O Christmas Tree

Ah, the holidays. The 5-ish weeks between Black Friday and New Year's Day tend to be an extended party of sorts in which many of us overspend, overeat/drink, overdecorate, and excessively waste. The excesses associated with the holidays come with a hefty environmental cost: on average, US households produce 25% more trash than normal between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day; worse, wonton wastefulness can (and does) add more than half a metric ton onto our annual carbon footprints. I believe it's entirely possible to have a joyous December without the waste and so, on today's show, we discuss practical ways to spread holiday cheer with the planet in mind. Here's a preview: [2:00] Artificial, local, root ball intact, and more: Breaking down the Christmas tree conundrum via Steph's handy dandy grading rubric [17:00] 4 of the most impactful (and practical!) ways to spread good tidings without being wasteful, according to mathematics   Resources mentioned: Organic Christmas Tree Farms Near You Database The Carbon Trust's Tips For A More Sustainable Christmas (via Carbon Trust) Join us on Instagram! (Seriously! Just do it, we're having lots of fun!) Email me and say hello! [email protected]   Thank you to our sponsors! Thrive Market: head to thrivemarket.com/sustainable for 30% off your order and a free gift. Helix Sleep: Get $400 off and 2 free pillows at https://birchliving.com/sustainable.   Our Sponsors:* Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content