Resources to decrease holiday celebration and gift giving waste

[Kelley Dennings]

At the Center for Biological Diversity we understand the tremendous environmental toll the winter holiday season takes on the planet. That’s why we want to share some resources, stats, reports, and opportunities to connect over these shared issues ahead of the winter holidays.

1. Visit our Simplify the Holidays website (https://simplifytheholidays.org/). Did you know the Center has an entire campaign devoted to simplifying the holidays? You can find sustainable gift guides, tips on how to start a conversation about alternative gift-giving with your family, and resources for transforming your holidays from a period of stress and shopping to a time of joy, connection and tradition.
2. Simplify the holidays in your community. Reach out if you’d like our staff to talk to your classroom, church or workplace about tips, tricks and hacks for having a low-waste and less stressful holiday season. We’re also available for Simplify the Holidays webinars, podcasts and media interviews.
3. Check out these new statistics about alternative gift-giving. In 2022, the Center conducted a national survey (https://bit.ly/STHAltGiftReport) on winter holiday consumerism, gift-giving and waste. The results showed that 90% of Americans wish the holidays were less materialistic. We also found that 56% of Americans are likely to give a secondhand gift, 68% are likely to make a handmade or DIY gift, and 59% are likely to give gifts of time or skill. Read our report and find more stats on alternative gift-giving.
4. Learn what you need to know to shop secondhand. Secondhand shopping keeps good items out of landfills and helps avoid the destructive extraction and production of raw materials needed to create new products. Looking for ways to overcome the barriers of giving and receiving secondhand gifts? We have you covered. Check out our new secondhand content here - https://simplifytheholidays.org/secondhand-giving.
5. Simplify the holidays on social media. Looking for pre-made social media posts and graphics to help promote alternative gifts and simplifying holiday entertaining? We provide free gift-giving graphics and other social media shareables here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1U4lfTY1xyRwklOTkHBteG7K3DDSVDd73.

Read more by Malia Becker here - https://medium.com/center-for-biological-diversity/new-ways-to-celebrate-this-holiday-season-82f4998df346. 

Kelley Dennings, she/her

Center for Biological Diversity