Some tips for a greener holiday season 💚

Every year, nearly 540,000 tons of wrapping paper end up in the trash during the holiday season. Not to mention the tons of items and toys that also end up in landfills, or that fill our homes because they were gifts that weren't really useful or wanted. Below, I'll give you some tips for a more eco-friendly holiday season.

Artificial or natural tree?

By now, you've probably already bought your tree, but we can't talk about green holidays without addressing it. There's a lot of debate about which alternative is greener. If you plan on keeping your artificial tree for a long time (between 5 and 20 years, studies vary), then artificial trees are more environmentally friendly and less polluting. On the other hand, artificial trees contain petroleum and are often made in Asia, so if you plan on changing it in a year or two, opt for a natural tree instead! The best of all possible worlds? A natural tree that you cut yourself in the forest, in a place where it's allowed, of course.

Offer experiences instead of gifts

Why not treat your loved ones to an activity or experience? Use your creativity and find something that the person in question will enjoy. Even better, offer to do the activity with them (we know parents and children love it!), giving them some extra quality time. Here are some ideas:

• Gift certificate for a spa, restaurant or even a boutique
• A trip to the cinema or the theater
• An "escape room"
• Axe throwing
• An outing to see a band or a sports team
• The Randolph
• Ceramic Cafe
• Laser tag / Paintball
• Ecological refuge
• Eco-resort, hotel stay, or chalet
• Etc.

What about others and the gifts they will give you?

Give them a list of things you need (you can encourage them to do the same), and be as specific as possible. Want a new coffee maker and know exactly which one you want? Send them the link. It makes their job easier, and it ensures you get a 100% useful and desired gift. Is it a gift for a child? I assure you, parents already know what their child wants. Don't be afraid to ask!

Okay, now let's talk about packaging!

Paper by the ton for a second and a half of tearing pleasure? It's out! Let's enter the new year by creating less waste and contributing to a cleaner planet. How? A simple and easy option would be wrappings and bows made from salvaged and reusable fabrics . Santa's pocket-style fabric bags have also appeared in recent years. You can reuse them year after year! And, don't hesitate to ask for them again when the person has unwrapped their gift, you only have to tell them once; next year, they'll know you're collecting them afterward. Even if you're a little creative, you can buy scraps of fabric yourself and finish the edge to create your own furoshikis. It will be less expensive and you can leave them in the container.

Alternatively, you can wrap the gifts in pretty tea towels, which makes a small gift in itself. Other great options include: kraft paper (compostable), newspaper or a magazine you have on hand, or paper gift bags (as long as you reuse them instead of throwing them away).

Go to the store, and to all the Christmas parties

Something that might not come to mind naturally is thinking about all the cars on the road during the holidays, going to buy gifts, grocery shopping, visiting loved ones... If you can, try public transit, or carpooling when possible.

Finally, the leftovers from the thousand and one holiday dinners

Whether it's your own leftovers or Aunt Louise's, you're guaranteed to be overflowing with food. Why not stock up on glass containers, cloth snack bags, dish covers, and beeswax food wrap to help you properly store all that food? Tip: Plan your post-holiday meals by incorporating one or two of the leftovers into each day until you use up all of them.

Final word

Finally, after all this, you're still going to have waste, it's inevitable. Make sure you sort everything properly (even if it takes a little longer!) and put it in the appropriate bins, whether it's compost, recycling, or trash. Here's a little guide that can help you know what goes in recycling .