The Holidays Are Destroying Our Planet
For years I’ve been the resident Scrooge, humbugging my way through the holidays. My reasons for opting out are varied, but the disastrous environmental effect is a big one.
The season of joy is catastrophic to our planet, and we’re all contributing. Most of us agree that climate change is a considerable threat. Especially since the government reversed environmental policies and rejected the Paris Agreement. It’s up to us to make greener choices. But tradition is powerful. Even the best-intentioned among us can set aside moral principles for rite and ritual. We waste more during the holidays than at any other time of the year, and the consequences are severe. The holidays are destroying the planet.
So, How Screwed Are We?
There’s a constant stream of scientific reports reminding us how screwed we are. What do they tell us?
Over 500 million people live in areas affected by global warming (barren wastelands and flood plains). Rising temps will cause more floods, droughts, fires, and natural disasters. Ten million more people will be exposed between 2030 and 2052.
Infrastructure, agriculture, ecosystems, and communities will continue to disintegrate.
Marginalized, vulnerable, and poor populations are affected more, causing forced migration. A critical issue as we discuss the state of our immigration system.
There will be a rise in climate-related disease and death. Between 2030 and 2050, about 250 thousand people will die every year. Another 350 million will be exposed to deadly heat. And 7 million will die from air pollution. Another critical issue as we debate the status of our healthcare system.
Indigenous cultures are particularly vulnerable to climate change; they rely on natural resources. (A sobering thought on Thanksgiving Day.)
Our ecosystems are deteriorating “more rapidly than ever.” Roughly a million animal and plant species risk extinction.
Our efforts aren’t enough to reverse continued damage. We show no signs of slowing as populations grow. Unless people have fewer children, we’ll continue relying on current (failing) efforts. We need to cut emissions by 7.5% a year over the next decade. If we had gotten our act together in 2010, we’d only have to reduce them by 0.7%. **
** See below for links to the detailed reports
Each report offers a deluge of alarming conclusions. They all agree we’ll continue to screw ourselves unless we make serious changes. We’re leaving our children a shattered world that sabotages them through every stage of life.
Now that I’ve depressed you let me remind you there's hope. We can save ourselves and our planet if we want to. We can start by making better choices when we’re most destructive: the holidays.
The Most Wasteful Time Of The Year
The most wonderful time of the year is also the most wasteful.
During the holidays, we produce (at least) 25% more waste than usual. That waste — particularly food — decomposes in landfills, creating harmful greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide. Most of us know carbon dioxide is toxic. But methane is especially damaging. It’s 21 times worse for the environment than carbon dioxide. Landfills are the third-largest source of human-created methane (behind fossil fuels and farming). So all that holiday waste that ends up in landfills is no joke. And the non-recyclables are the tip of the melting iceberg. The holidays are wasteful in many ways.
5 Types Of Holiday Waste
Look, I get it. Who wouldn’t want to feast in opulence, lavish others with gifts, and dance amidst twinkling lights? I’ve replaced celebrations with camping trips where I feast on dehydrated meals and dance beneath the stars. It’s a great way to spend the holidays, but of course, I miss people, food, and toys like any other red-blooded American.
I do it because we’re celebrating on a dying earth. Boo, what a buzzkill. Check out all the ways the holidays contribute to global warming.
Travel
Transportation is the second-highest source of greenhouse emissions in America. Over Thanksgiving, long-distance travel increases by 54%, and between Christmas and NYE flights increase by 23%. About 91% of trips are by car, 6% by air, and 3% by bus, boat, or train. Santa’s sleigh runs on love, so it’s carbon neutral. But travel waste isn’t limited to transport. Travelers buy more plastic-wrapped snacks, bottled water, and magazines. Then throw the leftovers in the trash.
Shopping
We aren't the only ones traveling for the holidays. Everything we buy comes from somewhere. The life cycle of a product — from inception to disposal — leaves a carbon footprint. It's farmed or manufactured, processed, packaged, transported, displayed, used, and disposed. Every step uses fuel or energy, creating pollution or waste.
We wake up at dawn for Black Friday deals. Advertising companies seduce us into believing this is the day to buy everything we don’t need. About 190 million people shop on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, spending over $730 billion. Most of it ends up in landfills.
Food
Every year, we waste 28 billion pounds of food, adding up to $165 billion. That’s roughly 40% of the food supply. And we waste most of it during the holidays. We can make a significant impact on climate change by reducing food waste.
On Thanksgiving Day, we waste 172 million pounds of turkey, 162 million pounds of potatoes and vegetables, 38 million pounds of stuffing, 35 million pounds of cranberry sauce, and 30 million pounds of gravy. That’s 476 thousand tons of carbon dioxide; that’s equivalent to driving a billion miles. Turkey, a Thanksgiving dinner favorite, has one of the highest carbon footprints for popular foods. I find it ironic that people declare gratitude immediately before overindulging and throwing out the scraps.
Didn't we all get the "... starving children in [country]" guilt trip?
Gifts
Half of the paper we use every year is to wrap gifts. All that paper adds up to $8.2 billion a year. If every family wrapped three fewer gifts, we'd save enough paper to cover 45 thousand football fields. And we buy 1.9 billion holiday cards every year, causing the harvesting of 300 thousand trees.
We can reuse or recycle most of our holiday materials, but most of us don’t know how to recycle gift packaging. Recycling centers send (otherwise) recyclable material to landfills because it's mixed with trash.
