touch (like packing paper), not shiny, and not slick. You can recycle or compost this (though I personally wouldn’t compost it if you don’t know what is in the inks! Soy or other plant-based inks are best for composting, especially if you’re going to be eating off of that compost).

Trash the trash, don’t wishcycle

PARTY

Prepare food accordingly so you don’t make too much

Ask guests for a tentative head count so that you make enough, but not too much. It’s okay to have some leftovers, of course, but it’s not a good idea to make so much that even the leftovers won’t be eaten. This will also lighten your workload, no sense in working harder than necessary!

Send leftovers home with guests or plan to eat all your leftovers yourself

It’s as simple as that! I LOVE leftovers, so I don’t mind making a bit extra, but not everyone likes leftovers. If that’s you, definitely make a plan to make enough but not enough OR send the leftovers home with someone in your family or friend group who will eat the leftovers so you don’t have to landfill them. Bonus points if you send them in reusable containers ;)

Make food yourself if you can!

Making rolls or bread or gravy or dessert from scratch can greatly reduce packaging waste, most of which is hard or impossible to recycle. You can also host a potluck so that everyone just has to make 1-2 items versus several items which can make cooking from scratch much more achievable and lots of waste can be reduced all around.

Opt for reusable dishes and cutlery

If you don’t have enough, try thrifting some for cheap! We used to host get-togethers when we were in the Air Force and were the only people out of the dorms. Instead of buying paper plates and plastic cups over and over and over again, I thrifted some plates and forks and cups for really cheap and reused them for over 3 years saving money and waste.

Or, if you’re having a large party, opt for bioplastics

Especially if you have commercial composting, bioplastics are a great alternative to plastic or Styrofoam. My favorite brand is Repurpose! Even opting for paper over plastic is so much better if you need to use disposables for one reason or another. BUT, even if you don’t have commercial composting, bioplastics are still less pollutive to create than oil-based plastic, you can learn more about that here.

Host a cookie swap!

You can swap cookies and recipes and this can be done with very little waste. It’s such a fun get-together for friends or even strangers and you can make friends as well.

DECOR

Use what you have

You simply do not need new decor every year, plain and simple. If you want to add a new piece here and there, that’s different, but there is simply no need to throw out all your “old” decor just to buy new stuff every single year. This is extremely wasteful resource-wise and also money-wise. For example, my mom has the same decorations from the 90s but she’s added a few new pieces here and there to complete the collection.

Thrift “new” decor

If you have the urge to get new decor, try thrifting it first! Head to your local thrift store or you can even check online such as Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, eBay, and so much more. You can find exactly what you’re looking for for a fraction of the cost and it prevents new resources from being used.

Donate old decor or sell it

Again, if you feel the need to get new decor, do NOT throw your old stuff away (unless it’s truly broken). Instead, donate it or, better yet, sell it. As I mentioned in the previous category, you can buy second-hand decor on online marketplaces, you can sell it just the same. Not only can you save the planet, but you can even MAKE money while doing so.

Learn which one is right for you: real trees or fake trees

Hint: it depends! In short, real trees are not as bad as you think. Yes, it’s cutting down a tree, but that tree can be composted or mulched at the end of its life versus pollutive like a fake tree. AND while it’s growing it sequesters carbon. Fake trees, on the other hand, can be reused for literal decades. While they are pollutive to create and dispose of if broken, they work best for you if you use it for a long, long time. Do what works best for you and your needs, but you can learn more in full in this video.

Compost/mulch your reel trees at the end of the season

As I mentioned, a perk to using real trees is that they can fully return to the earth versus fake trees. BUT, you do have to take that initiative yourself. You may have to seek out a composting or mulching program, but most cities (even small ones) offer a tree pick-up day and they will mulch them to give back out to the community in the spring. You can simply google “your city” plus “tree mulching” to find one near you!

Learn where to recycle broken lights

Don’t throw your broken lights away! Throwing tech in landfills is one of the worst things we can do as individuals for the planet. Tech is not only extremely valuable to recycle (you can even make money recycling tech) but it’s also SO wasteful and can leech toxins into our water and soil.

Instead, let’s recycle our tech. Here are some places you can recycle broken Christmas lights: Rumpke, Christmas Light Source, or again, search “Christmas Light Recycling” plus “your city” to find a local recycler near you (I found one near me while writing this!).

Store fragile decor and ornaments in a way they will not break

The last thing you want is to have to re-buy glass ornaments and other decor every year cause they keep breaking. Store them in boxes, wrap them in reused packing paper, and don’t set heavy stuff on top of them to prevent breaking.

DIY some decor!

