Climate Action
7 Things to Do Other than Shop this Holiday Season
December 24, 2025
My favorite movie growing up was How the Grinch Stole Christmas. It is still the first movie put on every December. But Jim Carrey’s performance, though objectively stellar, is actually not the main draw. Rather the message; Christmas and the holidays are not about the things we buy, but the people we have around us.
Somewhere along the way, this time of year has gone from being about spending time with family and appreciation for what we have, to being a massive shopping spree. The average American spends nearly $1000 just on gifts during the holiday season. The United Kingdom, Germany and France top Christmas and holiday spending in Europe for 2025, with a projected 90, 70 and 60 billion pounds sterling spend anticipated in shops and online.
So this holiday season, EARYHDAY.ORG, challenges you to ditch the shopping and do something less boring instead! Here are 7 things to do this Christmas and holiday season:
1. I’ll Be Cleaning Up for Christmas
Community cleanups have been around as long as the first Earth Day in 1970, and they’re still one of the most immediate ways to make a visible impact in your neighborhood. With the world producing over 400 million tonnes of plastic a year (and rising), every piece you pull out of the environment matters.
Cleanups do more than make a spot look pretty. Removing trash before it breaks apart can stop up to 99% of microplastics from ever reaching rivers and oceans. There is an added bonus too that this behavior spreads! If just 5% of a community joins in, research shows the habit can go viral.
It’s ridiculously easy to join us on clean ups: grab a bag, step outside, and start picking up trash. Or make it official by joining an EARTHDAY.ORG cleanup near you. Check our Global Cleanup Map, team up with friends or family, and give the planet a little holiday cheer. It builds community, is good exercise after all the festive food and will make you feel better, plus the planet will thank you!
2. O’ Christmas Tree, I Plant Thee
If you want a holiday gift that “pays” dividends for decades, plant a tree. One tree can absorb about 10-48 pounds of CO₂ a year, trees help to filter polluted air, cool urban neighborhoods, boost biodiversity, and even raise property values. Basically, trees are multitasking climate superheroes that don’t ask for anything in return except sunlight, water and the right to exist!
But they’re disappearing fast. About 10.9 million hectares (108,000 km²) of forest are cleared each year, which is roughly the size of Iceland every single year. Urban development, agriculture, and logging are stripping away the very forests that are vital to literally millions of species, including human beings.. That’s why EARTHDAY.ORG is working to plant 60 million trees by 2030 through the Canopy Tree Project.
You can be a tree hero. Donate to help us plant a tree where it’s needed most, or plant one in your own yard or community. It’s inexpensive, long-lasting, and scientifically proven to make the planet healthier… one root system at a time.
3. No More Tinsel
Plastic isn’t just polluting the planet; it’s polluting our bodies. Microplastics have now been found in human blood, lungs, placentas, breast milk, and even brain tissue. Once inside the body, they don’t just sit there innocently minding their own business. Plastic particles can carry chemicals that act as endocrine disruptors, and studies have linked these chemicals to increased risks of cancer, disruption to fertility, and respiratory disease. No one signed up for the $1.25 trillion in health related damages globally that plastic chemicals cause every year.
During the holidays, plastic is everywhere, from tree decorations, to sparkle‑wrapped gifts to disposable cups at parties, even our pet’s stocking stuffers are probably plastic. A single load of laundry can releases up to 700,000 microplastic fibers because so many of our clothes are partially made of polyester, a plastic textile.
To reduce the annual plastic explosion this holiday season, buy natural fiber materials, such as cotton, and wash holiday sweaters and festive outfits with synthetic fibers (which are all made of plastic chemicals) less frequently.
We want to give our kids the magic of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza, and that should not involve plastic. Babies ingest ten times more microplastics than adults, largely from bottles and toys, 90% of which are made of plastic. Choose stainless steel or glass baby bottles, wrap gifts for kids in cloth or recycled paper instead of plastic-coated wrapping, and vacuum often.
Even festive décor can contribute: many ornaments, tinsel, and disposable cups are plastic. Swap them for wooden, glass or stainless steel ornaments, cups and tableware to cut exposure while keeping your celebrations beautiful. If you are sick of plastics – please take 2 minutes and sign our Global Plastics Treaty Petition to demand meaningful action on plastic production from the world’s government’s. .
4. Tis the Season to Re-Gift Clothes
Before you click “add to cart” on another holiday outfit, take a quick peek at your closet. About 70% of the clothes in there are probably made of polyester, which is really just plastic spun into thread. It’s cheap, durable, and everywhere… but it comes with a massive environmental price tag.
Polyester is made from fossil fuels, and producing it requires an estimated 342 million barrels of oil every year; that’s enough oil to fill around 16 million Olympic swimming pools every year! The fashion industry as a whole pumps out more than 700 million tons of CO₂ annually, and synthetic fibers shed microplastics at every stage of their life. The pollution from our clothes ends up in our waterways, our air, our soil, and then our bodies.
