The holiday season gives us one last chance to gather, give, dine, and indulge before the year ends. But with the seemingly endless number of tasks that go along with dinners, get-togethers, and school functions, sustainability isn’t often a top priority and the season is known to generate an enormous amount of waste. No matter how you celebrate, sustainability can still be woven into your traditions, or help you to create new ones.
One example is by choosing natural decor. While reusable decorations may fit a trendy aesthetic, those shatter-proof plastic ornaments and glitter-coated tchotchkes are made from forever-plastics that often end up in a landfill. By decorating the rest of your home with natural materials, you’ll have beautiful decor that even the kids can help create.
“Dehydrated orange slices can make a great light-catcher,” says Chelsea Evenson, owner of Odd Daughter Vintage, a shop located within Hyperbole, a Beacon-based retailer that sells artisan-crafted goods and more. “It’s a tradition with my kids to make natural decor like those or pomander balls made from oranges with whole cloves poked in—they smell so good.”
Did you know that an artificial tree would need to be reused for more than 20 years to offset its impact? A real tree can be recycled, mulched, or even kept potted year-round, and its branches can be used as additional decor.
Evenson also suggests using found objects as a centerpiece, such as purchasing a thrifted crystal bowl and filling with pine cones, pepperberries, and evergreen branches, surrounding a pillar candle. Or, creating reusable decor from upcycled household objects. “Another family tradition we have is making brown paper bag stars,” she says. “All you need are some brown paper lunch bags, glue to attach the bags, and scissors to cut the bags in the same way you’d make a paper snowflake. When you unravel them, you’re left with giant 3-D stars that you can use over the years.”
Thrift shopping is not only eco-consicious, but on-trend; vintage holiday vibes are in “I think nostalgia is a common theme this year because there’s been a lot of conflict around us and that can be tough on people’s spirits, so they yearn for feelings of comfort,” Evenson says. She also suggests using thrift-store finds in new ways, like trinkets or brooches as place settings for holiday meals.
Evenson is a pro at breathing new life into old or unexpected items. Her shop specializes in funky, one-of-a-kind statement pieces and wardrobe staples that often hold multiple purposes, like mens’ wool coats from the 1960s. “I grew up trying on my grandpa’s leather coats to style them, and I carry that idea into Odd Daughter,” she says. “You’ll find things like hyperfeminine pieces from the 1950s-’60s, but I try to keep things neutral.”
She also offers a selection of accessories, like vintage scarves, for which she offers another holiday tip. “If you collect vintage scarves all year, you can use them as wrapping paper that doubles as a small gift,” she says. Additional eco-friendly alternatives for gift wrap include brown paper or newspaper, finished with fabric ribbon, as typical gift wrap and tissue paper are not recyclable.
When preparing a meal, it’s advised to use as much local, in-season produce as possible. You can freeze extras or inquire with your local food pantry or community organizations to see if they’re in need of donations.
Zero-waste butchery, cafe, and market Dave the Butcher opened earlier this year in Beacon, and owner Dave Mountain offers some additional tips for sustainable suppers: “First, shop local; the easiest way you can be more sustainable is by minimizing the amount of gas needed to get food to your table,” he explains. “But in terms of the food itself, once it’s on the plate or at home, save the bones of your roast and the clippings from your vegetables to make stock. I’m talking skins and roots of onions and carrots, discarded celery … the easiest ratio is 1:1 bones to water plus all of your clippings for a nice, unctuous stock. Plus, it freezes so in a few months when you’re cold, you can have soup halfway done.”
While dishes can be a bear after hosting a large dinner, reduce waste by avoiding disposables, or opting for vintage dinnerware and cutlery should you need more. Shopping vintage also contributes to a reduction in overall demand for overproduced items, especially when gift shopping. Otherwise, consider gifts of experiences or donations to a good cause in someone’s honor; your generosity can make a neighbor in-need’s holiday just as special, creating more sustainability in your overall community.
