Save Our Happy Place is a climate action newsletter dedicated to making it easy for you to help protect the places you love from climate change, written by Lindsay Nunez. Read on for simple yet effective climate actions, and sustainable + eco-friendly lifestyle tips.

Hey there party people! Welcome back to Save Our Happy Place your weekly pop of environmental and climate activism. As we embark on the most festive time of year, I implore us all to slow down and be mindful of how we approach the season. From gift-giving to party planning, there are infinite ways to lessen our footprints and do right by the planet this holiday season. This week we’re diving into ways to keep holiday hosting green without a tremendous amount of extra effort. This time of year can be stressful enough as is, but keeping a few things in mind while party planning can make all the difference.

Redefining Being the Hostest with Mostest

Not to rain on anyone’s holiday parade, but the aftermath of a good time can last centuries after the party ends. Up to 40 tons of waste and debris are collected from the 5 city blocks of Times Square in New York City each New Year’s Eve alone. Plastic decorations, celebratory trinkets, and the like can take up to 450 years to decompose. So here are 6 steps to party planning that can help keep your carbon and waste footprint low this holiday season.

1. Repurposable Decorations

It might be tempting to peruse Amazon for single-use, themed decor, but there are a few outlets to keep decoration zero to low waste. First, there is no shame in using the same holiday decorations year to year. It’s called tradition. Second, take inventory of the decor you already have. Why not switch up and rearrange the beautiful items you already have? You can also spruce things up with fresh flowers from your local farmers’ market. Don’t forget, LED twinkle lights can save you significant CO2 emissions over incandescent lights. If you decide to buy something new, look for pieces that you can see yourself using again.

2. Bring Your Own Take-Home Containers

Try a fun and eco-friendly twist on the “bring your own” party approach. U.S. food waste embodies the annual CO2 emissions of 42 coal-fired power plants and is the single most common material in landfills. Having guests take home leftovers in their own containers creates a beautiful zero-waste situation, no food waste + no packaging waste.

3. Strive for a Local and Plant-Based Menu

This one will only make your menu more delicious. Local produce is often fresher than what can be found at your supermarket. So not only will your dishes taste better and be fresher, you’re supporting your local economy. Not to mention eating locally eliminates CO2 emissions caused by food transportation. CO2 emissions for most plant-based foods are 10 to 50 times lower than for animal-based foods. So be sure to mix up the menu and serve some good local produce. Aim for 50% of your menu to be locally sourced and plant-based.

4. Prioritize Reusables

A 30-person party can easily send more than 100 single-use items to landfills. If you already own enough dishes, cutlery, and cups for your guest count, use them! Having reusables not only saves waste but also elevates the experience. You have a few options if your guest count surpasses your cup count. If you host often consider expanding your collection so that it can be used for years to come. You can also ask a guest to help supplement the dish count or shop for second-hand dishes. If necessary you can also opt for compostable or biodegradable dishware. Just double-check that you compost them properly.

5. Opt Out of Balloons, Confetti, and Glitter

Your standard balloons, confetti, and glitter aren't recyclable and take years to biodegrade. They often end up as litter, break into smaller and smaller pieces until they turn into microplastics, and are harmful to animals. I’d advise to opt-out of these festive frolics altogether. But if it’s a must for you, there are some biodegradable confetti and glitter as well as reusable balloons out there. Do your research and dispose of these properly.

6. Make Recycling and Composting Easy

Make your guests aware of your recycling and composting bins. No need to hide them under the sink, let guests know that you recycle and compost so that they can easily partake.

Some Rays of the Sunshine

The Headlines We’re Happy See

• Deforestation efforts in Nepal prove successful. - Read More

• Japan plans $500m in loans for Indonesia's clean energy shift. - Read More

• Brazil, Indonesia, and Congo sign Rainforest Protection Pact. - Read More

• France to require all large car parks to be covered by solar panels. - Read More