It’s the season of gathering, and although that will likely look a bit different this year, we wanted to offer up some sustainable Thanksgiving tips. Whether you’re celebrating Thanksgiving, or any other gathering this season, these sustainability tips will help you reduce waste this season. These tips can apply to small, socially distanced gatherings or even a gathering with the folks that you have been quarantining with.

Food

Try adding in some vegetarian or vegan dishes to your meal. This will help cut down on CO2 and other emissions released from the production of meat products.
If possible, try shopping for food items that you need in the bulk section. If food items are not available in the bulk section, opt for items packaged in paper or aluminum, since these are much easier to recycle than plastic.
Purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from a local farmers market to cut down on food packaging and emissions from produce traveling long ways to arrive at your table. If farmers markets are not available in your area, try shopping for fresh fruits and vegetables that are sold without packaging.
Make only the amount of food that you think you and your guests will eat. Food waste is a big environmental issue. During Thanksgiving alone, consumers end up throwing out nearly 200 million pounds of turkey. If you plan on having turkey or another type of meat served for Thanksgiving, consider purchasing a smaller portion of meat, rather than the whole animal, to cut down on unnecessary food waste.

Shop early

If possible, avoid shopping for last-minute necessities on Thanksgiving Day from the grocery store, so that essential workers can spend the day with their families.

Décor

Try adding natural décor to your home. Look in your backyard for some pinecones, leaves, pretty rocks, or fall flowers that can be dried and placed in festive fall vases. Not only does this reduce waste related to packaging these items, it also saves you money too!

Table Dressings

Use reusable plates and cutlery to help cut down on waste from plastic/paper plates and cutlery. Hosting a big group and don’t have enough plates and cutlery yourself? Ask your guests if they would be able to bring some dishes and cutlery from their home to use for dinner.

Another tip is to use cloth napkins that can be washed over paper napkins. Turn old t-shirts into nice cloth napkins by stitching the sides.

Leftovers

Oftentimes, there are leftovers from Thanksgiving meals that folks enjoy the days following Thanksgiving. Planning on sharing the leftovers with your guests? Ask guests to bring their own reusable to-go containers for leftovers, which will cut down on the amount of single-use plastic containers or plastic bags needed to give leftovers to guests following the meal.

Be Kind to Yourself & Give Thanks

The holiday season can be a stressful season for many, especially with the added stress of a global pandemic. Remember to take time to be kind to yourself and give yourself some much needed rest and relaxation during this holiday season. If there are traditions that are making you feel overwhelmed this year, consider opting out of those and do what brings your peace and happiness.

This year has been a tough one and many folks are not able to travel to see loved ones during this public health crisis. As a way to bring joy and give thanks to others that you might not be able to see this season, consider sending out holiday greeting cards to friends and loved ones. To make it even more sustainable, consider making handmade cards out of scrap paper, which will add a thoughtful touch to your cards.

Black Friday

If you are planning on shopping on Black Friday, make a list of the items you need prior to heading to the stores. That way, you know what items you need to buy, and won’t buy items that you don’t need, which will ultimately cause unnecessary waste and resource use.

Prior to hitting the stores on Black Friday, look up store hours and try to support stores that open in the morning of Black Friday over stores that open at midnight or in the evening on Thanksgiving. By supporting stores that open in the morning on the day after Thanksgiving, this allows these employees to spend the holiday with their family, rather than working to prep for Black Friday on Thanksgiving Day.

What are some of your Thanksgiving Sustainability Tips? Let us know in the comments section below!

Tips to a Sustainable Thanksgiving