Holiday Sustainability: Purpose and Meaning
- HDT Team
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
A More Meaningful Holiday Season
The holiday season is a time for joy, connection, and celebration. It’s when we gather with friends and family, share delicious meals, exchange gifts, and hopefully slow down to appreciate the year behind us. But let’s be honest, that’s not always how it feels and those “grinchy” feelings seem to keep expanding.
For many, the holidays are a season of stress. Between shopping, spending, wrapping, decorating, and traveling, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most and forget to savor the important things. “Nearly nine in 10 (adults) say that concerns such as not having enough money, missing loved ones and anticipating family conflict cause them stress at this time of year.” At the same time, Americans are accumulating more “stuff” than ever, contributing to clutter, waste, and even more mental fatigue and stress.
This year, let’s take a step back and consider how to celebrate with more intention. A sustainable holiday isn’t about giving up traditions; it’s about finding new ways to make those traditions more meaningful, less wasteful, and more fulfilling.
The Gift Conundrum: Spending Too Much Money, Getting/Having Too Much Stuff
Being a conscious consumer means thinking about where your purchases come from, how they were made, and what impact they have on both people and the planet. Gift-giving is a beautiful way to express love but gifts don’t have to come at the cost of sustainability. This season, try these mindful alternatives:
Shop Local and Shop Small
When you shop at local businesses, your dollars stay in your community, supporting jobs, families, and local causes. It’s also a great way to find one-of-a-kind gifts with a personal touch. Visit craft fairs, or local boutiques for handmade items, artisan foods and other consumable/usable products.
If you need to shop online, skip the big box stores and support small creators through platforms like Etsy or small independent retailers. Every purchase from a local maker helps keep creativity and craftsmanship alive in your area. “Shopping local can return more than three times as much money per dollar of sales to the local economy.”
Thrift, Secondhand, and DIY Gifts
Thrift and vintage stores are treasure troves of unique finds, from books and board games to jewelry and home décor. Buying secondhand keeps usable items out of landfills and often supports nonprofit organizations in your community.
If you love to create, try DIY or handmade gifts. Homemade jams, knitted scarves, or hand-poured candles can be more meaningful than anything you could buy. If crafting isn’t your thing, you can still support local makers by shopping at craft fairs or artisan markets.
And don’t forget about the timeless homemade coupon book. Who wouldn’t enjoy a thoughtful, personalized, classic gift full of love and creativity? Whether it’s a “free night of babysitting,” “breakfast in bed,” or “one homemade dinner,” these gifts of time and service are often more appreciated than anything store-bought.
Give the Gift of Experiences
When you think back on your favorite holidays, it’s probably not the gifts you remember most — it’s the moments. This year, consider giving experiences instead of things.
-Take a cooking or crafting class together.-Gift memberships to local museums, parks, or fitness centers.-Buy tickets to a concert, play, or special event.-Offer a babysitting night to busy parents
These kinds of gifts create lasting memories, not clutter.
Reduce Waste and Reuse What You Can
The holidays can be incredibly wasteful from packaging to food to wrapping paper. Luckily, small changes can make a big difference.
Use Sustainable Dishware
Have a BYO-U party! Bring your own utensils. Skip disposable plates and utensils when entertaining. Borrow extra dishware from friends or ask guests to bring their own. If disposables are necessary, choose compostable or recycled options. And don’t forget your reusable straws (great gift idea) and cloth napkins!
Decrease Food Waste
Plan your meals carefully so you don’t overbuy. Use up leftovers creatively or invite friends over for a “leftover party.” Have a game night or a movie night to be with friends and family and connect. Bring reusable grocery bags and buy in bulk when possible to reduce packaging.
Rethink Wrapping
Instead of single-use wrapping paper, try reusable fabric wraps (Furoshiki), gift bags, or even decorated brown paper or newspaper. Fabric wrap is a fun tradition — recipients can reuse it year after year!
Recycle or Repurpose Holiday Cards
Cut last year’s cards into gift tags or decorations, or send e-cards this year to save paper. If you love traditional cards, buy ones made from recycled materials and be sure to recycle them after the holidays.
Recycle Your Tree
If you love real trees, find local tree recycling programs — many communities turn them into mulch for parks and gardens. Artificial trees can also be reused year after year, reducing waste over time.
Give Back to Your Community
The holidays are also a wonderful time to share your generosity. There are countless ways to give back, no matter your budget:
-Support a local food shelf
In the Northern Lakes Area, the Pine River-Backus Family Center and the Lakes Area Food Shelf both provide food, as well as addressing other needs. In the Driftless Area, Winona Volunteer Services runs a food shelf. There is also Trempeleau County food shelf located in Trempeleau Village Hall and WAFER Food Pantry
-Donate gently used clothing, toys, or food to local charities.
-Volunteer your time: serve meals, ring bells, walk shelter dogs, or visit nursing home residents. JustServe is an online database of volunteer opportunities.
The gift of your time, kindness, and compassion often has the greatest impact.
Opt Outside
Skip the chaos of Black Friday and join the #OptOutside movement. Spend the day after Thanksgiving exploring nature instead of shopping malls. Minnesota offers Free Park Friday, giving you and your family a free pass to state parks that day. Fresh air and time in nature can be the perfect start to a mindful holiday season.
A Season for Connection
At its heart, the holiday season is about connection, with loved ones, with our communities, and with the world around us. By choosing to be more intentional in how we give, shop, and celebrate, we can rediscover the joy and peace that this time of year is meant to bring.
This year, let’s focus on memories instead of materials, presence instead of presents, and connection instead of consumption.
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