How to wrap a gift environmentally?

Use craft paper, newspaper, fabric scarves (furoshiki technique), or reusable gift bags. Avoid foil paper and plastic ribbons.

What to do with disposable tableware after the holiday?

Plastic utensils contaminated with food are almost impossible to recycle. The best solution is to abandon them initially in favor of reusable or compostable utensils.

Is a real tree more environmentally friendly than an artificial one?

Yes, if it is grown in a nursery and recycled after the holiday. An artificial Christmas tree only pays for its environmental footprint if you use it for more than 20 years.

New Year Eco Calculator

Estimate the volume of holiday trash and how long it takes to decompose

Number of guests

Disposable tableware

Plastic decor

Gift packaging

Enter the number of guests
to calculate waste volume

Total waste volume:

0 kg

Eco-status: ... 0 / 10

Decomposition time: 0 years

From dishes and decor: 0 kg

🌱 Eco-tip will appear here...

Holiday waste

🎄 Holiday without harming the planet

New Year is a time of miracles, gifts and... mountains of garbage. Statistics show that during the January holidays the amount of household waste increases by 20-30%. Disposable tableware, miles of wrapping paper and plastic tinsel often last only a couple of hours, but take hundreds of years to decompose.

🌱 The purpose of this calculator: Not to ruin your mood, but to show how simple replacements (for example, a fabric tablecloth instead of oilcloth) can save nature from tens of kilograms of plastic.

What does the calculator take into account?

We analyze the three main sources of holiday waste:

Больше по теме: Holiday table calculator

Snacks🥂 How to calculate food for a holiday and not make a mistake? The main fear of any party organizer is “guests will go hungry.” The opposite situation, when half of the food goes into the trash, also hits your pocket.

Sprats🐟 Ideal proportion for your favorite snack Sandwiches with sprats are the king of the table in the CIS countries, especially on New Year or birthday.

Tangerines🎄 The main New Year's question: how much to take? New Year without tangerines is like Olivier without mayonnaise: it seems like a holiday, but the atmosphere is missing.

Table setting: Disposable plates and cups are the main enemy of the environment at parties.
Decor: Plastic garlands, “rain” and tinsel, which quickly lose their appearance and turn into microplastic.
Packaging: Shiny wrapping paper is often covered in a layer of plastic and cannot be recycled.

♻️ How to make New Year more environmentally friendly? (Top 3 tips)

🍽️ Dishes

If there are too many guests for a regular place setting, choose biodegradable tableware made from cornstarch or paper (without a layer of plastic). Or ask your friends to bring their own mugs - this can be a fun party feature.

🎁 Packaging

Use the Furoshiki technique (the Japanese art of wrapping in fabric) or regular craft paper decorated with a fir branch. It looks more stylish and is completely environmentally friendly.

🎉 Decor

Replace the plastic “rain” with natural decorations: dried oranges, tangerines, pine cones, wooden toys or paper garlands. They create comfort and a pleasant aroma.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

❓ Why is shiny paper harmful?

Most pretty wrapping paper with glitter or lamination contains a layer of polyethylene. It cannot be recycled and is sent to a landfill, where it takes hundreds of years to decompose.

❓ How to dispose of a live Christmas tree?

Do not throw your Christmas tree into a regular container. Take it to a collection point for recycling ("Christmas Tree Cycle" campaign). The trees are processed into wood chips, which are used for fertilizer or animal bedding.

❓ What trace does fireworks leave?

Fireworks pollute the air with heavy metals and leave behind a lot of plastic shells. An eco-friendly alternative would be sparklers (their metal rods can be scrapped) or a light show.