I did this forever ago and still love what I made: painted foraged pinecones, Christmas signs on upcycled wood, and DIY ornaments from foraged sticks. This year I plan on painting tree rounds into ornaments, using cardboard to make a mock gingerbread house, and using yarn scraps to crochet some decor items. There is so much inspiration on Pinterest!

This can be a super fun activity to do with kids too and make lasting memories and mementos.

CLOTHES

Wear what you already have, you don’t need a new Christmas sweater every year

Especially fast fashion, cheaply made “ugly” Christmas sweaters. I found one I LOVE probably close to a decade ago, and I wear it every December, it really is my favorite and it’s the talk of the gatherings! AND it was secondhand.

If you do feel like you need one, try thrift stores first!

Not only is shopping secondhand so much better for the planet, but you can get something that is higher quality and much more unique here. Again, the sweater that I thrifted, I’ve never seen anything even CLOSE to it, it’s so unique which makes it even more special!

CARDS

Opt for an e-card this year

I like to make mine for free on Canva and send it to friends and family over text or just post it to Facebook for everyone to see. This reduces costs for me since Canva is free and printing cards costs a lot of money. Of course, it also reduces emissions greatly! Not only does something new not have to be created now, but also it doesn’t have to be shipped to me and then sent out to all my friends and family from there either.

If you want to do a physical card, ask people first who wants one to avoid throwing them away

Not everyone wants a card and not everyone will keep a card. I think it’s a nice gesture but I feel bad recycling them and I don’t have tons of room to store a bunch of cards. Not everyone needs a Christmas card to feel special and loved on Christmas, so ask beforehand to save money and waste.

Opt for paper cards instead of anything containing plastic

If you go ahead with physical cards, make it as eco as possible by choosing paper over plastic (or a paper-plastic combo) or better yet, recycled paper! Other bonuses could be ditching the envelope, finding one printed with soy-based ink, and offering to recycle them for folks who don’t want to keep them and don’t have recycling accessible.

Hand deliver cards to people close by to reduce emissions

No sense in mailing a card that is just going to go across the street or to someone’s house you’ll be visiting during Christmas. Instead, bring the cards and hand-deliver them during the family gathering or pop in unexpectedly! It’s always nice to see a friendly face.

Received a card you don’t want? Recycle it instead!

Of course, if it’s fully paper! When in doubt, don’t wishcycle. Call your municipality if your card looks like it may be questionable for recycling or just throw it in the landfill instead if you have doubts. But, recycle when possible!

OTHER TRADITIONS

DIY a gingerbread house and icing this year to reduce plastic waste

Gingerbread is not that hard to make if you have the time and ability. Plus, you can now customize it and make it tasty vs those hard-as-rock store-bought kits (that contain tons of plastic, too). It’s also easy to make it vegan or gluten-free to meet your dietary needs!

Actually eat your gingerbread

Or make one that is wildlife-friendly (bird seeds, nut butter, etc, just Google before feeding to wildlife to prevent illnesses) to avoid food waste going to the landfill. You could also compost it versus throwing it away. Again, a perk to making gingerbread at home, you can make it tasty!

Elf on the shelf can be so much fun and low waste!

Don’t make your elf do wasteful things like waste food or toilet paper or ruin something. In fact, you can use this as an opportunity to educate your kids about eco habits! Have your fun, but be mindful about creating unnecessary waste for an elf toy.

Avoid wasteful games

Some wasteful games I’ve seen are wrapping dollar store junk in saran wrap and people try to get to the prizes. This entire game is wasteful. Any game that involves food waste should be avoided. I’m not trying to knock down anyone’s traditions, but be mindful of how much waste they create and try to find less wasteful alternatives this year.

Make white-elephant less wasteful

Don’t go out and buy junk for white elephant. Instead, encourage people to look for a gag gift in their own home or DIY something instead. No sense in wasting money and brand-new resources for someone to potentially throw the items away.

Secret Santa, but make it eco

If your family or workplace does Secret Santa, it can be a lot of fun! But there is no sense in making it wasteful resource-wise or money-wise. What my workplace did a few years ago was create a spreadsheet of everyone’s hobbies, interests, and wants that way the gift giver could pick something the receiver would actually use and want versus junk.

At the end of the day, don’t sweat a little bit of waste if you can’t be perfect. This is a time for family, celebration, relaxation, and happiness. Don’t give yourself anxiety over a piece of plastic here or there. The fact that you read this means you’re conscious of your waste and will most likely be trying to reduce your waste this holiday season, good for you!

Do what you can, but don’t worry too much about it.

I hope you have a happy holiday season and that you and yours are well. Thank you so much for reading along. As always, remember that your small actions make a big difference in the long run :)

Emma