Holidays can mean a lot of waste, and tend not to be particularly eco-friendly. When it comes to celebrating the New Year, there are some ways go a little greener, from food to entertaining.

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Use eco-friendly decor

A lot of decorations are single-use, so think about using decor that is reusable or at least sustainable. For example, use less plastic, and more natural materials, like greenery, paper decor, or recycled decor.

Shop locally & sustainably

When you are buying supplies, shop local and support your local businesses.  You can find just about anything from a food to wine.

Choose food items carefully

It is wonderful to support fair trade, organic, eco-friendly, sustainable companies, as well as local companies when you can.  Holiday foods can also mean a lot of packaging, so keep this in mind.

Use reusable shopping bags and other reusable items

When you head to the store, don’t forget your reusable bags. When shopping for a get together or party, you may end up with a large quantity of items, and it is particularly good to have your shopping bags with you.

Don’t use disposable tableware

While disposables can make life easy, avoid them whenever possible. This goes for paper napkins as well. You can also consider alternatives to disposables, like palm leaf plates, which can be composted.

Make some eco-friendly New Year’s resolutions!

Now is a great time to strive for a more eco-friendly year! You can start with small goals, like using reusable shopping bags. Or commit to larger steps, like purchasing a compost bin for food scraps.