We love Thanksgiving! Who doesn’t love a holiday centered around eating? Oh, wait ... it’s family! It’s a holiday centered around family! Or … just maybe it’s a little bit of both, right? Sometimes family goes down better with a slice of pumpkin pie. Whatever the reason for your celebration this November we’re here with five easy ways to make your holiday a little more ethical.
- Skip the turkey. Going right for the gold right off the bat, huh? The many benefits of going meat free for your health and our planet have been said time and time again. So we won’t rehash them, we’ll just remind you: meat free does not mean taste free! Look for vegan options here! If turkey-free just isn’t for you, source your turkey from a local sustainable farm. Factory farming isn’t nearly as delicious, plus it’s not good for animals, the planet or your health.
- Invite someone new. Maybe it’s the person who just moved here you met at work last week. Perhaps your neighbor down the hall? You know her kids never visit and she could use some cheering up. How about the family from your church that you know has been struggling recently? Spreading kindness is never a bad idea.
- Skip black Friday. And double triple skip black Thursday. Do not visit businesses that require their employees take time away from their families on the holidays. Do not participate in the consumer crazed madness thinking that happiness will be found in the next cheap plastic toy. Cherish the time with your family and let store employees do the same. Save your money so you can purchase from ethical, sustainable and local businesses.
- The best part of Thanksgiving is often said to be the leftovers. If you’re going to box up the goods, choose glass containers and skip the tin foil and plastic wrap. Having reusable containers isn’t just cost friendly, it’s also eco friendly. And if you have scraps you can’t save? Send them to the compost! Even if you don’t have your own compost bin (it’s seriously easy, though!) you can find a local compster who would probably be more than happy to take in your scraps.
- We all love a good tablescape! And we also love being green. So instead of the fresh cut flowers flown in from Colombia last night with a carbon footprint bigger than Bigfoot, let’s use sustainable and oh-so-pretty succulents! They’ll look great on your table and can double as a favor you send home with your guests. Or maybe keep them for yourself. ;)
Do you have other ideas on how to ethicalize your Thanksgiving? Tell us in the comments and spread the love!
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