6 Ways to Create Less Waste During the Holidays

December 7, 2020

Merry Christmas from the Mahoney Family! This year I really focused on using less this holiday season. Today I am sharing 6 ways to create less waste during the holidays. These simple changes helped me to use less and not sacrifice all of the beautiful decor that comes with the holidays.

Tips to Create Less Waste During the Holidays

1 | Skip name tags

Choose one style of wrapping paper for each child. When they wake up on Christmas morning they will know which gifts are theirs based on the paper. Ditching the name tags means one less thing going into the garbage.

6 Ways to Create Less Waste During the Holidays | Building Bluebird #holidaydecor #christmas #holiday

2 | Use craft paper

Use craft paper to wrap some of your gifts. Wrapping paper with metallics or any foil cannot be recycled. Craft paper can be decorated beautifully and be very designer chic. Use natural elements to wrap the gift like butcher’s twine, tree trimmings and dried oranges to complete the look.

I also let my kids add stamps and color on the craft paper to then use as the wrapping paper for loved ones. The kids love it and so does the gift recipient!

Use craft paper instead of wrapping paper for Christmas

3 | Reuse ribbon

Reuse the ribbon on opened packages! I have two large bags full of ribbon I have saved and they look brand new on presents. When adding a bow to a present, you can wrap it in a way where the ribbon will easily unravel by the tug of one side. Check out my full tutorial on how to create the perfect Christmas bow.

Reuse ribbon to wrap present each Christmas | Building Bluebird #holidaydecor #christmas #holiday

4 | Reuse bags and boxes

ABSOLUTELY save all of your boxes and holiday gift bags! Get creative and use shipping boxes to wrap gifts as well. Gone are the days where department stores packed in a handful of boxes with your purchases, now you gotta save those suckers!

5 | Decorate with compostable materials

Decorating with natural elements is so beautiful and the best part is that it is all easily compostable! Try your hand at making dried orange garland. Decorate with a strand of cranberries or go old school and add some string popcorn to your tree! Get creative with natural elements while wrapping presents.

Dried orange garland - use less during the holidays | Building Bluebird #holidaydecor #christmas #holiday

Compostable wreath made with natural elements | Building Bluebird #holidaydecor #christmas #holiday

Create less waste by using natural elements to decorate for the holidays | Building Bluebird #holidaydecor #christmas #holiday

6 | Use tree trimmings to decorate your home

If you buy a real tree, use the leftover branches you cut off to decorate your home. You can also ask any employee at a tree lot to take some of the leftover branches and they will happily give them to you. Pine trees in your yard work just as well too!

Add holiday cheer with leftover tree trimmings | Building Bluebird #holidaydecor #christmas #holiday

Create less waste during the holidays with these 6 simple tips | Building Bluebird
#holidaydecor #christmasdecorations #sustainabledecor #reducereuserecycle

I cut a few branches from my pine tree and added them to a gold vase. It looks great and smells lovely too!

I used tree trimmings to add some festive greenery around our family Santa photo collection.

Bonus | Create trees with wood scraps

Cut different shapes of triangles using wood scraps to create mini Christmas trees. I used one piece of leftover wood to cut triangle shapes. I let the ids paint their own trees and I used wood stain and watered down craft paint to add color to the other trees.