Some common materials you can’t recycle are bubble wrap, cellophane, ribbons, bows, glitter, gift bags, metallic wrapping paper, and packing foam. But you can reuse them. And it’s not as easy as tossing the wrapping paper into the recycling bin and walking away. Cardboard and plastic can only be recycled when separated. Sticky gift tags are only recyclable when attached to paper material. Wrapping paper can’t be recycled if there’s glue on it. Nothing can be recycled with glitter on it; that stuff is deadly. And boxes need to be broken down into manageable, flat pieces.
Americans create over 7 billion pounds of electronic waste every year. E-waste releases harmful toxins — lead, arsenic, and mercury — chemicals that hurt humans, wildlife, and the environment.
Decorations
A common holiday dilemma is deciding which type of tree to get: natural or artificial. A natural Christmas farm tree is the best option. While trees are being farmed, they collect carbon dioxide and release oxygen, slowing global warming. Farms plant trees for the holidays, so they don’t contribute to deforestation. Some states have low-pesticide farms. The life cycle of an artificial tree is hard on the environment. Most are PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or PE (polyethylene), two plastics made with coal and crude oil. And they’re usually shipped from China. The carbon footprint of an artificial Christmas tree is 250%-1000% larger than a natural tree. An artificial tree has to be reused for 20 years for the carbon footprint to break even with a natural tree. Over 80% of Americans are opting for artificial trees, reusing them for about ten years (not 20).
The greenest bet is to get a natural tree from a local Christmas farm and recycle it. The same goes for wreaths and other leafy decorations.
Holiday lights account for over 6.6 billion kilowatt-hours of energy every year. That’s enough energy to light entire countries. Incandescent Christmas lights generate heat, making them a fire hazard. The last thing anyone needs is Fluffy going up in flames. And fireworks are notorious for polluting the air, soil, and water.
Light decorations are lovely, but it may be time to replace them with another tradition. In place of Thanksgiving, I go to Native American lands to appreciate the history and culture and support local artisans. For Christmas, I go to national parks and savor the solitude (i.e., Zion National Park without the crowds). The opportunities are endless.
How To Save The Planet
In a perfect world, we’d all be able to reverse the effects of climate change overnight. Have our cake, eat it, and throw the crumbs at the smug hippie telling us how to celebrate our holidays. The next best thing is to make greener choices, so we aren’t hemorrhaging waste and scorching the earth. Start small and build. Here are some ways you can celebrate and feel better about your carbon footprint.
Travel
Carpool, rideshare, take public transit, or ride a bike.
Set thermostats to lower temps. While you’re gone and when you have people over (body heat will make up the difference).
Aim for optimal gas mileage.
Bring prepared snacks and a reusable water bottle.
Recycle your waste.
Shopping
Shop at second-hand stores, garage sales, antique stores, and flea markets.
Buy sustainable products; this browser plugin shows you sustainable alternatives while shopping online.
Opt for package-free merchandise.
Choose slower shipping (faster shipping uses more fuel), with items in one package.
Buy local.
Reuse and recycle shipping materials.
Trade Black Friday for Giving Tuesday.
Don’t buy anything at all.
Food
Use the foods you already have.
Buy local, and don’t be afraid of ugly produce.
Eat more plant-based foods (you can’t compost meat).
Plan your quantities— one pound of turkey per person.
Use the Guest-imator, a calculator that estimates how much food you need.
Shop at stores dedicated to reducing food waste and toxic chemicals.
Don’t use paper plates or plastic cups.
Try composting.
Use leftovers; they can be kept at least 3-4 days, frozen up to a year.
Gifts
Reuse or recycle wrapping paper, boxes, and gift bags.
Replace ribbon with twine, yarn, or raffia.
Instead of wrapping gifts, hide them around the house (like a treasure hunt).
Put rechargeable batteries in electronic gifts.
Don’t recycle electronics with other materials. Check your recycling center for special instructions or check electronics recycling options.
Make gifts: bake something, knit, write a song, make art, etc.
Gift experiences: like memberships, event tickets, classes, favor coupons, donations in someone’s name, or monetary investments.
Don’t be afraid to re-gift, hand down, or give no gifts.
Give unwanted gifts to charity or someone else, or return them.
Send fewer cards (made from recycled materials).
Forgo cards for e-cards, social media greetings, or phone calls.
Decorations
Wait as long as possible to decorate and disassemble as earliest as possible.
Decorate a live tree, potted plant, or a tree slated for removal.
Make decorations with materials you have; reuse them next year.
Don’t use any decorations, rely on your festive personality.
Light up with solar-powered or LED lights. They use 75% less energy, a fraction of electricity, don’t generate heat, and last 25% longer.
Turn off lights when you’re away, or keep them on timers.
Use this carbon footprint calculator.
Final Thoughts
Change doesn’t happen overnight. One study showed environmentally-conscious gift-givers start by negotiating boundaries. Suggest limits like “one gift" or spending "$25.” Complications can arise if people don’t honor boundaries, so it may take repeated conversation, will, and patience.
In the end, it's about principles and setting an example for younger generations. If you’re already doing these things, I commend you. Baby steps are better than no steps. Nobody can be expected to do everything. But if we all did even a quarter of the things listed here, imagine the difference it would make to our environment and future. And if you can’t reduce, reuse, recycle for the holidays, at least spread the word so others can help heal the world.
Happy holidays!
** Climate change scientific reports
IPCC Assessment Report
IPCC Global Warming of 1.5 Degrees Celsius special report
IPCC Climate Change and Land special report
IPCC Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate special report
World Health Organization Health and Climate Change report
United Nations Biodiversity and Ecosystems report
United Nations United in Science report
Global Carbon Project "Global Energy Growth is Outpacing Decarbonization"
World Meteorological Organization Greenhouse Gas Bulletin
What tips do you have to celebrate the holidays in a climate-friendly world? Tell us in the comments.
