2023 is coming to an end. Whoooooop! Isn’t it just weeks ago we were drawing our 2023 vision boards and plans for a new year? And now, we’re here, anticipating the holidays, planning to wind down the year, reflect on our losses and celebrate our wins.

But as the festive period approaches, it is important to not neglect a core part of our existence: the climate and our environment. Many times, we do not realise just how much waste we produce as we celebrate during the holidays. Amid travelling, cooking, partying, gift wrapping and unwrapping, our individual and collective carbon footprint might be bigger than we realise. So as we have fun, we need to reflect on ways we can protect our environment and foster environmental sustainability. Here are five key points to consider:

Dispose of your waste properly

The first thing we must learn is how to dispose of our waste properly. Are you fond of throwing your waste into the drainage, out of the window of a moving bus, by the roadside, in a heap of refuse dump you see – or just anywhere? The time to stop was yesterday, but don’t worry, today isn’t late. The importance of disposing of our waste properly cannot be underestimated. Beyond making our environment look and smell clean, it fosters an environment where there are fewer health risks and hazards around to affect us. Not sure where to dump that waste or garbage? Here are daily habits you can imbibe:

• Have a proper waste bin with a lid in your home.
• Get a bin bag where you store your refuse and tie it properly before putting it in the bin.
• Pay a waste management authority to pick up your bins and dispose of them safely. Don’t pour them into the flood, especially during the rainy season.
• If you are on the move, keep your waste in your bag until you see a garbage bin. What you should never do is fling it into the sea/ocean, or throw your used plastics out of a moving bus.

Opt for eco-friendly products

Talking about plastics, do you know there are more eco-friendly products to use this festive season? Choosing eco-friendly products is a simple yet impactful way to sustain our environment and reduce our carbon footprints. Not sure how to begin? You can start by replacing your plastics with paper bags. Plastic bags pose a significant threat to the environment, taking hundreds of years to decompose. By opting for paper bags, you can help minimize plastic pollution and protect the ecosystem.

Reduce single-use Items

Before you clear out your store and buy new products – packaging bags, plastic bags, plates, and so on, you should check for items you can reuse. You can also buy second-hand products and sell some of the items you are no longer using. That way, you find new homes for things you no longer want, and you get to buy products that will most likely last longer.

Reduce food waste

It’s the holidays and you probably have made too much food, or you cannot finish your meal so you throw it in the bin or by the roadside. Guess what? Food waste is still waste! One way to protect our environment is to avoid waste as much as we can. According to the UN Environment Programme, almost 570 million tonnes are lost or wasted at the household level. This waste needlessly contributes to biodiversity loss, pollution and climate change.

As we prepare for the holiday, let’s keep the above environmental sustainability tips in mind. We can have a jolly good holiday and an even better environment!