Fast fashion only fuels the problem. Brands release hundreds of thousands of new items each year, encouraging us to treat clothes like disposable decor. The average person buys 60% more clothing than they did 15 years ago, but only wears the items 6-8 times before discarding them. The result? Over 92 million tons of textile waste each year and mountains of microplastics that will outlive us all.
This holidays, skip the fast-fashion frenzy. Regift clothes you no longer wear, upcycle pieces you already own, host a swap with friends, or give gently used items new life with someone who will love them. You’ll save money, avoid adding more plastic to the planet, and cut down on the emissions tied to producing something you already have.
If you want to go bigger, join EARTHDAY.ORG’s Fashion for the Earth campaign and demand that the industry clean up its act. The planet, and your closet space, will thank you.
5. Ditch the Holiday Ham for Plant Protein
Holiday dinners don’t have to revolve around a giant glazed animal. Plant proteins are having a moment, and honestly, they’re bringing better stats to the table than most meats. Many of them pack just as much protein, use a fraction of the land and water, and produce dramatically fewer emissions. Plus, they spare you the “I need a nap” feeling that usually hits around dessert.
There’s a plethora of possibilities, and here are a few options. Take tempeh, tofu’s crunchier cousin with a 31-grams-per-cup protein punch and built-in probiotics thanks to fermentation that supports gut health and digestion. Lentils deliver 18 grams per cooked cup and so much folate (90% of what is recommended daily) that nutritionists basically applaud when you open the bag and support your red blood cell health. Even beans of all kinds bring about 15 grams of protein per cup and come with fiber, iron, potassium, which support heart health, digestion, and even helps ease PMS and mood symptoms. And they have a soil-saving superpower called nitrogen fixation, where they pull nitrogen from the air and enrich the soil which helps farmers rely less on synthetic fertilizers.
Replacing even one holiday meal with plant proteins can cut your diet’s environmental impact dramatically. Livestock is responsible for roughly 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and shifting toward plant-based proteins remains one of the simplest ways to shrink your carbon footprint without sacrificing flavor or tradition.
6. Movie Night is Green
If you are scrolling through your streaming apps with nothing to watch, I have a recommendation: Underreported Earth: Tree Tales. Hosted by The Guardian’s Tracy McVeigh, three investigative journalists, each supported by the Pulitzer Center, share how they uncovered powerful stories about deforestation and conservation in Brazil and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ana Bottallo, a science and health reporter from Brazil, highlights the mangrove forests of northern Brazil and how predatory fishing practices threaten them. Her reporting spotlighted Indigenous communities leading conservation efforts, ultimately driving new protections and collaboration with government agencies.
Elisângela Mendonça, formerly of The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, investigated illegal beef and collagen sourcing in the Amazon. Her work revealed ranches clearing Indigenous land, prompting at least one corporation to change its supply chain practices and encouraging consumers to stay vigilant about product origins.
Josephine Moulds, reporting from the Democratic Republic of Congo, exposed threats to the Congo Basin rainforest from government fossil fuel drilling auctions. She highlighted both corruption in the auction process and the crucial role Indigenous communities play in protecting their ancestral forests.
These stories show how journalism can drive real-world change and why defending forests matters everywhere. The conversations can be watched on EARTHDAY.ORG on our YouTube, Facebook, and X accounts. Facebook: Ep.1, Ep.2,Ep.3, YouTube: Ep.1, Ep.2, Ep.3, and X: Ep. 1, Ep. 2, Ep. 3.
You can support forests locally or globally by donating to EARTHDAY.ORG’s Canopy Tree Project, signing up for updates, or volunteering. Stay informed, get inspired, and make a difference for trees everywhere.
Looking for some lighter fare? Check out these environmental films to watch with your family,
7. Grow Your Own Mistletoe
As the cost of food and living continues to rise, you may be looking for ways to save. Today, investing in a home garden can save money: a $70 investment in seeds and supplies can yield roughly $600 worth of produce. But your wallet won’t be the only thing helping you; so will your health and mother Earth.
Gardening provides access to fresh, chemical-free produce while reducing reliance on plastic packaging, linked to many health issues, and limiting exposure to toxins. It also helps lower food waste, promotes mental well-being, and encourages physical activity. Gardening can also contribute to sustainability by reducing the carbon footprint associated with industrial agriculture and long-distance food transportation.
Whether for fresh produce, mental health, or sustainability, gardening is an easy and impactful way to take positive action at home.
This Christmas and holiday season, let’s remember that the best gifts aren’t things; they’re actions that make a difference. From planting a tree, ditching plastic use to regifting clothes, to choosing plant-based meals, to growing your own garden, every choice counts. Celebrate with intention, give your time and care, and make the season merry not just for your family, but for the planet too.
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