Let's stay sustainable this holiday season!

Tips for a Sustainable Holiday: 

Take 1 – After Thanksgiving

We've shared our green ideas for Halloween, and Thanksgiving is just a faint memory... It’s finally that time of year when the weather begins to get a little nippy and the leaves are falling, hinting that winter is right around the corner. Here are a few friendly tips to make your December a green one:

1. Plan Ahead:  Feeding America estimates that we throw away over 70 billion pounds of food each year, costing over $100 billion dollars. To help lower this, plan ahead when shopping for your family or for a crowd. Cooking enough to feed an entire village may be a little extreme if you plan on only have a few friends and family members over. Why not lessen the burden and have a potluck? You have less to cook, more time to relax and in the end results in a good food portion to people ratio.

 

2. Shop Local: Before we all get too close to the holiday rush, take a minute and think about where your food comes from. When preparing your shopping list, think local. Organic is healthy, too, but either of these greener options are sure to guarantee a fresher, more complete meal. Visit the NC Farm Fresh website to find a farmer offering local fruits, vegetables, and even ethically-raised, free range local turkeys! (Plan ahead and order today) 

3. Reduce Energy Consumption:   If you must go over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house, make sure to turn down that thermostat, turn off the lights and unplug any unessential electrical appliances before you leave to go out of town. Planning your holiday shopping to combine errands and drive in a loop rather than a zig-zag will also cut down on your fuel use. It's less expensive right now, but that doesn't make it any less of a polluter.

Last but not least, keep it simple by going back to basics:  

4. RECYCLE all packaging and beverage containers which will significantly reduce how much garbage you send off to the landfill. Not sure what to recycle? Check out Recycle More NC for where to take your recyclables.

Have a safe and happy holiday and don’t forget to think sustainably during the season of consumption!