The holidays are rapidly approaching – holiday movies, hot chocolate and more. Stores will begin displaying festive decorations and playing holiday jingles to indicate that the holiday season is finally here. But it also means that people of all ages will be awaiting a gift that can cost much more than money.
November through January is typically considered the holiday season in the United States. This is when schools have their breaks, and jobs may give days off. For those in college, the fall semester comes to an end, and the transition to the spring semester begins. People take this free time to reunite with their loved ones from near and far to celebrate.
But the festivities of the holidays, especially Christmas, lead to large increases in spending across the country. Around 85 percent of Americans celebrate Christmas, making it one of the biggest holidays in the U.S. In preparation for the gift giving season, Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become national shopping holidays, taking place just twenty four hours after Thanksgiving
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are big days for retailers – stores will offer holiday deals to customers in an attempt to make a profit. Black Friday began as a sale for in-person stores, while Cyber Monday offered similar deals for online retailers.
However, Black Friday deals have now also made their way online. By using this day to promote consumerism, businesses are obtaining 20 percent of their annual sales during the holiday season alone.
The significant shift towards overconsumption during the holidays has a larger implication than money; it also impacts the environment. Landfill waste increases by 25 percent during the holidays. Landfills provide the third highest rate for methane emissions, making up 14 percent of all emissions – increasing the temperature and decreasing the air quality on the planet, contributing to climate change. But methane is not the only greenhouse gas fueled by the holidays. Carbon dioxide is another major type of greenhouse gas emitted by vehicles.
Online retailers offer shipping at a standard rate or offer expedited shipping, usually for an extra cost. Delivery services such as Amazon, FedEx and UPS deliver to homes in trucks and vans. During the holidays, there are more required trips to keep up with the high demand for delivery. Not being able to consolidate gifts because of the expedited shipping process or purchases from multiple locations leads to even more carbon emissions and boxes.
On one hand, holiday shopping is a tradition that can bring people together and a personal way to show others that you care about or are thinking of them. Gift giving is fun! It can be a special moment for both the giver and receiver.
On the other hand, an excessive amount of shopping is harmful to the environment. Unwanted or unfit items may be returned, but stores throw away approximately 80 percent of returned items to save on the cost of reprocessing an item.
There are many sustainable ways to celebrate the holidays. Instead of buying multiple items, buy one. Consider playing gift giving games such as Secret Santa or White Elephant. These games require minimal spending while still allowing participants to have fun.
Swap out physical holiday and gift cards for digital ones. Retailers now offer shoppers the choice of buying gift cards that can be sent directly to someone via email. You can also make a card using an online platform like Canva. Homemade cards are also another fun alternative to store-bought cards.
Avoid trends. Fight the urge to shop from a particular store because of the price. Online shops such as TikTok Shop and Shein offer trendy, low-quality items at low prices. Consider shopping for quality over quantity.
Lastly, regift things that are no longer wanted. If you own something better suited for someone else, give it away instead of throwing it away instead of buying new gift wraps, recycle and reuse old ones to give away gifts.
This holiday season, make an effort to celebrate in a way that will bring you joy while also helping to preserve the planet. Happy Holidays!
