How Celebrating Holiday Increase Plastic Pollution?

Author: Hai Le

Updated on November 25, 2025 • Estimated read time: 7 minutes

Holidays are a time for celebrating, sharing meals, and spending cherished moments with our loved ones. However, they can also be a major contributor to plastic pollution. During holidays, we tend to eat more, drink more, and buy more stuff, which inevitably leads to a significant increase in the amount of waste we throw away.

Fun Fact: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans throw away 25% more trash (about 25 million tons) between Thanksgiving and the New Year than during any other time of the year.

Of course, this surge in waste doesn’t mean we should stop celebrating. Instead, it highlights how small changes in our holiday habits can make a big difference. While it is impossible to eliminate all plastic waste from holiday celebrations, there are a number of things that you can do to reduce your impact.

In this blog post, we’ll explore exactly how holiday traditions drive plastic pollution, examine the environmental consequences of this increased waste, and provide practical solutions to help you make this time of year much more sustainable.

Gift Wrapping And Packaging

Holidays and gift-giving often go hand in hand. Whether it's the candy wrapped inside the plastic Easter eggs, or the Halloween trinkets that are widely distributed and discarded after use. Oh, and don't forget the infamous Christmas gift exchange.

The problem? Many of these beautifully wrapped gifts are often made from non-recyclable plastic, such as cellophane, bubble wrap, shrink wrap, and tape. This creates a lot of waste that ends up in landfills, where it can take hundreds of years to decompose.

Fun Fact: According to San Diego State University, the U.S. alone throws away an estimated 2.6 billion pounds of wrapping paper each year. That staggering amount of waste is enough to cover 40 football fields!

So choose gifts that are wrapped in recyclable or reusable materials. Use eco-friendly options such as recycled paper, fabric, or reusable gift bags with minimal packaging to reduce the overall amount of packaging waste.

Summary: Gift wrapping and packaging can be a major source of plastic pollution during the holidays. The good news is that there are sustainable alternatives. By choosing eco-friendly gift wrap options and opting for gifts with minimal packaging, we can all help reduce our impact on the environment.

Single-Use Plastic Decorations

Holiday decorations are a staple of many cultures around the world. They add color and festive spirit to our homes and communities. However, many holiday decorations are made from single-use plastic, which can contribute to plastic pollution.

Fun Fact: According to the National Christmas Tree Association, there are approximately 25-30 million real Christmas trees sold in the US every year. And alongside those trees, millions of plastic ornaments, garlands, and other disposable decorations are purchased.

Decorations like balloons, party favors, and plastic ornaments are also single-use items. Once the celebrations are over, they often end up in the trash, destined to take hundreds of years to decompose in landfills.

Solution: Holidays come every year, so choose reusable decorations. There are so many beautiful and festive reusable decorations available that can be used year after year.

Summary: Holiday decorations can be a beautiful way to celebrate the season, but single-use plastic decorations can be a major source of plastic waste. By choosing reusable decorations, we can reduce our impact on the environment.

Photo: © Yuliia Chyzhevska via canva.com

Disposable Tableware And Cutlery

During holidays, when families and friends come together for feasts and parties, the consumption of disposable tableware and cutlery skyrockets. Holiday feasts often involve disposable plates, cups, and cutlery for convenience.

Fun Fact: According to Forbes, in the United States alone, over 40 billion plastic utensils are discarded every year! (That's roughly 100+ million plastic forks, spoons, and knives every single day!)

While they simplify the post-celebration cleanup, these items are typically made of plastic and are discarded after one use. They can take hundreds of years to decompose and significantly contribute to plastic pollution.

Solution: Use reusable plates, cups, and utensils instead. While disposable partyware is appealing, as it cuts down on dishwashing, these items are single-serve and aren't recyclable.

Summary: Since many holiday celebrations involve meals and gatherings that rely on plates, utensils, and cups, choosing sustainable tableware and cutlery is important for minimizing your overall environmental impact during the holiday season.

