By Samantha Fournier
There are pieces of crinkled up wrapping paper still strewn across the living room floor, the garbage is overflowing with used paper plates from the day before, and everyone is rubbing their bellies and wondering why they ate so much. Does the day after Christmas look anything like this at your house?
The holidays are less than a month away and before students go out and finish their holiday shopping here are a few ways to think about being sustainable and helping the environment before the holiday season comes to a close.
“It’s not about killing joy. It’s about making better choices,” says Professor of Anthropology and co-chair of a campus sustainability club Abigail E. Adams about creating a more sustainable holiday. Adams thinks of three elements when she thinks of sustainability. The three elements are economical and environmental sustainability, and equitable social relationships.
Think experiences instead of gifts
Adams says we should make the holidays about “more fun [and] less stuff.” Students can think about ways to spend time with their loved ones instead of buying gifts this season. Students can keep it economical by staying in and baking cookies or by taking a day trip to a local hot spot.
Fair trade and green gifts
Both the Green America website and the Ten Thousand Villages Website support green giving and fair trade (fair trade supports fair wages and equal opportunity). When you think about giving, you should check out both of these websites which offer a variety of environmentally friendly gifts that can fit any budget.
Think about the packaging
Who doesn’t love unwrapping gifts? Make sure you’re getting more of what you’re buying and less packaging. You may end up paying a little bit more, but less unnecessary packaging will end up in a land fill.
Get creative with gift wrap
Instead of wrapping gifts with paper that can’t be recycled get creative and think about other ways to wrap your gifts this season. You could give away gifts in reusable bags that friends and family members can later use while shopping instead of having to use plastic bags or wrap gifts with newspaper.
Buy locally
When making up your holiday menu consider buying locally grown produce to support local farmers.
Nix the paper plates
“We use regular china for the holidays,” says CCSU student Brian Jones. Instead of buying lots of paper plates that will just end up in the trash eventually, use glass plates that can be washed and put back on the shelf at the end of the day.
Get a little nature friendly
You can keep your tree (real or fake), but Adams also suggests decorating a tree outside in your yard with popcorn, pinecones covered in birdseed, and home made icicles filled with fruit.
Reuse Decorations
Each year CCSU sophomore Michael Pizzoferrato and his family reuse their same fake Christmas tree. Instead of buying new decorations or a new fake tree each year try to reuse what you already have.
Recycle
After the big dinner or family get together make sure to recycle all of the glass bottles, boxes, and soda bottles so they don’t end up in the garbage can.
Make a donation
If students have a few extra dollars in their pockets they can give them to local food banks and local organizations that serve the poor, which have a tremendous need for donations at this time of the year. This is one way to give back and put a smile on someone else’s face.
