For many consumers, the holidays usher in glittering gifts and decorations. However, the thrill from these products is short-lived; they make a serious dent in one aspect of our world: the environment. With a forecasted average of $1,007 of holiday spending in 2025, production also increases, causing excess waste and pollution from the overuse of energy and disposable packaging.
Multiple issues stem from the constant push towards unnecessary consumption. Advertisement prices skyrocket around the holiday season, which increases product demand and is facilitated by consumers who are more open to unnecessary purchases. While holiday spending isn’t the biggest contributor to overall consumer spending, the waste around the holidays is some of the easiest to reduce.
The amount of waste significantly increases around the winter holidays, with the average American producing 25% more waste during the holiday season than on average. A great way to avoid spending on gifts is simply gifting something you don’t use. Buying a brand-new high-end Lego set is unnecessary if you can just gift one you’ve built three times before. For reusable gifts, use what you already have.
Although overconsumption stimulates the economy and leads to elevated levels of employment in the short run, it is important to question where exactly this money is spent. The reality is that much of it goes to large companies that rarely engage in sustainable practices. From fast fashion brands such as Shein and H&M to retailers like Walmart and Amazon, big companies don’t often have sustainability on their radar.
When it comes to promoting environmental cleanliness, small businesses are the best places to look. 100 of the biggest companies are responsible for 71% of global emissions, according to a study by the Carbon Majors Report. Additionally, many companies that use sustainable practices advertise that fact. Handmade goods produce much less pollution than factory-made goods. Consumers should place a high priority on researching what they are buying. It’s tedious, but it utilizes an environmental and ethical lens to reduce one’s ecological footprint.
This isn’t to prevent purchasing new products, but to instead be more conscious and concerned about spending habits, especially when consumers are more prone to excess waste. Just because a singular Christmas light is out doesn’t mean you have to throw out the whole string. And if you do, those lights and other LEDs are considered “electronic waste.” In 2022, less than a quarter of the 62 billion kilograms of electronic waste was properly recycled. The rest of that e-waste ends up in landfills, where toxic materials seep into the ground and bodies of water, negatively impacting public health. Beyond electronics, knowing how to dispose of waste is important to keeping damaging materials out of the environment.
Additionally, corporations push for higher levels of spending by advertising the newest goods or encouraging cash back on credit cards. Spending stimulates the economy, so governments and companies encourage individuals to spend constantly, yet its environmental impacts are often neglected.
Consumer spending is mandatory, but the benefits of informed purchases are often overlooked. Additionally, consumers should leverage both sustainable purchasing and practices across households. Nonrenewable resources will run out by definition; households should prioritize the transition to renewable and sustainable practices, whether through recycling or reusing. Society can continue to function without depleting the resources it needs to survive.
