As we approach the season of gratitude and togetherness, it’s time for businesses and individuals to think beyond the bountiful festive feast and consider the environmental impact of Thanksgiving celebrations.
When it comes to decorations and serving ware, the easiest options are often the worst for the planet. Generally, this is because they are made of plastic and designed for a single use only. Think of the sheer volume of plastic takeaway containers, plastic plates and cutlery sets, plastic cups, and cheaply made festive decorations that are used and disposed of over Thanksgiving weekend in North America and beyond.
It’s time to curb our reliance on plastic and give compostable alternatives a chance this Thanksgiving.
So, whether you’re planning a Thanksgiving-themed lunch for colleagues, a traditional celebration with family, or a causal event with friends, there are a few tips to keep in mind to make this year’s event the most sustainable one yet.
- Decorate with natural adornments
Avoid plastic decorations to add a bit of festive flair to your table by creating a centrepiece of native elements instead. Whether it’s a flower and greenery arrangement from the garden, pine cones or a pumpkin, there’s plenty you can utilise that isn’t made of plastic that can still make the setting impactful for your guests. - Buy your turkey locally
When sourcing your bird, the first port of call should be the local poultry and produce in your own neighbourhood. Head to turkey farms and local markets to find the best seasonal produce. You’ll not only be supporting the local economy, but when you buy directly from the producer, you know your meal is coming straight from the farm to your plate. Locally sourced ingredients also have less ecological impact as they don’t have the emissions generated by transportation. - Capture veggie scraps in compostable bags
All the off-cuts from your efforts when carrot grating, potato slicing, and cauliflower chopping should be contained in a compostable bin bag on the kitchen benchtop. Having a small bag handy for food scraps keeps the benchtop clear, and once full, the whole bag can be thrown away as organic waste. The compostable bag and its plant-based contents will decompose naturally with the right conditions, returning to the earth as a nutrient-rich, natural fertiliser for the environment. - Hand compostable gloves to kitchen helpers
Anyone who offers to lend a hand cooking and prepping in the kitchen should be handed a pair of eco-friendly food preparation gloves to wear. These will help to keep hygiene levels high around food and can be used by your colleagues, friends and family when assisting with the chopping, slicing, dicing and stirring, and then thrown away with organic waste after use. - Consider serving sizes
Overindulging comes as part and parcel of Thanksgiving, but this can also result in unnecessary waste. Get realistic about the amount of food you’re preparing for guests and scale back your menu if in danger of over-catering. In the inevitable event that there is leftover food, make sure your guests take home the extra turkey, veggies, salads and pies (in reusable containers) to save them from going into landfill. - Choose earth-friendly tableware
The idea of using single-use plastic plates, cups and cutlery may seem appealing for its ease and convenience, but these types of gatherings are exactly what we keep the good dining sets for! It’s time to line tables with fine linens, use the stemware that’s been collecting dust, and the fancy plates that wouldn’t usually come out of the cupboard on a regular day.
By incorporating some extra measures in your Thanksgiving preparations this year, it’s possible to minimise the waste created during this festive feast and reduce your reliance on single-use plastic products. Make this holiday season a green one, and extend the spirit of thankfulness to the environment, too!
