Get your recipes out and your decorations up; the holiday season is approaching. ‘Tis the time for festive parties, gift exchanges, seasonal items, and 25% more waste according to the EPA. Do your part, and make your holiday season a more sustainable one. Here are some tips for reducing waste for a festive sustainable holiday season.

1. Buy Local and Buy Sustainably

By purchasing local foods, you are helping to sustain the farmland in your and nearby communities. Not only is it more environmentally friendly, but it is also tastier! Locally grown foods are picked when they are ripe, and it reduces carbon emissions as there is far less distance to travel. According to the Worldwatch Institute, buying locally sourced products instead of those that are shipped reduces carbon emissions 5 - 17 times. The same goes for buying that perfect gift for everyone on your list. Shop from sustainable companies that use recycled materials and ethical manufacturing. Check for the icons below like you’ll see on Recover Brands products. These icons are the ultimate sustainability stamp of approval

2. Recycle Mindfully 

Another way to cut your waste during the holiday season is by knowing the dos and don’ts of recycling holiday staples. When we recycle items that cannot be recycled, it adds waste and reduces efficiency. Non-recyclable items can also contaminate an entire load of recyclable items, meaning items that could've been recycled will instead be sent to landfills. 

Here are some items that cannot be recycled: 

• Tissue paper 
• Ribbons 
• Metallic Wrapping paper
• Cards containing glitter
• Gift bags
• Styrofoam
• Food contaminated boxes
• Don’t bag your recycling, plastic bags aren't recyclable 

3. Get Creative! 

Instead of spending on wrapping paper that can’t be recycled, use material you already have on hand. Try using magazines, newspapers, or even old fabric to wrap your gifts. Swap to paper tape instead of plastic and use twine instead of plastic ribbon. You can also forget the packaging and paper waste, and give gifts that don’t need wrapping. Gift your friends and family with event tickets or planned trips. 

Whatever your holiday season looks like, there are always ways to reduce waste, and your individual effort makes a huge difference! Every item you recycle makes its way back to a manufacturer reducing the need for new production. And every item reused lowers the need for new materials to be produced! Give back to Mother Earth this year; reuse and reduce. 

Recover wishes you a happy, healthy, and sustainable holiday season.