For many Americans, Thanksgiving is one of the most anticipated holidays where families gather to celebrate gratitude and enjoy a home-cooked meal. While Thanksgiving is typically a time to splurge at the table, it doesn’t have to be a time to disregard your commitment to environmental sustainability. Here are a few tips to help make your Thanksgiving a little more eco-friendly this year.
Shop Local – Not only does this help support your local farmers, ranchers, and community as a whole, but buying locally cuts down on the high carbon emissions resulting from shipping products long distances. Typically, local foods are fresher and healthier for your family as well. And, whenever possible, look for organic and free-range turkeys as well as organic vegetables. Organic foods are raised without the use of pesticides and herbicides that can put unnatural toxins into the ground and water and disrupt the natural ecosystem.
Recycle – Make sure to have a recycle bin out so it’s easy for guests to see, and ask your guests to use the recycle bin instead of the trash can. Aluminum cans, soda bottles, and the tin cans that cranberry sauce and other Thanksgiving staples come in can all be recycled instead of being thrown away. Another aspect that is often overlooked is recycling food. By boiling your turkey after all the meat is carved off, you can create a delicious broth that is perfect for a healthy turkey and noodle soup.
Use Reusable – You don’t necessarily have to break out your best china if you don’t want to, but by serving Thanksgiving dinner on reusable plates, bowls, and platters, you will significantly cut down on the amount of paper plates and plastic utensils that would otherwise end up in our already overflowing landfills. Consider using cloth napkins instead of paper: not only do they add a little bit of fashion to your table, they can also be washed and used year after year. In a similar vein, reusable glasses and tumblers elevate your gathering and keep single-use plastic cups or water bottles []. And when it’s time to store leftovers, or send them home with your guests, reach for reusable containers instead of disposable plastic bags. There’s a chance you might not get the container back (it’s happened to all of us) but you can take comfort in knowing that a container that doesn’t return will likely still be used in lieu of the disposable bags that get thrown away after they’ve served their purpose.
A healthy planet should be one of the top things to be thankful for, but that healthy planet shouldn’t be taken for granted. By each of us doing our part to protect it—not just at Thanksgiving, but every day of the year—we can ensure that we’ll continue to be thankful for it for many years to come.
