The Zero Waste Holiday Challenge
Photo by Annie Spratt
With supply chain issues already impacting us we have a choice this year... scramble and stock up early, over paying for items that are in high demand or choose to slow down and take this as a sign to stick local and scale back!
Zero Waste Intentions
Every year I have great intentions to minimize my kids expectations and scale back on the hoopla of “the big day,” only for the day to arrive and for my husband and I to look around and ask each other what the heck happened!? The main source of the problem is not communicating, both with each other and with the rest of our family who gift us and the kids things. This can be hard, especially when you don’t want to come off seeming ungrateful or rude. This is where the Zero Waste Holiday Challenge comes into play and becomes the perfect excuse to share your wishes with your loved ones for a waste-free holiday!
Photo by Dilyara Garifullina
How the Zero Waste Holiday Challenge works:
You and your immediate household take the pledge to eliminate as much single use packaging and products from your holiday shopping. A couple tips to make this easier:
Eliminate gift wrap by reusing a bag or old packing paper
Buy secondhand to avoid excess packaging
Say no to bringing in anything disposable
Consider special time together like a day of baking your child’s favourites with them or going on a winter hiking adventure in lieu of physical gifts
Ask people for their favourite recipes instead of Christmas cards — not only will you end up with a bunch of amazing recipes, you’re more likely to keep the recipe card for much longer than a Christmas card
Spread the word to friends, family and even social media so that everyone knows that you are taking the challenge.
Try making it a competition between families to see who can have the least amount of waste at the end of the holidays — winner owes everyone a cup of hot cocoa!
Have a conversation with grandparents, siblings, and friends about your desire to be low waste this year.
If you’re asked for wish lists make sure to include experiences (like maybe a Bare Refillery workshop?), handmade, local items or things you know can be found secondhand. If it has to be new, do your research on warranties, the ability to fix the items and sustainability practices to make sure you’re supporting businesses that are doing better!
Save all the packaging and audit how you did at the end of the holidays (and collect your sweet, sweet hot cocoa winnings)!
Photo by SB Vonlanthen
Little actions have a huge impact, so this year consider starting a zero waste holiday tradition! Make a point this year (and hopefully every year after) to only gift intentional items full of love and care for each other and this beautiful planet. Presence is the best present — meaning show up as a conscious consumer and share things from the heart.
Stay tuned for our Holiday Gift Guide featuring special zero waste Bare Refillery gift baskets for everyone on your list (yes, even teenagers!) as well as special locally handmade items from some of our favourite makers and small businesses.