Ways To Go More Sustainable This Thanksgiving

Food

• Choose organic and locally grown foods when you can. It’s now even easier to find organic turkeys this time of year.
• Skip the meat—there are so many options to create a vegetarian or vegan holiday meal. Consider fish for a pescatarian meal, tofurky, or just going with lots of side dishes. 
• Serve organic beverages like apple cider, juice, wine, and beer. 
• Reduce food waste. You can compost the leftovers or donate them to those in need. Or, get creative reusing the food to make soups, stews, salads, and sandwiches.
• Be mindful of your purchases at the grocery store and avoid those wrapped in excessive plastic, such as dips and pre-packaged fruit salads.

Storage

• Airtight Glass Containers: These are a great option for storing, heating up, and transporting all kinds of foods and liquids. Their secure lids keep liquids like sauces from leaking. 
• Mason Jars and Leftover Glass Jars: Store your leftover food in mason jars. Even better, instead of tossing those extra glass jars from pickles, olives, pasta sauce, and salsa into your recycle bin, wash them out and use them to store your leftovers.

• Insulated Stainless Steel Containers: These durable, long-lasting containers are double-walled and have a silicone seal for airtightness so they can keep food and liquids warm or cold for hours.
• Reusable Non-Plastic Wraps: One of the most innovative ways to store food without using plastic wrap is to use reusable wraps. These sustainable products can be made from cotton cloth with bee’s wax, vegan plant-based candelilla wax, or non-GMO Soy wax. You can purchase them or make your own! They are water-resistant, easy to handle, soft, pliable, come in a variety of sizes, and smell fabulous. 
• Fabric Bowl Covers: Use the bowls you already have and slap a fabric bowl cover on top to store leftovers.

(Related: 12 Easy Ways To Store Food Without Using Plastic)

Serveware

Many families tend to create a pretty formal Thanksgiving dinner, bringing out the good china, silverware, and eloquent tablecloths. This is a great way to reduce extra waste. However, some families opt for plates and utensils that they can easily discard after the meal to reduce clean up time. Fortunately, you can still choose options that are more sustainable. First of all, avoid using plastic plates and utensils; instead, choose paper (recycled is best), bamboo, or even those made from palm leaves. Next, be sure to use real wine glasses—not plastic ones—and don’t serve your drinks with plastic straws or stirrers. If possible, use real cloth tablecloths instead of those cheap plastic throwaway ones. 

Decorations

• Go natural: Instead of running to the stores stocked with plastic decorations, consider decorating your home more naturally. Use items like plants, berries, gourds, acorns, twigs and branches, cranberry garlands, and colorful flowers and leaves. You can go for a lovely hike outdoors a couple of days before the holiday to collect your special nature décor.
• Make your own: Make some of your own decorations out of non-plastic materials you have lying around the house.  
• Shop second hand: Check out local thrift stores, online sites like freecycle.org, and garage sales for some treasures that can add a sparkle to your holiday look. 
• Trade with friends and family: Another way to cut back on new decorations is to organize a decoration swap with friends and family. You can even ask your guests to bring their favorite Thanksgiving decoration to display during the meal and share why it is meaningful to them.   

Give Thanks and Give Back