The Holidays: Making Use of COVID-19 Inconveniences
The holidays are a time of gift-giving and food preparation that we all look forward to. Unfortunately, COVID-19 will create more plastic and packaging waste than normal this holiday season because many people, especially vulnerable populations, will choose to do their shopping safely online. Due to the pandemic, waste in 2020 is estimated to exceed waste in 2019 by 30% by the end of the year. To have the most sustainable holiday, we recommend buying only what you need, buying second-hand items, repurposing items, and taking a step back to think about the environmental process that goes into gift-giving. For the few items in which shipping and packaging are unavoidable during the pandemic, EMA has brainstormed ways to keep your environmental footprint as low as possible.
Shop local →
Finding a local business to rely on for your gift-giving comes with a myriad of benefits. First and foremost, small businesses need our help now more than ever to stay afloat during the pandemic. Many small businesses have adapted to work safely, and shopping locally leads to a smaller environmental footprint since the goods probably aren’t traveling far to get to your home. Additionally, small businesses are more likely to work with you if you ask them to reduce packaging or make other requests. Bonus points if you do your holiday shopping at an environmentally focused local business, like a zero-waste shop or thrift store. As information about the virus has become more available over the past few months, many businesses have started accepting reusable bags once again, and it’s certainly worth checking in with your local businesses to ask if they have updated their bag policy. Bringing your reusable bags will save you from extra waste, and the environment will thank you.
Grab take-out at restaurants with eco-friendly packaging with the Jybe App →
Jybe is here to eliminate single-use-plastic used in food service. The Jybe App lets users find restaurants making eco-friendly packaging choices - or verify if their local favorites are doing so. Active in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Denver/Boulder, Austin, and growing! Sign-up to be a part of the solution and help spread the word.
Wrap sustainably →
Expensive wrapping paper is so 2019. The natural look is in right now, especially when it comes to gift-giving. Give your gifts a personalized touch by reusing paper grocery bags or recycled wrapping paper to wrap your items. You’ll likely get some gifts too, so chances are, you’ll have some packaging to reuse or repurpose in other ways. You can reuse gift bags from gifts you’ve received, and fill bags and boxes with shredded newspaper or magazines, and top with ribbons or bows that you have. If you need a box, gift your item in the box it was shipped in, and get creative: you can paint it, cover it with a collage, or decorate it with other craft items you may already have. Better yet, opt for packaging for gifts that people can continue to use- consider giving your gifts in reusable bags, mason jars, or baskets.
Plan ahead to avoid 2-day shipping →
If you buy your gifts ahead, you are less likely to rely on expedited shipping. Faster shipping has more of an environmental burden and increases the environmental footprint of your goods tremendously. Even if you order from a big company, places like Amazon have the option of shipping all of your goods at once rather than in multiple boxes. This creates less travel and less waste as well as less stress for you when you have your gifts early!
Make the holidays plant-based→
Meat has a significantly higher environmental impact than produce, so consider limiting the meat intake this holiday season. There are plenty of ways to make the holiday spread more sustainable, whether it’s using vegetables as the main course for holiday dinners, or gifting some scrumptious baked goods to your loved ones. Our favorite recipes for the holidays include roasted cauliflower, balsamic brussels sprouts, vegan pecan pie, and pumpkin bread. PS- nothing beats a nice, homemade, edible gift. We recommend making these vegan cookie mix jars, so you can give a little bit of plant-based love this holiday season.
Give a gift that isn’t material→
This holiday season coupled with the pandemic has left more people in need than ever. Consider making donations to nonprofits that give back this holiday season in the names of your family and friends as a way to give a gift that really matters. Because of the pandemic, many people are food insecure, and places like World Central Kitchen are actively working to change that in communities (especially communities of color, which are hit the hardest) across the country. By not giving physical gifts, you save on transportation emissions, packaging waste, and production costs. Some other ideas of nonmaterial gifts are donating animals to people who rely on them for a living or planting a tree (or ten!) in the name of someone you love. It’s giving season, and everyone, including our planet, deserves to enjoy it.
By Sophia Donskoi