Thanksgiving is a holiday that many of us overindulge with food and decorations to please our guests. During the holidays it is easy to make exceptions to some of our normal eco-friendly habits. But the 3 R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) can be honored during the Thanksgiving holiday too. Here are some ways to celebrate a green and eco-friendly Thanksgiving.
Eco-Friendly Thanksgiving Tips
1) Shop with Packaging in Mind – When shopping for Thanksgiving, look for products with packaging that is minimal and/or recyclable. Bring your reusable shopping bags with you to the store. Recycle all the paper, plastic, and glass containers that you can.
2) Keep it Simple – Many families have some wasted food at Thanksgiving. Prepare the holiday meal with the goal of having no waste. Maybe it means eliminating a side dish or two, or not having so many pies to choose from. Another idea is to have smaller plates so your guests do not take more food than they can eat. You can scale back to reduce waste and still have a fantastic meal.
3) Make your Own Natural Decorations – A great part about Thanksgiving is that it is easy to use 
nature to decorate. For instance, pumpkins, leaves, pinecones and branches all make great Thanksgiving decorations. Since they come from nature, they are all easily disposable and biodegradable. Here are some great recycled Thanksgiving crafts for the kids.
4) Turn Down the Heat – You will have a house full of guests and a warm oven on for most of the day, so don’t be afraid to turn your furnace down a few degrees to conserve some energy.
5) Avoid Disposable Tableware and Containers – Make Grandma proud and pull out her old china for the dishware. Avoid using paper plates, plastic silverware, plastic wrap, and tin turkey pans. If you are packaging leftovers, reuse plastic Tupperware or recycled glass jars instead of the throw away alternatives.
6) Find Ways to Reuse the Leftovers – Plan ahead and find some recipes to make use of the leftover turkey and mashed potatoes before they sneak to the back of the fridge. Don’t forget that there are some leftovers you can freeze, too. If you know you are making enough to have a considerable amount of leftovers, why not pre-designate some items for local families in need, food shelves, etc.?
7) Say Thank You – Tell the people you care about how much you care about them and how they have helped to make the world a better place. Teach children how they can give thanks to Mother Earth by reducing, reusing, and recycling all year long.
8) Take It With You – Sustainable behavior isn’t just for your own home. Take your eco-friendly mindset with you back to work after the holiday. Talk with your colleagues about the waste and recycling practices at your business. Does your company recycle commodities like cardboard, plastic, aluminum, shrink wrap, and paper? Or, does it waste money by having it hauled away and added to the waste stream. Maybe its time to consider a new recycling baler or trash compactor for your organization. Not only will it help the bottom line, it will boost your image as a environmentally responsible business!
Thank You From Harmony Enterprises!
We hope that you are able to enjoy an eco-friendly Thanksgiving and practice environmental stewardship throughout the coming year.
Harmony Enterprises is truly thankful for our employees, customers, vendors, and community. Thank you for your continued support over the past year. We are grateful for you! Wishing you and yours a safe, happy, and blessed Thanksgiving holiday!
