In November, I wrote a blog outlining what I wanted for Christmas as a zero waster. Now with the New Year underway and all the traditions and parties behind me, I feel it’s safe to say I’ve successfully completed my first zero waste Christmas.
Achievement unlocked!
Defining Success
Let’s be honest: I didn’t keep to my one mason jar of waste in December, but as a result of the gifts I asked for, received, and gave, I severely cut down on the amount of waste I produced. I’m talking a dumpster full of trash, people.
However, for me the more important success this Christmas was reaching the people in my life about this thing I’m doing called zero waste.
I don’t think my friends and family would have understood the changes I’ve been making quite as well if they’d never gotten involved in the process. It’s one thing to hear about someone’s new lifestyle and say, “That’s awesome! Good for you!” Actually participating is a different thing entirely. By simply asking them to take a moment and think about the way they wrapped their gifts, or even what a gift actually is, many of them have become far more aware of what zero waste entails.
Don’t be afraid of being open about your choices.
People may disapprove. One family member lovingly told me I sounded a little bitchy in the email I sent to relatives on Black Friday, but she still got me some bitchin’ reusable silicone muffin liners for Christmas. See? They will still love you and respect your choices.
Even better, you’re much more likely to hear about people’s mini-adventure finding zero waste solutions, such as my co-worker secret santa, who traversed Missouri for a banana leaf to wrap my zero waste Whole Foods gift card in (a.k.a. a crisp $20).
What I Got
Warning: I am completely spoiled. If you weren’t aware of this fact already, you’re about to get your face rubbed in it. While I feel weird bragging about all my amazing gifts, I also want to share these thoughtful items in case they inspire you at your next gift-giving opportunity (for someone other than me). It’s never too late to spread the zero waste love!
Outings & Events
If I have a choice on what to spend my money on, I almost always choose to do something. Whether it’s a bullet on my bucket list or just grabbing a coffee with a friend, I truly believe it’s intangible memories that make life worth living. Here’s what I was treated to over the holiday season:
- Eating & Drinking Dates: I had several lunches, cocktails, and other edible outings with far flung family. The perfect opportunity to catch up and reconnect!
- Going to the movie theater: Taking a break from the chaos of the holidays was wonderful. Although I do not recommend seeing Passengers.
- Concerts: I went to two concerts this Christmas: an annual tradition to the Bach Symphony Orchestra at Powell Hall and a first time visit to Jazz at the Bistro. I cannot get enough of these profoundly gifted performers.
- Visiting local shops in other cities: During a New Years trip to Kansas City, my pal took me to the Kansas City River Market shop, Al Habashi Mart, and treated me to half a dozen jars of the most delicious spice blends I’d ever tasted. Plus, they CHARGE BY THE SCOOP, not by the pound. How they manage to turn a profit is beyond me. 10/10 would recommend to anyone living in or passing through the Kansas City area.
- Events: One of my cousins treated our generation to a breakout room. Talk about a family bonding opportunity. These things are genius, and always fun. Especially if you win.
- Trips: At the last minute on Christmas day, my parents surprised me with a weekend stay in Nashville. I told you I was spoiled…
Zero Waste Items
When you’re breaking in your new zero waste lifestyle, you quickly realize how much stuff it actually takes to keep from constantly producing trash. Therefore, I am forever grateful for my friends and family saving me the money and trouble of getting these things on my own. With my salary, it would have taken years.
Here’s a brief overview of just some of the zero waste stuff I got for Christmas:
- Tote bags
- Mason jars galore
- A travel mug
- A “Plastic Free” gift card (as mentioned above)
- Tooth powder (zero waste toothpaste)
- Scented bars soap
- A hand-held sewing machine
- Reusable cupcake liners (as mentioned above)
- Upcycled wine (my friend and his family take old wine bottles to make pear wine every Christmas)
- A wooden travel case (…for wine)
- A travel utensil kit
- All of the LUSH bath bombs! I’ve taken something like a dozen baths in the past few weeks.
What I Gave
Hey, I’m not completely selfish. I love giving gifts. In fact, I would consider my ability to keep all my gifts in the spirit of zero waste yet another success of this past Christmas season. This year I gave:
- Dinner and drinks: a classic zero waste event when you ask for no straw 😉
- Homemade gifts: I got obsessed with crocheting this holiday season. I used second hand yarn from either my knitting pal’s leftovers or Tuesday Morning.
- Forever items: These gifts are why I say I stayed in the “spirit” of zero waste this year. Forever items are when you decide to buy one thing that will last forever rather than a cheaper version of the product that you’ll have to replace after a far shorter period of time. However, I did have to order them online and have them shipped to my house, and Bed, Bath, & Beyond sent my gifts in non-recyclable packaging. In the future, I’m going to make more of an effort to reach out and specifically ask for paper packaging.
- Locally or independently made stuff: A few years ago, a friend introduced me to the Cherokee Print Bazaar where local St. Louis artists sell beautiful works of art right before Christmas. This year, I got a couple books from Sara Wong, which was like getting dozens of pieces of art in one go. Plus her stuff is genuinely inventive and entertaining.
- High quality hand-me-downs: These weren’t so much re-giftings as they were me acknowledging that someone in my life would get more use out of a nice item I owned than I would.
Happy Belated Holidays, Everyone!
I know I only published one lonely blog in December. The holiday season is always a crazy one for me. But I promise there will be far more zero waste goodness to come. Stay tuned!