Sustainable Holiday Choices
- livekindshop
- Jan 22
- 3 min read
Did you know that overall, Americans produced more than 25% of trash during the holiday season due to food waste, packaging, and wrapping paper?!
This year, we made it a priority to focus on being more sustainable during the holidays and teaching the boys along the way. It was so heartwarming to see their excitement about renting our Christmas tree and making gifts together. I loved explaining to them why we made these choices and how they can help not only the planet but their health as well.
Here are some of the reasons why we decided to make more sustainable/non toxic choices this year:
Wrapping Paper Waste: About 2.3 million pounds of wrapping paper end up in landfills in the U.S. every year. A lot of it has plastic coatings or glitter, which means it can't be recycled.
Toxic Chemicals in Wrapping Paper: Some wrapping papers contain harmful chemicals such as heavy metals (lead and cadmium), plastic coatings, chlorine, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These can contribute to environmental pollution and indoor air quality issues.
Plastic Christmas Trees: While they last for a few years, artificial trees are usually made from PVC plastic, which isn’t biodegradable and can contain harmful chemicals like lead and phthalates. These trees can release even volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to your indoor air pollution, potentially causing respiratory issues.
Our Sustainable & Non Toxic Holiday Choices
1. Thoughtful Homemade Gifts This year, we put extra love into our gifts by making them ourselves! For the kids, we whipped up some homemade play dough using natural ingredients—no synthetic dyes or chemicals here. For the adults, we crafted cute salt dough ornaments and stovetop potpourri with dried fruit, cinnamon sticks, and cloves. These gifts not only cut down on waste but also add a personal touch that store-bought gifts just can't match.
2. Renting a Christmas Tree Instead of buying a plastic tree or cutting down a real one, we decided to rent a living Christmas tree from Blue Spruce Farms. The best part? After the holidays, the tree goes back to the farm to keep growing, making it a win-win for us and the environment.
3. Sustainable Gift Wrapping Wrapping paper waste is a huge issue during the holidays, so we got creative this year by using cloth we already had at home to wrap our boys' presents. It looked so charming and unique! Next year, we’re hoping to get some reusable organic cotton gift bags to keep the tradition going.
By making small changes—like choosing reusable gift wrap, natural decorations, and more thoughtful gifting—we can all help reduce waste and enjoy a greener holiday season.
Looking Ahead
Living sustainably is a journey, and we’re so excited to keep finding new ways to make our holidays greener each year. Whether it’s supporting small sustainable businesses, switching to eco-friendly gift wrap, or encouraging family and friends to try low-waste living, every little step makes a difference.
We’d love to hear your ideas too! How are you making your holidays more sustainable? Share your tips in the comments below and let’s inspire each other to Live Kind all year round.
References
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Holiday Waste Facts
The Guardian: The Environmental Impact of Christmas Trees
National Christmas Tree Association: Sustainability of Real vs. Artificial Trees
Zero Waste Week: Wrapping Paper Waste Statistics
Consumer Product Safety Commission: Lead and Phthalates in Artificial Trees
Sustainable Packaging Coalition: Chemicals in Wrapping Paper
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