8 Simple & Eco-Conscious Holiday Hacks

During the holidays, Americans throw away 25% more waste, accounting for 25 million tons of garbage. The good news? There are countless ways to be eco-friendly over the holidays, so it’s relatively easy to make conscious efforts that are kind to our planet. From recycled gift wrap to reusable drink tumblers, find eight of our best holiday hacks to reduce your carbon footprint during this festive season.

Opt for Recycled Gift Wrap

A large percentage of trash during the holiday season is due to gift wrap. In fact each year in the U.S., 4.6 million pounds of wrapping paper are used. Luckily, it’s easy to swap out that shiny new roll of wrapping paper for recycled alternatives. Consider holding onto old bags and bows that you have received as gifts. Don’t have any pre-loved supplies laying around? Try making your own gift wrap! Get creative and repurpose your newspapers, fabrics, t-shirts and more as wrapping.

We know that for some, buying wrapping paper can be one of the most exciting parts of the season. Beautifully wrapped, colorful presents under a tree are always a sight for sore eyes. If this is you, try out an eco-friendly gift wrap! Some brands make gift wrap that is 100% recyclable and compostable, that way you get the best of both worlds.

Use Reusable Wine Tumblers & Canteens

It isn’t the holiday season without a few festive holiday gatherings with family and friends. To serve up your vino and bubbly, consider avoiding the single use plastic cups and opting for reusable drinkware!

Get started with the BrüMate Wine Gift Set. These sets come with BrüMate’s signature triple insulated 25 oz wine canteen and two Uncork’d 14oz wine tumblers. The Uncork’d lids are made from Tritan Renew, which uses 50% recycled material and creates an incredibly lightweight and durable tumbler. Using Tritan’s innovative recycling techniques allows us to contribute to the circular economy and divert waste from landfills. For more reusable tumbler inspiration, visit our guide to 10 Reusable Cups & Eco-Friendly Tumblers.

 

Grocery Shop Locally 

Food prep is a key part of hosting a successful holiday party. Instead of visiting your usual large, name brand stores, consider supporting farmers markets, small businesses, and locally owned grocery stores. By shopping locally, you’re helping to decrease your carbon footprint, plus you might find some hidden gems for your charcuterie board or pot roast!

When you head to the store, don’t forget to bring your own reusable or old grocery bags to use. Many stores are now charging to use plastic bags anyway, so save a few cents here and there by bringing bags from home.

Recycle Your Tree

Every year, 8 million trees are cut down to provide Christmas trees for households in the U.K. But, plastic trees are non recyclable and use toxic plastics. To decrease your carbon footprint, buy a local, organic tree that can be recycled after the season ends. There are also tree rental services that will allow you to borrow a tree that will be replanted after you are done with it. If you have allergies, or prefer the lack of mess that comes along with a fake tree, it is best to use it for at least 10 years before buying a replacement.

Use Reusable Straws for Gatherings 

Straws are one of the most used plastics in the U.S. and are also one of the most common and easy swap-outs to better the environment. Because they are non biodegradable, straws never truly break down, and are often mistaken for food by sea life creatures. This is all the more reason to buy a reusable, metal straw from BrüMate. BrüMate’s straws come with a carrying case and cleaning brush, making this a must-have accessory for enjoying winter beverages.

Decorate With Homemade or Inherited Items

Consider opting out of annual holiday decor shopping sprees and using pre-loved or DIY items instead! Get together with your friends and family and craft up ornaments, wreaths, and more using supplies found around your home or the thrift store. If you have decorations that you don’t want to use anymore, donate them to a local thrift store or pass them along to someone else. Many decorations and ornaments are plastic or non-biodegradable, so it’s best to avoid waste when you can!

Use Energy Saving Lights 

Holiday lights and decor tend to hike up electricity bills, but is there a holiday hack for avoiding this? Of course there is! Choose to use LED lights over incandescent lights. LED lights use less energy and last well over double the amount of time incandescent lights do. The second holiday hack when it comes to lighting is to use a light timer. Timers allow you to set a start and end time for your lights to illuminate every day so you are not wasting energy powering holiday lights in the middle of the night.

Send Digital Cards

Decrease your holiday carbon footprint by going digital instead of using paper for greeting cards. Digital cards can be used for any purpose: invites, thank you cards, family holiday cards, you name it! There are plenty of easy to use and free websites that you can use to create your own digital card, such as Evite.

Cheers to an Eco-Conscious Holiday Season!

While making earth-friendly life changes may feel daunting, celebrating the holidays while being sustainable is not only possible, but quite easy! Know that trying just a few of these holiday hacks can make all the difference. To learn more about how to reduce waste in your daily routine, visit our guide on 9 Ways to Create an Eco-Friendly Daily Routine. Go reusable by choosing BrüMate and visit the spirited winter collection to find your next favorite tumbler!