New Ways to Celebrate the Holidays
Every year, the holidays seem to be “just around the corner” a little sooner. Just as the slightest chill crept into the air this autumn, I began hearing about gift catalogs and holiday shopping lists. Here at the Center for Biological Diversity, we understand the tremendous environmental toll the winter holiday season takes on the planet. The United States creates 5.8 million tons more waste in December than in other months of the year. That’s equivalent to the weight of 28,713 Boeing 747 airplanes.
The holiday season is a time of joy and celebration for many. But for others it can be a whirlwind of stress, worry and guilt. For many of us, it’s both. Gift-giving can be complicated.
That’s why we want to share some resources, stats, reports, and opportunities to connect over these shared issues ahead of the winter holidays. Together we can make the holiday season bright for wildlife.
Tips and Resources to Simplify the Holidays
- Visit our Simplify the Holidays website. Did you know the Center has an entire campaign devoted to simplifying the holidays? You can find sustainable gift guides, tips on how to start a conversation about alternative gift-giving with your family, and resources for transforming your holidays from a period of stress and shopping to a time of joy, connection and tradition.
- Simplify the holidays in your community. Reach out if you’d like our staff to talk to your classroom, church or workplace about tips, tricks and hacks for having a low-waste and less stressful holiday season. We’re also available for Simplify the Holidays webinars, podcasts and media interviews. Email me at mbecker@biologicaldiversity.org.
- Check out these new statistics about alternative gift-giving. In 2022, the Center conducted a national survey on winter holiday consumerism, gift-giving and waste. The results showed that 90% of Americans wish the holidays were less materialistic. We also found that 56% of Americans are likely to give a secondhand gift, 68% are likely to make a handmade or DIY gift, and 59% are likely to give gifts of time or skill. Read our report and find more stats on alternative gift-giving.
- Learn what you need to know to shop secondhand. Secondhand shopping keeps good items out of landfills and helps avoid the destructive extraction and production of raw materials needed to create new products. Looking for ways to overcome the barriers of giving and receiving secondhand gifts? We have you covered. Check out our new secondhand content.
- Simplify the holidays on social media. Looking for pre-made social media posts and graphics to help promote alternative gifts and simplifying holiday entertaining? Check out Simpler Entertaining, where we provide free gift-giving graphics and other social media shareables.
- Let us know how you simplify the holidays. ’Tis the season to be more Earth-friendly, and this year we’re looking for holiday tips from you! Whether that means plant-based food tips, sustainable décor, or Earth-friendly hosting, we’d love to hear how you #SimplifyTheHolidays. Share your tips and tricks.
There are so many things to celebrate this holiday season. What we get to discover again each year is that there are just as many ways to celebrate. If you’re one of many who wish the winter holidays were less materialistic, please share all these resources with family and friends to help reduce holiday consumerism and waste.
Malia Becker is an organizer at the Center for Biological Diversity. She manages the Center’s Simplify the Holidays campaign.
