Holiday Tips
The average Canadian household generates 25% more waste during the holiday season.
Check out our helpful guide below for environmentally-friendly ways to stay sustainable throughout the holidays.
Reduce
Make memories, not waste! Gifts or activities you make yourself are always extra special. These types of gifts are not only meaningful but also help reduce excess waste often created during the holidays.
Here are some sustainable gifts or experiences you can give:
Consumables? Yes please!
Giving delicious cookies, chocolates, wine, or spirits is a great way to ensure your gift gets used to the fullest.
Handmade and crafted treasures.
From knitted clothing to crafted décor, handmade gifts from the heart will be cherished for years to come.
Gift an experience.
Theatre tickets, a cooking course, or movie passes are all great ways to create memories, instead of waste.
Gift the wrap.
Think beyond paper—dress your gift in a scarf, a tea towel, or a reusable bag that can be enjoyed long after the unwrapping.
Go natural.
Use natural decorations like Yule logs, poinsettia plants, popcorn and cranberry garland, and wreaths made of boughs. You can even make your own decorations with sticks, branches, and berries foraged from nature.
Let’s get digital.
Send Christmas e-cards for instant greetings or digital invites for parties and get togethers.
Love local.
Supporting local is one of the best ways to reduce waste. Your local craft fair or farmer’s market is overflowing with thoughtful gift ideas.
Reuse
One of the easiest and most creative ways to reduce waste during the holidays is to reuse. While many items like embellished holiday cards and gift bags cannot be recycled, they can be easily reused with a little imagination!
Check out these tips and DIY holiday solutions that can reduce your waste over the holidays:
Personalized gift tags.
Reuse last year’s cards to make new gift tags.
Oh Tannenbaum.
Homemade wreaths are a great way to keep your artificial tree out of the landfill, and they will easily last for years to come.
Use what you’ve got.
Reuse gift wrap, bags, and boxes from previous years – easy on the tape!
Think dishes, not disposables.
Skip the single-use cups, plates, and cutlery for parties and gatherings. Use cloth napkins, tablecloths, and runners. Borrow from family or friends if necessary.
DIY Decorations.
Try your hand at simple decorations, like making a garland from fabric scraps or hanging up last year’s cards.
Bring the bags.
Don’t forget your reusable bag when shopping for gifts and other holiday supplies.
Recycle
Recycling is one of the easiest things we can do to protect the environment. It is important to know what can and cannot be recycled during the holiday season to ensure your waste ends up in the right place.
Your recycling knowledge can help you make informed choices when purchasing gifts and materials. Here are a few tips to help you:
Wrapping, reimagined.
Most wrapping paper cannot be recycled and ends up in the garbage. If you’re going to wrap gifts, use recyclable wrapping, such as brown paper, newspaper, magazines, or flyers.
Make it count!
Collect and return your beverage containers accumulated over the holidays (including eggnog) to your nearest Green Depot. Find yours here!
Old tree, new purpose.
Many municipalities offer a mulching or composting program for real trees, or chop it up for firewood.
Be mindful of packaging.
When shopping for gifts, look for sustainable packaging, like cardboard that can be recycled.
Rejoice
During the holidays, relax and focus on having fun and celebrating with those around you. It’s the season of joy. Remember – it’s not the gifts you’ll give but the moments and the memories with the ones you love. Happy Holidays!