Circular Celebrations: A guide to a leaner, greener holiday season
The holidays are full of joy, food, family gatherings and often a lot of waste. From torn gift wrap to wasted leftovers, it all adds up. With a few smart swaps we can all celebrate sustainably and save money!
Let’s make this season circular. That means rethinking how we buy, use and reuse. Together we can keep things out of the trash and in use, so they don’t go to waste.
Choose quality over quantity
Avoid cheaply made products when searching for gifts, decorations or party supplies. Choose items that will last. You can find gently used quality items at thrift stores and online platforms. Think of how many low-quality items you have thrown away and bought again. Fewer replacements mean less waste and more savings.
Shop local and circular
Support local artisans and businesses that reuse, refill or refurbish. Thrift shops,
refilleries and businesses that upcycle are all great places to shop as you check
off items on your list.
Choose reuse over convenience
Ditch disposables! Use real plates, cloth napkins and reusable gift bags. Try furoshiki, a beautiful Japanese artform for wrapping gifts with reusable fabric. No tape required!
Ordering takeout? Let them know you have your own cutlery, napkins and condiments to avoid that excess waste.
Get creative
Experiences, home-made gifts and photo books can all make the best gifts and might mean more than store bought stuff. These are the gifts that last a lifetime!
Repair, don’t replace
It’s a busy time of year and yes, it’s quicker to toss a broken item out than fix it, but a successful repair can be satisfying. Repair a broken set of lights, a treasured ornament or mend a favourite tablecloth rather than tossing it away. Find online tutorials on how to repair and mend or visit a local repair shop if needed.
Keep calm and plan on
Parties, family gatherings, work potlucks plus your regular meals … so much food is prepped and served over the holidays. It can be a challenge to avoid food waste. Planning ahead, shopping with a list and choosing recipes that use cross-over ingredients is a great start.
Holiday leftovers can also be a blessing. Planned leftovers or “planned-overs” can save the day in a pinch when life gets busy.
Know where it goes
Don’t let the garbage bin be your go-to. Recycle what you can, compost your food scraps and drop off hazardous waste like batteries or electronics at your local waste depot for safe recycling and disposal. If in doubt, don’t toss it out! Use the Bindicator to look up what goes where.
This year let’s celebrate with a more circular approach that can reduce waste and save money over the holidays!
Find more circular programs at york.ca/CircularEconomy
