By Alexandra Greer, Alliance Intern from Fordham University ‘25
During the holiday season we are often daunted by tireless to-do lists and tasks. Between getting gifts, preparing the home and cooking meals, the holiday season is arguably the most hectic time of the year. Amidst this busyness, it’s important to have meaningful time with people you love while caring for the planet, with everything from decorations to activities and food. You can create more meaningful holidays without compromising your family’s time-honored traditions.
By including sustainable practices in your holiday activities, you can easily help offset the increased waste and pollution of these highly consumerist season while respecting nature. It’s a wonderful gift to slow down, breathe and create space for thoughtful intention. It’s also an opportunity to spend time with loved ones and appreciate the gifts we already have in life, especially all of Creation.
There are so many ways to revel in nature, even if it’s cold. Depending on your weather, you can go on a hike, take your family camping, build a snowman, ski, snowboard, skate, tube, or picnic in a park (or your living room). Enjoy a walk to see holiday lights or go caroling with a hot drink to have a bonding experience that costs and wastes nothing! Explore your town’s natural landscapes and get to know your state in a way you hadn’t before.
Opting for sustainable and recyclable house decorations to make the holidays environmentally friendly. You can create DIY garlands, wreaths, centerpieces, ornaments and more, which double as a fun activity for kids. By using recyclable materials, you can limit waste. You can also buy hand-made, ethically-sourced artisanal items from brands such as Ten Thousand Villages, Made Trade, and Novica.
Food poses another great chance to be more environmentally and socially responsible. When planning dishes for your family meal, try using local, in-season ingredients. Check out this guide to explore what ingredients are readily available during colder months. You can get creative with your meals by experimenting with organic and plant-based options, as it’s always beneficial to cut back on pesticides and meat consumption for both the environment and our own health.
>But don’t forget the joy of baking and decorating cookies! You can enjoy this guilty pleasure by giving them to unhoused people, seniors, neighbors, family, friends and colleagues.
Reduce food waste and enjoy experimenting with leftovers. Don’t throw out what’s left in the pan after dinner — you can turn stuffing and some vegetables into a casserole for the next day! Check out some leftover recipes. You can save money, time and resources by not having to go to the grocery store for a few days.
Thinking sustainably does not have an off-season. Consider turning these holiday practices into habits to have a fresh start the New Year. Now more than ever, we can act in creative ways to benefit the wellbeing of ourselves and the planet.