Eco-Friendly Thanksgiving Tips

If being environmentally friendly is important to you, then you know that the Holidays can be especially hard on the environment.  After Christmas, pine and fir trees are often dumped or incinerated.  There’s also all that wrapping paper that usually ends up in the trash.  On Valentine’s Day, the cards we buy result in more paper waste.

Even Thanksgiving is no stranger to environmental damage.   The huge dinners that are a part of most families’ Thanksgiving traditions can also have a negative impact on the environment.

Here are some tips for being more responsible toward the environment while still enjoying your Thanksgiving dinner and holiday:

1.  When shopping for your Thanksgiving needs, bring along reusable totes to carry everything. A reusable bag is always better for the environment than either paper or plastic.  When possible, buy foods that come in reusable packaging if that’s an option.

2.  Buy local goods as much as possible.  Free range turkeys are readily available in many areas. If they’re not native to your area, consider a meat that is.  Local fruits and vegetables can be found at the farmer’s market.  Buying foods that are raised nearby eliminates the need to transport them over long distances, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  When you buy local, there’s also a better chance of finding organic meat and produce, which is also less harmful to the environment and your health.

3.  Compost portions of fruits and vegetables that can’t be used in some other way.  Composting reduces waste and provides great fertilizer for next year’s garden.

4.  Avoid disposable products as much as possible.  Paper plates and plastic utensils may be more convenient when you’re having a big meal, but they create unnecessary waste.  As  for leftovers, use reusable plastic containers with lids  instead of wrapping them in foil or plastic wrap.

5.  If you’re visiting someone else’s house to eat, bring along some reusable plastic containers for leftovers.  Hosts often send guests home with leftovers, but package them in disposable containers instead of reusable ones to avoid loss of their own containers.  By bringing your own containers, you will eliminate the need for disposable packaging.

6.  Thanksgiving travel can also be hard on the environment.  If you intend to drive, talk to other nearby family members about carpooling.  If traveling a long distance, consider taking a train instead of flying if possible.  Those who must fly can purchase carbon credits to offset their impact on the environment.

On Thanksgiving, we give thanks for the things and people we are blessed with.  Nature has given us many wonderful gifts throughout our lives, so it makes sense to keep the environment in mind during the holiday festivities.

Chele Neisler is your host for Moms Love Shopping. As a mother of three boys, Chele is happy to have Moms Love Shopping as an outlet and a connection to other women. Spending every moment with all males isn’t easy! Hosting the show also allows her the chance to return to her two first loves, shopping and chatting.