Originally posted on Skoy Enterprises LinkedIn.
The holiday season is synonymous with over-shopping, over-spending, and over-wasting. More is more and the bigger the better no matter what the costs are come January. Everyone’s love language is gift-giving this time of year.
And yet, does any of it actually make us happier?
American consumerism is not new. The idea that the perfect new shirt will make us happy is as old as capitalism itself. But the stats to state the obvious are in—buying less will make you (and our Earth) happier.
According to a study by the University of Arizona, “having less and buying less can actually make us more satisfied and happier.” The reason for this is likely to do with the burden of actually having more things—it’s the stress of finding a place and use for everything that you buy. And of course, the financial burden it places on us when we are constantly yearning for new items and so spending whatever money (that we either do or don’t have) to buy them.
So not only are things (and money) being wasted throughout the holiday season, but the entire increase in materialism undeniably leads to an increased negative effect on the environment.
The time between Thanksgiving and January 1st accounts for 14.5% of all the packages shipped yearly in the United States. This adds up to more delivery trucks on the road and planes in the sky, which equates to more carbon emissions.
Also in the time between Thanksgiving and January 1st, Americans generate an extra 7 billion pounds of waste. That is anything from wrapping paper used once to unwanted presents tossed in the garbage to shopping bags and packages.
According to Stanford University, “If every family reused just two feet of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon saved could tie a bow around the entire planet. If every American family wrapped just 3 presents in re-used materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields. The 2.65 billion Christmas cards sold each year in the U.S. could fill a football field 10 stories high.”
The facts on over-consumption during the holidays are not new. But knowing how negatively this materialism affects the planet and your own happiness is a call for change. This holiday season, change the way you shop. If anything, it will make you a happier person and perhaps reduce your carbon footprint—every little bit counts.
Here are some tips on how to shop more sustainably this holiday season:
Gift experiences
Rather than a shirt they’ll never wear or a trinket to be thrown in the trash, buy your loved one a ticket to that museum exhibit you know they’d love. Gifting experiencing means less waste in the item, your wallet, and in the gift wrap. It’s a trifecta in sustainable gifts. Plus, it’s a memory that they will never forget.
Shop local
Walk down to that locally-owned boutique to find the perfect necklace for mom! Not only does this support your community, but by staying local you are reducing your own carbon emissions by not traveling far and reducing shipping carbon emissions since most items at local shops are from nearby!
Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose that paper
Wrapping your gifts in the cookie recipes from cooking magazines is so freakin’ cute. Find old magazines or newspapers, find recycled wrapping paper or reuse sheets that are stuffed in the back of the closet. This little step goes a loooong way.
Choose where you buy wisely
Make sure that the brands you are buying are doing some good for the planet. Do they use recycled materials? Are they plastic-free? Are their products ethically made?
Make decisions this holiday season that will have you feeling refreshed come January, not broke and exhausted. Be merry, eco-conscious, and have a lovely holiday season. Cheers!