As the days get shorter and the weather turns colder, we illuminate the night with festive color and gather around warm meals to celebrate the holidays with our loved ones. From stringing lights, sharing gifts or cooking a variety of special dishes, our traditions are as unique and beautiful as we are from one another.

Making a sustainable switch in your holiday traditions doesn’t have to mean leaving what you know and love behind. These seven sustainable swaps put our planet first without sacrificing holiday charm!

Decorate With Diligence

Utilize natural elements like driftwood, live plants and locally sourced greenery for decorating your home. These items can be repurposed throughout the year, or composted at the end of the season.

LED string lights use up to 90% less energy than incandescent lights! If you’re partial to the warm, nostalgic glow of incandescent, look for the “warm white” color in stores.

String lights never seem to last very long, but don’t throw them out! You can drop them off at certain hardware stores or find a specialized recycler near you to give the material a second life!

Did you know glitter is just sparkly microplastic? It not only gets all over your home ­— it’s easily littered in our environment and nearly impossible to remove. Eventually, that glitter will make its way into our waterways or the bellies of wild animals, so maybe skip that sparkly wrapping paper!

Mindful Meals

Prep ahead of time to incorporate more plant-based dishes and/or locally sourced meat and seafood in your holiday meals! Locally sourced food reduces your carbon footprint since it does not have to travel as far to make it from the farm to your table.

Skip the disposable plates and cutlery this year. Not only are these single-use items expensive, but there’s a certain charm to setting the table with the real deal. And, if you despise doing the dishes, assign that task to someone else — you deserve the rest after hosting!

Gift Giving

Holiday gifts don’t have to be toys and clothes! Experiences, donations in honor of a loved one or a membership to your favorite museum, zoo or aquarium are the gifts that support your community and last all year long.

Choosing sustainability doesn’t mean sacrificing joy — it enhances our holidays by further connecting us with water, wildlife and wild places. Let your sustainable side shine this holiday season by browsing our Gifts That Give Back for your loved ones!

Published December 8, 2025