The holidays can be a time of unnecessary waste, especially when it comes to plastic. Our Green Holiday Guide is here to help with that.

From the kitchen to gift giving, we have compiled a list of easy to follow tips to reduce single-use plastic waste this holiday season.

In the Kitchen

There are many ways single-use plastics infiltrate our holiday meals. These tips will help you minimize the amount of plastic waste that is created in the kitchen this holiday season.

  • Serve food on reusable dinnerware.

  • Buy menu items in bulk using your own containers, keeping The Glass Pantry in mind.

  • Clean and reuse to-go containers for leftovers.

  • Compost and recycle what you can.

  • Swap plastic wrap for reusable beeswax wrap.

Gift Wrapping

Did you know that most traditional wrapping papers contain plastics? Skip the store-bought wrapping paper and use these tips to package your gifts instead!

  • Recycle paper bags or newspapers into wrapping paper. Decorate your wrapped gifts with chalk, twine, and sprigs of pine. This will ensure that all decorations are recyclable or compostable.

  • Reusable shopping bags make great gift bags and are able to be used again and again by the recipient.

  • Use mason jars to package small gifts or homemade treats. They are sure to be reused.

  • Thrift fabric, kitchen towels, or decorative scarves to use as gift wrap. This can also be reclaimed after the gift is opened for reuse next year if the recipient does not wish to keep it.

Green Gifting

Plastic can be hard to escape when it comes to selecting that perfect gift for a loved one. Try these tips to cut out as much unnecessary plastic as possible when gifting.

  • Shop local, keeping our coalition members and Lake Friendly businesses in mind.

  • Give the gift of an experience.

  • Make a donation to someone’s favorite charity in their name.

  • Give gifts that promote a plastic-free lifestyle, such as reusable water bottles or a "to-go” container kit that can be reused when eating out.

  • If you are crafty, try upcycling items into homemade gifts.

Plastic-Free MKE hopes you have found these tips useful and wish you a very Happy Holiday.