7 practical ways to reduce waste for a sustainable holiday

While we’re eating, drinking and making merry during the holiday season, we’re also producing a lot of waste. That means mountains of wrapping paper and unwanted gifts pilling up in landfills, along with heaps of uneaten food. Instead, make this season a sustainable holiday by channeling all that holiday exuberance into planet-friendly practices.

At Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), our 9,500 dairy farmers across the nation are committed to sustainability year-round and during the holidays. Just like you want to reduce the amount of waste you create, dairy farmers do, too. That’s why they often feed their cows food byproducts like almond shells, brewers’ grain and cull carrots that are indigestible to humans but nutritious for dairy cows, and they reuse the ultimate waste — manure — as fertilizer, dried as bedding for the cows and even transform it into energy with help from anaerobic digesters.

Join dairy farmers by minimizing your waste this holiday season and make a difference for the planet with these easy and rewarding sustainability tips.

1. Upcycle holiday gift packaging

One of the sneakiest culprits behind holiday waste is all that festive packaging used to wrap gifts. Wrapping paper, gift bags, ribbon, cardboard boxes and plastic packaging can quickly pile up. Instead of breaking out the trash bag and throwing these items away, consider repurposing, upcycling or recycling them. 

Easy ways to reduce holiday packaging waste:

• Recycle cardboard boxes or use them for storage or as gift boxes
• Save unripped wrapping paper and gift bags to use for future gifts
• Keep ribbon for craft projects
• Skip the single-use wrapping paper and get creative by making the gift part of the package, like wrapping a gift in a tea towel, scarf or shirt, or filling a coffee mug or bowl with other goodies and tying it with a ribbon

By finding new uses for packaging, you can significantly reduce your household waste.

2. Reduce food waste for a sustainable holiday

Holiday feasts can mean an abundance of leftovers crammed in the back of the fridge. When you feel like you can’t eat the same food one more time, don’t let those leftovers go to waste. Turn your kitchen into a no food waste zone. It doesn’t need to be complicated; just get a little creative. 

Inspirational ideas to use up holiday leftovers:

• Transform turkey, ham and roast beef into sandwiches, soups, casseroles or nachos
• Add leftover vegetables to stir-fries or salads
• Turn leftover mashed potatoes into fried potato cakes
• Reuse gravy in biscuits and gravy
• Top yogurt with leftover cranberry sauce and a drizzle of honey
• When in doubt, put leftovers on toast, like adding diced turkey to avocado toast
• Freeze what you don’t use (but do this quickly, not days later)

By repurposing food scraps, you can easily reduce food waste and enjoy delicious meals long after the holiday celebrations have ended.

3. Don’t let any dairy go to waste

Just like food waste, you don’t want to let any of your delicious dairy go to waste this holiday season.

To make sure you use up every last sip and bite of your dairy products, plan your meals carefully and use any dairy items before they expire. Incorporate them into your holiday recipes, whether by adding a splash of cream to your mashed potatoes, sprinkling extra cheese into a festive quiche or making a rich and creamy dessert with extra heavy cream. Additionally, get creative with your leftovers. Turn that leftover cheese into a delicious cheese sauce for pasta or use extra yogurt in smoothies or baking.

If you find yourself with more dairy than you can use, consider freezing items like milk, cheese and butter. Also, when grocery shopping, opt for extended shelf-life milk, which stays fresh for longer. 

By being mindful of how you use your dairy products, you can enjoy all the deliciousness they have to offer without contributing to food waste.

4. Avoid single-use items entirely

To make a big impact for the planet over the holidays, avoid single-use items entirely.

When grocery shopping for your holiday meals, bring reusable bags instead of using plastic or paper ones. Also, avoid buying fruits, vegetables and other foods prepackaged in plastic.

Instead of disposable plates, bowls, cups and utensils, use your regular dishes and silverware. If you need more dishes than you have, borrow from neighbors or scour thrift stores and secondhand stores for options. (You can always re-donate them if you don’t want to store them!) 

When putting away leftover food after meals, skip the plastic wrap and opt for reusable containers or beeswax wraps (they’re naturally biodegradable!)

By choosing reusable items, you’ll keep unnecessary waste out of the landfill and make a difference for the planet for the holidays.

5. Choose sustainable gift giving this year

Giving gifts to loved ones is a cherished holiday tradition, but it can make a lot of waste. 

If you’ve ever received a gift you didn’t like (thanks for the cheetah-print socks, Aunt Mary!), you know unwanted gifts can contribute to waste at donation centers, as returned goods at stores or (gasp!) even thrown away.

Consider giving sustainable gifts that have a minimal environmental impact. Handmade items, experiences and consumables are thoughtful and eco-friendly options. Get even more sustainable gift ideas with our guide.

6. Deck the halls with sustainable holiday decorations

Even if you plan to use your holiday decorations again, they can contribute to waste when they eventually end up in the landfill, especially if they’re made from non-recyclable or non-biodegradable materials. 

Instead, choose eco-friendly holiday decorations made from natural or recycled materials. You can also make your own decorations using items you already have at home.

Festive home decorating ideas that aren’t wasteful: 

• Choose real greenery. Garlands and wreaths made from live greenery look lovely and can be composted at the end of the season
• Make your own ornaments. Get crafty and use materials like paper, fabric or even old holiday cards to create unique and personalized ornaments. You can also dry orange slices and hang them with twine for unique ornaments or make salt dough ornaments and highlight your kids’ handprints 
• Look to nature. Pinecones, dried oranges and cinnamon sticks make beautiful and sustainable holiday decorations in vases and centerpieces
• Shop your house. Chances are, you already have everything you need to make your home festive. Glass jars with candles or votives make pretty center pieces. Add ribbon you already have to your tree or make a paper chain garland from craft paper. The ideas are truly endless

7. Rethink the holiday card

Does the idea of not sending holiday cards make you feel like a Scrooge? You can spread holiday cheer without creating waste. 

Instead of traditional paper cards, consider sending e-cards or personalized video messages to friends and loved ones. If you prefer physical cards, opt for ones made from recycled materials or even those that can be planted to grow into flowers. You can also get creative by making your own cards from old holiday cards, postcards, fabric scraps or other materials you have at home. 

By choosing eco-friendly options, you can still share the joy and warmth of the season without contributing to the holiday waste pile.

Have a sustainable holiday by embracing less

In your journey of living more sustainably and reducing waste, remember what matters this holiday season: your loved ones and time spent together. By making a few simple changes, you can enjoy a sustainable holiday that’s both joyful and eco-friendly. Every small step counts toward a greener future.

Want an easy way to be more sustainable every day? Enjoy sustainably made dairy from family-owned dairy farms like ours.