The holidays are about good food, familiar traditions and spending time with the people we love. But between the big meals, decorations, gifts and gatherings, they can also generate a surprising amount of waste.
The good news? Celebrating a little more thoughtfully doesn't mean giving up the things that make the holidays special. Sometimes, it's as simple as rethinking what we buy, finding a second life for what we already have, or trying a small idea that makes a bigger difference than we might expect.
From a clever way to handle Thanksgiving leftovers to a fresh take on gift wrapping, here are seven simple ideas to try this holiday season — including a few you might want to make traditions of your own.
1. The Leftover Party Pack
Send guests home with leftovers — before they even arrive.
Ask everyone to bring a clean container from home. At the end of dinner, fill them with leftovers to take away. No scrambling for mismatched containers, no disposable takeout boxes, and everyone gets tomorrow's lunch.
The “aha” factor: Make bringing a container part of the invitation. It turns a simple habit into a fun, shared tradition.
2. Decorate Your Table with Food
Make your centrepiece part of the meal.
Arrange apples, pears, squash, pomegranates or herbs down the centre of your table. It looks beautiful, feels seasonal and the ingredients can be eaten afterwards.
The “aha” factor: Your decorations don't have to become something else to throw away. They can become dessert, soup or next week's groceries.
3. Wrap a Gift in Something That Is Already a Gift
Use a tea towel, scarf or pretty piece of fabric as wrapping.
Tie it with ribbon or twine, and the wrapping becomes part of the present. A tea towel paired with a cookbook, for example, is a gift within a gift.
4. Pass Along a Recipe, Not Just the Leftovers
Ask each guest to bring a favourite family recipe to share.
Write them on cards or collect them digitally, then send everyone home with a little recipe collection. It preserves the stories behind the food and helps good ideas live on.
The “aha” factor: Circularity isn't just about objects. It's also about keeping knowledge, traditions and ideas in circulation.
5. Shop Your Kitchen Before Shopping the Store
Before writing your holiday grocery list, check your fridge, freezer and pantry.
Build your menu around ingredients you already have, then buy only what's missing. That forgotten bag of cranberries or container of stock might be exactly what you need.
The “aha” factor: The most circular purchase can be the one you don't need to make.
6. Choose Gifts that Get Used and Loved
Thoughtful gifts don't have to be brand new. Consider a secondhand book for a reader, a vintage serving dish for someone who loves to entertain, tickets to an experience, or something consumable that you know they'll enjoy.
If you're buying new, look for quality and usefulness — things that can be enjoyed for years rather than forgotten after the holidays.
The "aha" factor: Sometimes, the most thoughtful gifts are the ones you can't find on a department store shelf
7. Give a Gift That Doesn't Leave a Mess Behind
Gift-giving doesn't have to come with a pile of packaging to throw away.
Save gift bags, ribbons and sturdy boxes to use again, or look for gifts that come in packaging with a second life - like a beautiful glass jar, a reuseable tin or a container that can be returned and refilled.
The “aha” factor: A thoughtful gift shouldn't leave someone with something else to throw away. The best packaging is the kind that keeps being useful long after the gift has been opened.