The holiday season brings plenty of cheer but December also brings an increase in shopping, food, travel; and subsequently a surge in waste. Although these things can be unavoidable, conscious efforts by individuals can help prevent an overwhelming amount of waste produced this holiday season.
Shopping, sales and gifts
According to the United States Census Bureau, e-commerce sales rose by 43% in 2020 due to the pandemic, and have been on the rise ever since. Added packaging trash and increased carbon emissions are direct consequences of shipping online purchases to the consumer.
To prevent this unnecessary added waste, shopping in-person at stores is the more sustainable option. Online purchases are more likely to be returned than items bought in person, according to the National Environment Education Foundation. In addition to the added emissions from shipping products back, most returned items end up in landfills.
“More than 80% of returns end up in landfills or shipped to developing countries as garbage,” said Hitendra Chaturvedi, an Arizona State University Professor. By shopping in-person, the risk of added waste is drastically reduced.
Shopping second-hand is another way to ensure that your gift is as waste-free as possible. According to Goodwill’s website, thrifting causes less resource consumption, fewer things to be thrown away, and less chemical pollution.
Consignment and thrift stores are widely available in L.A., and most cities in the U.S. Visiting one of these stores makes your gift more personalized and unique, as some recycled pieces can be unique and not found in stores that mass produce their items.
If you have time before heading home for the holidays, the USC Sustainability Hub is hosting a winter clothing drop ‘n’ swap and non-perishable food drive from now until December 5. Consider stopping by the Student Union building to donate lightly used winter clothing and/or add an item to your wardrobe. In addition, non-perishable food that is donated will be sent to the Trojan Food Pantry.
Food: holiday edition
Gifts aren’t the only environmentally unfriendly factor around the holidays, as food is another popular indulgence this season and a great perpetrator of waste. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, household waste increases by 25% around the holidays. The EPA has several tips on reducing food waste, including making a set grocery list to prevent overbuying, and storing leftovers in the freezer so they don’t go bad.
Finding new recipes to revamp your leftovers may encourage your family to eat the food from the day before and prevent the remnants of a large meal from being wasted. Upcycling food can become a creative way to both bring family and friends together as well as create a whole different and exciting meal. From sandwiches to soups to casseroles, the possibilities are endless.
“Cutting down on your food waste is a really important thing to think about during the holidays when we do tend to have these really big meals,” said Chelsea Graham, Experiential Learning Manager in the Office of Sustainability.
Leisure and travel
The holidays also give people a break, allowing travel to pick up a lot this time of year. Transportation is a top source of carbon dioxide emissions due to individuals returning home for the holidays, according to NEEF.
To keep your carbon footprint low, itineraries must be carefully planned. When possible, use a bus or train to return to your family. In cases where this is not feasible, driving should be the next choice. Only if all other alternatives have been exhausted should you fly on a plane, as flying has the largest carbon footprint.
“If you can’t avoid taking that airplane, think about how you can reduce your carbon footprint once you get to your destination. So whether or not that’s once you get home, you’re doing more walking or taking public transit, doing more carpooling, all those things can really help, especially if you can’t avoid that big air travel,” added Graham.
Becoming aware of the increased potential for waste around the holidays is the first step to contributing your bit to the environment. Being as thoughtful as possible when buying gifts, food supplies and planning your travel is important to prevent an excess amount of trash and unused items from building up in your local dump.