How to Reduce Waste this Holiday Season
The holidays are a time for connection, generosity, and joy — but they can also leave behind more packaging, wrapping, and single-use materials than any other time of year. From shipping boxes to glitter-covered paper to short-lived décor, it all adds up quickly. A 2021 analysis showed that Americans generate 23% more waste in December, more than any other month of the year.¹
The good news? With a few simple changes, you can keep the sparkle and sentiment while cutting back on what ends up in the bin. Here’s how to celebrate more thoughtfully this season — for both your home and the planet.
Rethink your wrapping
Wrapping paper is often the biggest culprit when it comes to holiday waste. Many rolls that look recyclable — especially those with metallic finishes, glitter, or glossy coatings — actually aren’t. Those materials contain plastic or foil that can’t be processed in most recycling systems, meaning they end up in landfills or incinerators.
Instead, think reusable or recyclable:
Fabric wraps: Use scarves, bandanas, cloths, or even old pillowcases to wrap gifts.
Paper alternatives: Brown paper grocery bags, kraft paper, or newspaper can look charming with a simple twine bow or sprig of pine.
Save what you can: Flatten gift bags, coil ribbons, and store tags for next year. You’ll save money and reduce the demand for new materials.
Not only does this approach cut waste, it also helps reduce the amount of microplastics and glitter dust that can be shed into your home and waterways.
Give “slow gifts” that last
Instead of buying more to show you care, choose better. This season, consider the concept of “slow gifting.” Rather than grabbing trendy items that lose their shine after a few months, look for gifts that will be loved for years, not weeks.
Some ideas:
Durable items made from metal, glass, or natural fibers instead of plastic
Refillable or reusable essentials, like a beautiful bottle that can be refilled over time
Pre-loved or thrifted treasures are unique, meaningful, and divert items from the waste stream
Experiences instead of things: a class, concert tickets, or a donation in someone’s name
The holidays are the perfect moment to show that thoughtfulness matters more than volume. Gifts with purpose — those that encourage reuse, support artisans, or reduce single-use waste — carry a lasting kind of joy.
Give gifts that get used
Not every meaningful gift has to last forever. Some of the best ones are the things people actually finish and enjoy. Think consumables like specialty pantry staples, artisanal teas or coffees, small-batch candles, or personal care products that will truly get used.
Choosing gifts that are designed to be consumed and used can help cut down on clutter and reduce the number of items that end up in donation piles or landfills later on. Just be thoughtful about what’s inside: look for ingredient transparency, minimal packaging, and materials that can be recycled or refilled when empty.
The idea is simple — give something useful, delightful, and low on waste.
Skip plastic where you can
So much of what fills our carts (and stockings) this season is made from plastic — from disposable tableware and small toys to decorations. And while convenient, plastic has a long life beyond the party. Most types aren’t recycled; in fact, only about 5% of plastic in the U.S. is successfully recycled.² The rest often goes to landfills, oceans, or shed off tinier microplastic pieces that end up in dust in our air and water.
When possible, look for alternatives made from glass, metal, paper, or bamboo. They can often be reused or recycled more effectively, and they don’t release plastic particles as they break down. Even small swaps, like choosing reusable food containers over cling wrap or real plates over disposables, make a measurable difference when practiced across millions of households.
Mind the ingredients in your gifts
The holidays can also fill our homes with more than just wrapping paper — candles, lotions, and cleaning sprays are all part of the season. But not all formulas are created equal. Some conventional products may include ingredients of concern such as parabens, phthalates, or formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, which have been linked to potential health or environmental impacts.³⁴⁵
If you’re giving a self-care gift or stocking stuffer, take a moment to check the label. Opt for products that disclose their ingredients clearly and avoid unnecessary synthetic additives or fragrances. Candles made with soy, coconut, or beeswax bases and cotton wicks produce less air pollutants than those made with petroleum-derived waxes, and products scented with essential oils or naturally derived fragrance blends tend to be gentler on the air inside your home.
Transparency is the best gift here. When you know what’s in the product, you can make an informed choice for the people you care about.
Bring joy without the excess
Reducing means doing things differently as much as it means doing less. Find ways to make last year’s décor (or trading with friends) can keep things fresh without new purchases. Even choosing LED lights over traditional bulbs helps lower both energy use and waste.
When we shift our focus from “more” to “meaningful,” we create traditions that last long after the wrapping paper’s gone.
The takeaway
Every ribbon saved, bag reused, and mindful choice adds up. By reducing waste this holiday season, we can create new traditions and rediscover the joy in simplicity, creativity, and care. And while no one can do everything, small, thoughtful changes made in millions of homes can shape a season that honors both people and the planet, without all the extra trash.
Sources
1 Center for Biological Diversity. (n.d.). Simplify the holidays: Stats and facts. https://simplifytheholidays.org/stats-and-facts
2 Greenpeace USA. (2022). Circular claims fall flat again. https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/circular-claims-fall-flat-again/
3 Chatterjee, S., Adhikary, S., Bhattacharya, S., Chakraborty, A., Dutta, S., Roy, D., Ganguly, A., Nanda, S., & Rajak, P. (2024). Parabens as the double-edged sword: Understanding the benefits and potential health risks. Science of The Total Environment, 954, 176547. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969724067032
4 Environmental Working Group (EWG). (2024, September). What are phthalates? https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2024/09/what-are-phthalates
5 Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. (n.d.). Formaldehyde. https://www.safecosmetics.org/chemicals/formaldehyde/