Photo: © svetikd via Getty Images

Holiday Shopping

Fun Fact: According to Wildlife and Countryside Link, as much as 114,000 tonnes of plastic packaging will be thrown away and not recycled in the UK this Christmas season, that’s the equivalent of the weight of 650,000 reindeer or 3.3 million penguins.

Holiday shopping, whether it’s squeezing through crowded stores on Black Friday or scrolling through endless online deals, often leads to an increase in plastic bags and packaging that ends up as waste in landfills.

Many holiday gifts are also single-use items, such as toys, decorations, and food packaging. These items are often made from plastic and are discarded after a short period of time.

Solution: Bring your reusable shopping bags when holiday shopping, and opt for products with minimal or no plastic packaging. Remember to support businesses that prioritize sustainability and eco-friendly packaging.

Summary: Holiday shopping can also be a major contributor to plastic pollution. They often involve purchasing a wide range of products, many of which are single-use and packaged in plastic.

Photo: © Pofuduk via Getty Images

What Can Be Done To Reduce Plastic Pollution During The Holidays?

Fun Fact: According to Sustainability at SOU, 2.65 billion Christmas cards are sold each year in the U.S. alone, enough to fill a football field 10 stories high. (If we each sent one card less, we’d save 50,000 cubic yards of paper!)

Holidays are not only about celebrating and receiving, but they can also be about giving back to the planet. Luckily, there are some actionable steps we can take to reduce our plastic footprint during the holidays:

• Rethink Holiday Cards: Instead of traditional cards, try e-mail card or send a reusable “pass-along” card by writing your message on an insert, so the card itself can be reused.
  
• Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle: Make an effort to reduce the amount of plastic waste you generate during the holidays. For example, you can reuse gift wrap, choose gifts that are packaged in recycled materials, and recycle all of your holiday waste.
• Choose Sustainable Alternatives: There are many beautiful and sustainable options to disposable plastic products available on the market for you to choose from, so there is no need to sacrifice style for sustainability.
• Compost: After the holidays are over, you can further reduce the amount of waste generated by composting your kitchen scraps, paper products, and other organic materials.
• Support Businesses That Are Committed To Sustainability: When you shop for gifts or decorations, choose businesses that use sustainable materials and recyclable packaging. Your purchasing power can drive positive change in the market.

Summary: Avoid disposable plastic products, choose reusable alternatives whenever possible, and support businesses that can drive positive change. By following these tips, you can help reduce plastic pollution and create a more sustainable holiday season.

Quick Takeaway

So, how exactly do our holiday celebrations lead to increased plastic pollution?

• Gift wrapping and excessive packaging
• Single-use plastic decorations
• Disposable tableware and cutlery
• Holiday shopping

The holiday season is meant to be joyful and full of celebration, but it’s also a time when our consumption spikes dramatically. By recognizing the activities that generate the most plastic waste, we can make more mindful choices and celebrate in ways that are kinder to our planet.

Frequently Asked Questions Relate To This Blog:

Question #1: How much plastic waste is generated during the holidays?

Answer: We don't know the exact numbers, but according to a recent study done by Stanford University, Americans generate an estimated 25% more waste (about 25 million tons of garbage) between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day than the rest of the year.

Question #2: What are the most common sources of plastic pollution during the holidays?

Answer: Gift wrapping, holiday decorations, food packaging, children toys, disposable cups and plates are some of the most common sources of plastic pollution during the holidays

Question #3: What are the environmental impacts of plastic pollution?

Answer: Plastic pollution can leach harmful chemicals into the environment, harm marine life, pollute waterways, and accumulate in landfills, where it can take up to hundreds of years to decompose.

Question #4: Why celebrating holidays when they are bad for the environment?

Answer: Not all holidays are bad for the environment. Some, like Earth Day, actually have a positive impact on the environment in a number of ways. They raise awareness about environmental issues, and encourage people to take action about protect our planet. Just be aware of the issue and remember to celebrate consciously.