Holiday Cheer, Carbon Consequences

By: Lexie Kasper, ODC Network 

For many people, the next couple of months will be a lot! They will travel, enjoy time with loved ones, eat, get and give gifts, attend community events, and generally celebrate the season's merriment. However, amidst all the celebrations, there is often a lack of sustainable practices. The Stockholm Environment Institute estimates that each person produces an additional 1400 pounds of CO2 over the holidays, almost 4% of a person’s annual carbon footprint. 

 Join us for a 2-part series that will take a more in-depth look at how to have a wonderful holiday season while supporting local sustainability efforts. This month we will look at the holidays' carbon contributions and how to mitigate them. Next month we’ll look at reducing overall energy use and waste from gifts, seasonal decor, and parties. Don’t be hard on yourself if you can’t implement every recommendation! If everyone made just a couple of changes, we would see the benefits add up! 

One of the first things that come to mind during the holidays is travel. In the modern world, instead of a one-horse open sleigh, people will be flying and driving to celebrate the holidays, see loved ones, and attend various community events. Not only will people be traveling, but there will also be increased shipping of food and gifts. Producing and transporting these goods around the globe is a significant contributor to carbon emissions.

Addressing these issues can all come down to one principle: think local. Gifts? Buy from local shops, artisans, and craft markets! Or think outside the box and get passes to local movie theaters, zoos, or other experiences. Food? Try to plan your recipes around local, in-season produce! The Holland Farmers Market is open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9-1 until November 30th, and then Saturdays from 9-1 until December 21st. This is a perfect place to get locally grown food that’s not only delicious but has a lower carbon footprint! 

When it comes to traveling to see loved ones, staying home because you don’t want to contribute to carbon emissions isn’t an option for most people; we value the quality time! However, there is still a local solution for this. The Community Carbon Fund is a West Michigan-centric option for reducing our local collective carbon footprint.