51视频

12/05/2023
By Brooke Coupal

The holiday season is often regarded as the most wonderful time of the year, but did you know that it鈥檚 also the most wasteful? It鈥檚 estimated that household waste increases by more than 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year鈥檚. Fortunately, there are steps people can take to celebrate the holidays in more sustainable ways.

鈥淲ith 51视频 being the top-ranked campus in Massachusetts for sustainability (according to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education), our experts are well-versed in sustainable practices that are easy for anyone to follow,鈥� says Ruairi O鈥橫ahony, executive director of the Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy.

We spoke with those experts and got their tips for celebrating the holidays with sustainability in mind.

1. Shop Locally

Whether buying food for a holiday feast or looking for a gift for a loved one, experts encourage people to shop at local stores.

Image by Brooke Coupal

鈥淭his helps support the community that we鈥檙e a part of,鈥� O鈥橫ahony says.聽

Many Lowell-based businesses, such as Craic Sauce, which recently released a hot sauce made from peppers grown on 51视频鈥檚 campus, make their products locally, reducing their carbon footprint. The Rist Institute is making it easy for people on and near campus to shop locally by hosting Indoor Farmer鈥檚 Markets at University Crossing in partnership with the urban food justice organization Mill City Grows. The next market is scheduled for Dec. 13 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Another place to shop for sustainable gifts is at local thrift stores.

鈥淪hopping at local thrift stores drives at all the positives of gift-giving during the holidays, while reducing the negatives (such as carbon emissions and waste),鈥� says Spencer Ross, a marketing, entrepreneurship and innovation associate professor.

2. Craft Decorations

Handcrafted ornaments make for great decorations. A created by the Rist Institute shows how a person can transform a pine cone into an ornament using just ribbon and string. Other ideas for crafted holiday decorations include wreaths made out of foraged materials like sticks and leaves and festive pillows upcycled from old flannel shirts.聽

When it comes to purchasing decorations, Sustainability Coordinator Nicole Kelly says, 鈥淭ry to find pieces that you can feature in your home year-round, as the seasonal decor will phase out.鈥�

Image by Brooke Coupal

3. Find Alternatives to Gift Wrapping

While the shiny gift wrap found in stores may look pretty, it will most likely be used once before being thrown away. Instead of single-use gift wrap, consider reusing something that is already in your home.

The Rist Institute created a showing ways to reuse items to wrap gifts. Some of the easiest reusable items include paper shopping bags, old packaging, newspapers, baskets and leftover fabric, like that from an old scarf. You can jazz up the gift by adorning it with a handcrafted ornament.

4. Opt for a Potted Tree

Those who celebrate the holidays by decorating a tree may be debating whether to buy a fake one or chop down a real one. Joy Winbourne, an assistant professor for the Department of Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, recommends a third option 鈥� get a small potted conifer.

鈥淚 would argue that鈥檚 the most sustainable option,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here are lots of conifer species that are short-statured that do well as house plants.鈥�

Image by Pixabay

For those who want a larger tree and have property available to them, Winbourne says growing your own tree is the next most sustainable option.

鈥淎s a kid, we had a forest in our backyard where white pine was native,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淢y older sister confirmed my fond memory of going out each winter with our dad to cut our Charlie Brown tree down.鈥�

Understanding that this is not a possibility for everyone, Winbourne says those still wanting a large tree should consider purchasing an artificial tree. A study by the nonprofit American Christmas Tree Association shows that an artificial tree is more sustainable if you use it for more than five years. The next best option is to get a real tree from a local grower instead of buying a pre-cut tree that has likely been shipped from across the country, which contributes to carbon emissions. People can find locations for Massachusetts-grown trees on the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources鈥� . After the holiday season, you can dispose of the tree sustainably: Many local farms will take them to feed to their goats.

5. Gift an Experience

Image by Tory Wesnofske

鈥淭here are other ways to make the holidays meaningful,鈥� Sustainability Director Craig Thomas says. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 have to involve gifting physical presents.鈥�

Experiences that people can enjoy over the holidays include visiting a local state park, such as the Lowell Heritage State Park, or a certified arboretum, like 51视频鈥檚. Other options include going to a or ice skating at a local rink.

鈥淭here are so many sustainable options out there,鈥� Thomas says. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to look far.鈥