Dreaming of a Green Christmas
The 2024 holidays are upon us. How do we celebrate sustainably and avoid plastic pollution without dimming the cheer?
Holiday-themed plastic in various forms: tinsel, ribbon, ornaments, gift wrap.
The Tiny Threat: Microplastics in Consumer Goods
Microplastics, tiny plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in size, are increasingly becoming a concern for both environmental and human safety.
Exposure to microplastics are a particularly prominent concern during the holiday season when we’re travelling, consuming, and exchanging gifts.
In fact, Yale University researchers have already confirmed that microplastics are found in our water, soil, and food. "'There is no part of the globe that does not have microplastics,'" states Dr. Leigh Shemitz.
So plastics are everywhere. What’s so bad about that?
Chemical additives used in plastics. This oft cited PlastChem report shows that many of these chemicals have not only been studied but have been proven hazardous. Plastics and their endocrine-disrupting chemicals play proven roles in multiple human disease including diabetes, liver disease, thyroid disease, respiratory issues, autism, brain developmental abnormalities, prostate cancer, and shockingly even more.
Yes, they’re still being used today and yes they can leech into your home and personal care products.
Emissions during plastics production. The act of producing plastic itself is a huge source of emissions (~4x the airline industry)!
Microplastics persistent in the human body and environment. While we know that microplastics have made their way into the human body, we await more research on their effects and whether they function mainly as a carrier for hazardous chemicals or if their presence has consequences of its own.
This is where it all ends up.
How am I supposed to avoid plastics during the holidays?
It takes time for the industry to phase into safer, more sustainable packaging materials to replace plastic, but we’re excited to see some innovations surfacing.
In the meantime, here are some tips to minimize your exposure to microplastics and your environmental footprint during the holidays.
Reheating leftovers? Avoid heating food in plastic containers or plastic wrap. Why? “Chemicals may leach out of the container and into the food…especially [be] concerned about microwaving at high temperatures or heating fatty or oily foods like cheese and meat.”
Instead: reheat your food in glass and ceramic containers. Look for “microwave-safe” claims on your food packaging.
Especially avoid reusing single-use plastic products like plastic bags, silverware, food containers, and bottles. While this seems sustainable on the surface, single-use plastics aren’t designed for washing/reusing and this can increase microplastic shedding, chemical leaching, and even bacterial growth.
Gifting? Support sustainable brands that minimize plastic packaging and made an effort to be sustainable. Especially try to avoid plastics that come into direct contact with ingestible or topical products (e.g. cosmetics, skincare, food, beverage, supplements) to minimize the risk of leeching and exposure.
We love this Sustainable Gift Guide by elims and these plastic-free holiday tips from Beyond Plastics.
Check out brands that forgo or minimize plastic packaging like erleia, for sea and oats, Ouli’s Ointment, and SeaSoaked Skin Co.
Wrapping? Sometimes the gift itself is thoughtful and sustainable, but the outer wrapping can generate plastic pollution. Short of eliminating wrapping altogether, try these non-plastic alternatives.
Twine and string instead of ribbon (yes, most ribbons are made of plastic).
Reusable or recyclable metal tins instead of plastic containers.
Fabric scarves, tea towels, furoshiki, or other beautiful keepsake materials to wrap and conceal your gift (even through wrapping “paper” sounds recyclable, many versions contain plastic, glitter, foil, and other mixed materials that render them unrecyclable).
Go compostable. Many companies offer compostable, plant-based, and/or reusable versions of classical gift wrapping and decoration items.
Stuffing some stockings? Small items usually end up in the landfill, even if they’re made of a recyclable material.
NPR published a consumer-friendly overview of which plastics actually get recycled, and which end up in the trash.
Plastics under 3” in dimensions are treated as trash, so opt for a compostable or reusable alternative for small items.
Reach out to the Clement Packaging team if you need help with sustainable packaging this holiday season and in the new year.
