Sparkle and Sustainability: Rethinking Holiday Decorations

The holiday season often leads to a surge in waste and pollution. Decorations, in particular, contribute significantly to this issue.

The Culprits

• Single-use items like balloons, confetti, and glittery trinkets are major offenders.
• These items are designed to be small and easily dispersed, making them difficult to collect and recycle.
• Popping 100 balloons can release up to 33 million microplastics.
• These tiny particles can be harmful to both human health and the environment, especially when ingested by children.

Expert Advice

Sara Silva

• Researcher focusing on microplastics.
• Suggests looking for decorations made from paper or natural materials.
• Avoids items containing plastics.
• Creative solutions:
• Making garlands from old paper.
• Avoiding fake snow, which is made from microplastics.

Trisha Vaidyanathan

• Expert in plastic pollution.
• Emphasizes questioning the longevity and necessity of decorations.
• Suggests asking if a plastic decoration is worth the environmental impact.
• Adopted practices:
• Making snowflakes from old paper.
• Avoiding glittery tinsel, often made from harmful PVC plastics.

Challenges and Solutions

• Both experts acknowledge the challenges of convincing others to make more sustainable choices.
• Silva finds her parents more traditional but has taken the lead in decorating her own home.
• Vaidyanathan admits to becoming more persistent with family and friends but stresses the importance of reducing plastic waste.

Specific Decorations to Avoid

• Glitter: Often coated with metals, increasing its toxicity.
• Fake snow: Literally made from microplastics.
• Gift wraps: Although appearing to be paper, many are not recyclable due to a thin plastic coating, especially if they contain glitter or foil elements.

Advocacy and Regulation

• Last July, Sara and other scientists wrote a letter urging the inclusion of plastic decorations in the U.N.’s plastic treaty.
• Silva believes that regulations are crucial for cutting down on non-essential plastic sources.
• Vaidyanathan emphasizes that while individual efforts are important, the responsibility ultimately lies with companies producing cheap plastics.

Tips for Sustainable Decorating

• Silva advises taking small steps and being creative.
• Vaidyanathan suggests exploring alternatives to mass-produced plastic items, such as:
• Dried orange garlands
• Pinecones
• Beeswax candles
• Natural garlands
• Reminds us that holidays were once celebrated without the ubiquity of plastic, and these alternatives can bring just as much joy.