Make Your Holidays Merry – Minimize Your Footprint

A More Thoughtful Way to Gift This Holiday Season – Co-authored by Charlie Ruschke, Sustainability Analyst

The holidays are a time for generosity, connection, and celebration. They’re also an opportunity to make choices that are a little lighter on the planet. This season, we’re sharing a few simple, joyful ways to give (and receive!) gifts more sustainably, without sacrificing warmth, beauty, or meaning. 

Wrap with Creativity, Not Waste 

Traditional wrapping paper is often single-use and not recyclable, especially if it’s glossy, metallic, or glittered. Luckily, there are charming alternatives that can make gifts feel even more personal: 

• Fabric wrapping (Furoshiki-style): Reusable cloth wraps, scarves, or tea towels become part of the gift or reused for zero packaging waste 

• Brown paper or kraft paper: Dress it up with twine, greenery, or hand-drawn designs 

• Reuse what you already have: Maps, sheet music, or newspapers for a vintage look 

• Gift bags you can reuse repeatedly 

Tip: If it tears like paper and isn’t shiny or foil-lined, it’s more likely recyclable. 

Support Local & Climate-Friendly Vendors 

Shopping local keeps dollars in the community and often reduces the emissions associated with long shipping distances. 

• Look for locally owned shops, artists, and makers 

• Choose vendors with minimal packaging or take-back programs 

These gifts often come with stories and that makes them memorable. 

Gift Experiences That Create Lasting Memories 

Some of the most meaningful gifts don’t come in boxes at all. 

• Concerts, theater, or museum passes 

• Cooking classes, workshops, or guided tours 

• Local adventures: bike rentals, climbing gyms, wellness experiences 

Experience-based gifts reduce material waste and often create shared moments that last long after the holidays. 

Donate, Regift, and Keep the Joy Going 

Not every gift fits and that’s okay. 

• Regift thoughtfully: Unused items can be perfect for someone else 

• Donate new or gently used items to local shelters, schools, or nonprofits 

• Host a swap with friends, family, or colleagues 

Extending the life of goods keeps value circulating and reduces unnecessary production. 

How to Dispose of Packaging (the Right Way) 

A quick guide for post-holiday cleanup: 

• Recycle: Plain paper, cardboard boxes, paper gift wrap (no glitter or foil) 

• Compost: Plain Tissue paper [3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10] 

• Reuse: Gift bags, tissue paper, ribbons, boxes 

• Trash: Metallic, glittered, plastic-coated, or laminated wrap 

You can recycle plain, paper-based gift wrap by removing tape, bows, and ribbons, and using the “Scrunch Test”: if you can ball it up and it holds, it’s recyclable; if not (due to glitter, foil, plastic coating), it goes in the trash  

Tissue Paper: Usually not recyclable; compost if plain.  

Go Beyond the Bin with Ridwell 

Some items don’t belong in curbside recycling but still don’t need to end up in a landfill. Services like Ridwell help collect hard-to-recycle materials such as plastic film, batteries, light bulbs, and textiles. 

If Ridwell is available in your area, it’s a great way to responsibly handle holiday excess and everyday waste. 

Learn more: https://www.ridwell.com 

️A More Sustainable Holiday Table 

Celebrating meals, desserts, and traditions without the extra waste 

Holiday meals bring people together, and with a little planning, they can also be kinder to the planet. From reducing food waste to rethinking desserts and tableware, here are a few approachable ways to make holiday dining both joyful and sustainable. 

Reduce Food Waste (Before & After the Feast) 

Food waste spikes during the holidays but a few simple habits can make a big difference: 

• Plan meals intentionally: Build menus around realistic portion sizes and flexible recipes 

• Repurpose leftovers: Soups, grain bowls, casseroles, and sandwiches help extend meals 

• Freeze what you won’t use: Many cooked vegetables, breads, and desserts freeze well 

• Compost food scraps: Vegetable peels, coffee grounds, and eggshells don’t need to go to landfill 

Planning ahead saves money, reduces waste, and takes pressure off post-holiday cleanup. 

Meatless & Veggie-Forward Holiday Meals 

Plant-forward meals can be just as hearty and celebratory as traditional centerpieces and they often have a much lower carbon footprint. 

• Try one or more vegetarian mains as the centerpiece, not just a side 

• Build menus around seasonal squash, grains, legumes, and roasted vegetables 

• Plan meals with leftovers in mind (grain bowls, wraps, next-day lunches) 

Practice Greenhealth (PGH) offers more than 100 vegetarian and vegetable-forward recipes, designed for both flavor and sustainability:
https://practicegreenhealth.org/recipes 

A few holiday-friendly favorites: 

• Plant-Forward Butternut Squash Shepherd’s Pie
  https://practicegreenhealth.org/recipes/plant-forward-butternut-squash-shepherds-pie 

• Stuffed Acorn Squash
  https://practicegreenhealth.org/recipes/stuffed-acorn-squash 

• Quinoa-Stuffed Acorn Squash
  https://practicegreenhealth.org/recipes/quinoa-stuffed-acorn-squash 

• Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower & Cherry Tomatoes
  https://practicegreenhealth.org/recipes/pasta-roasted-cauliflower-and-cherry-tomatoes 

Desserts That Cut Back on Animal Products 

Dessert is often the easiest place to reduce dairy and eggs without sacrificing indulgence. 

• Marshmallows made from marshmallow root instead of gelatin 

• https://cedarmountainherbs.com/real-marshmallow-root-marshmallows/  

• Chocolate mousse made with dark chocolate, aquafaba, avocado, or silken tofu instead of heavy cream or butter 

• https://practicegreenhealth.org/recipes/chocolate-avocado-mousse  

• Baked goods that swap butter for oils or nut-based alternatives 

These desserts are often lighter and surprisingly simple to make. 

Limit Single-Use Plastics at the Table 

Disposable items can add up quickly during holiday gatherings. 

• Use real plates, glasses, and cutlery whenever possible 

• If hosting a crowd, borrow or thrift extra dishware 

A Season of Thoughtful Celebration 

Sustainable holiday meals aren’t about restriction; they’re about intention. Small changes in how we plan, cook, and serve food can reduce waste, lower environmental impact, and keep the focus where it belongs: shared moments around the table. 

Wishing you a delicious, joyful, and nourishing holiday season.