"Christmas is a time when most of us may lose a sense of moderation – buying gifts that we try to wrap in the most festive way possible. We want to surprise our loved ones with an abundance of food. Therefore, the month of December is the most polluted in the year, as unconsumed food, wrapping paper, or holiday decorations increase the waste to up to 30%," says doc. dr. Ausra Zigmontiene, lecturer at the Faculty of Environmental Engineering at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH).
Beautiful paper turns into non-recyclable litter
Studies in the United Kingdom have revealed that Britons discard 108 million rolls of wrapping paper annually. The length of discarded wrapping paper could reach the moon – equivalent to 384,400 km. The statistics on Christmas waste in the UK indicate that households typically produce more than three 60-liter bags of packaging during the holidays. A study by the environmental organization "Greenpeace" showed that the production of 1 kg of wrapping paper emits more than 3 kg of CO2.
"All waste is natural resources, most of which usually end up in incinerators or landfills. Improperly managed waste pollutes our environment. Rotting food waste emits greenhouse gases, and if they are improperly handled, natural resources are also lost," explains A. Zigmontiene.
According to A. Zigmontiene, the more beautiful, shiny, eye-catching and easily-unwrappable the paper is, the more non-recyclable it is. The majority of Christmas gift wrapping paper and bag waste is also non-recyclable because they are a mix of various materials such as paper, plastic, textile elements, adhesive tape, and glue residues.
"If such packaging materials end up in the natural environment rather than waste container, they break down into small microplastic particles exposed to sunlight. These, entering open water bodies and soil, cause secondary pollution and negatively affect fauna," says the scientist.
Festive dinner ends up in the bin
After the holidays, mountains of uneaten food also end up in containers. This abundance of discarded food has painful consequences and contributes to the greenhouse effect.
"Research shows that households are responsible for more than half of the discarded food in the food chain. This is not just a waste of our money but also the cause of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. According to preliminary calculations, each European Union (EU) resident throws away about 173 kg of food per year, and each Lithuanian throws away about 60 kg of food that could still be consumed," says A. Zigmontiene.
The situation of uneaten food in Lithuania is further complicated by the fact that in most villages there are no special containers for composting – separate sorting of food. Kitchen waste is just beginning to be implemented, so this waste often ends up in mixed containers.
Celebrating more sustainably is mission possible
Although it may seem challenging to avoid these essential holiday attributes, finding more environmentally friendly alternatives is possible.
"Each of us can easily and inexpensively contribute to solving this problem – gifts can be wrapped cheaply and sustainably, without leaving mountains of waste. First of all, look around your home – you will definitely find old gift bags, unused scarves, clothes, or fabric scraps. These are items that are perfect for wrapping gifts. Even old newspapers, posters, or shopping bags can be useful. Instead of plastic strings, ribbons, use thicker threads found at home, and replace bows with natural elements – twigs, branches, cinnamon sticks, or dried orange slices. If you are giving food products, you can put them in an old box or a woven basket," advises Dr. A. Zigmontiene.
As for food preparation, planning and assessing how many people will eat and appropriating the size of the portions accordingly are crucial.
"To preserve the table traditions of Christmas and Christmas Eve and maintain the food variety during dinner, you need to assess which dishes will be eaten immediately and which will only be tasted. This way, you will save not only your finances but also natural resources," says Dr. A. Zigmontiene.
The sustainability expert also advises careful consideration of gifts. According to the scientist, if you don't know what to give to your loved one or colleague, give handmade treats, sauces, or canned goods. Holidays are a great opportunity to provide loved ones with reusable attributes of sustainable living: product bags, reusable hot drink mugs, and the like.
"Christmas is a celebration for us, but it is important not to forget that it should not be at the expense of nature," says A. Zigmontiene.
The text was prepared by Milda Mockūnaitė-Vitkienė, Head of Internal Communication Projects at the Public Communication Directorate of VILNIUS TECH.
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