Rather than shopping at a big box chain store or online, purchase your holiday gifts locally to support your community and environment! There are so many reasons to shop locally, but here are a few key benefits:

• By keeping your money in your community, you sustain the local job market, support small businesses and artisans, and local non-profits. Plus, local businesses are more likely to stock quality, locally sourced items that are made to last.
• Reduce waste by visiting a local store and picking up gifts directly. This reduces materials used for packaging and transportation emissions. Did you know that out of the 80,000 tons of containers in the US a year, only about 30,000 tons are put in the recycling bin? That’s less than half!
• Find wonderful, quirky, unique gifts – something meaningful and thoughtful your loved one will cherish for years to come.

Many purchases made for holiday gifts are thrown away within one year. As you shop for gifts this season, try your best to spend your money mindfully and purposefully! Here are a few ways to spend mindfully this season:

1. If you are buying something new, buy quality items that are built to last. Avoid fads and electronics that will become outdated and quickly discarded.
2. Give second-hand gifts. Shop at your local thrift store or consider gifting an unused item in your home.
3. Rather than purchasing something store-bought, get creative! Make a homemade gift for your loved one or donate to a love one’s favorite non-profit. They will appreciate the thoughtfulness!
4. Give the gift of an experience- buy an electronic gift card to their favorite restaurant, a National Parks pass, ski lessons, spend a day at hot springs…the list goes on and on!
5. Send an e-card instead of a paper greeting card. If you don’t want to steer away from paper cards, buy cards or paper made with sustainably-sourced or recycled materials.

One of the best parts of the holidays is the delicious meals shared with friends and family! Unfortunately, we often let leftovers and food scraps go to waste. Did you know that over 70 billion pounds of food waste are sent to landfills yearly? Food decomposition is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions? As you plan your holiday meals, try to reduce your food waste this holiday season.

1. Get a head count prior to your gathering and prepare the appropriate amount of food for the number of guests.
2. Compost all the scraps from your food preparation. Look for a local composting program to turn your scraps into nutrient-rich soil, or start composting at home.
3. Don’t waste any of those delicious leftovers! Encourage your family and friends to bring a reusable, to-go container and take leftovers home with them.
4. Upcycle your leftovers into another dish- turn your ham into a soup or veggies into a casserole!
5. Vegetarian and vegan options have a significantly lower carbon footprint than non-vegan options. This year, challenge yourself to try out a side without meat, eggs, or dairy.