Summer is over, The last moments before autumn begins.
Although the holidays are a time for indulgence, you can honor America’s workers, have a fun-filled Labor Day weekend, and make more responsible choices to contribute to greater sustainability.
Here are some tips to make Labor Day an environmentally conscious day.
1. Help clean up after the parade
If your city is like most, it probably has a Labor Day parade, where you’ll see floats and groups tossing individually wrapped candy into the crowd, handing out flyers that most people quickly dispose of, and scattering confetti.
This trash is harmful to the environment, so consider staying after the parade to help with the cleanup, or commit to helping and leading the way in planning next year’s parade and reducing waste.
2. Avoid disposable party supplies
Disposable products may make life a little more convenient, but the process of making paper and plastic cups, plates and plastic cutlery is Harmful to the environment.
Companies cut down trees to make paper products, consume huge amounts of energy to make plastic, and burn fuel to transport those disposable products around the world. Once you’re done with your spoon, it’s probably going to end up in a landfill.
When hosting a gathering, reduce party waste by using reusable cups, plates, and utensils.
3. Upcycle your decorations and displays
Every new thing you buy has an impact on the environment. Raw materials and energy are consumed to manufacture the goods and ship them around the world, all of which adds up to total carbon emissions. A banner or paper flag produced in Mexico, Morocco, or Malaysia carries a larger carbon load than a locally produced product.
Instead of buying new decorations and displays for your party, consider reusing things you already have. For example, Old hubcaps supporting a floral arrangementOr turn an old throw into a makeshift tablecloth.
4. Don’t use charcoal when grilling
If you plan on firing up the grill to grill up some burgers and hot dogs, consider your fuel choice.
5. Don’t run the air conditioner too hot
Depending on where you live, Labor Day may be one of the last really hot days of summer.
If you’re sensitive to heat, you might be tempted to bring everyone inside and turn on the air conditioner. Unfortunately, air conditioners can produce heat. Harmful By-Products And it requires a significant amount of power.
In the United States, some people have the choice Renewable Energy Sources When it comes to electricity, most people don’t. 83% of electricity is generated from fossil fuels or nuclear energy.
The good news is that modern air conditioners No ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons However, chlorinated fluorocarbons are still a concern that contribute significantly to climate change. Even the most efficient models on the market will have a lower carbon footprint if you celebrate outdoors in the shade, but if you must celebrate indoors, Keep the air conditioner at a moderate temperature.
6. Meet in groups, but carpool
Sharing resources reduces the total amount of resources consumed. Get together as a group to celebrate (you don’t need much motivation to do this).
When traveling to other locations, like the park or pool, consider carpooling to reduce fuel consumption. Or, even better, bike, walk, or take public transportation to get to your destination instead of driving.
7. Recycle (and make it easy for your guests to recycle)
Finally, make it easy for your guests to recycle beer bottles and soda cans and compost food leftovers: Place clearly marked recycling and compost bins next to the main eating area so guests know what goes in each bin.
Not only will this make your Labor Day gathering more sustainable, but it also serves as an opportunity to show friends how easy and fun sustainable behavior can be — no need to preach or ruin the celebratory atmosphere when actions demonstrate the value of environmentally conscious decisions.
The conclusion? Consume less.
The best general strategy we can suggest this Labor Day is to consume less.
Use less fuel, use less electricity, buy fewer products, and dispose of the products you use properly — it won’t take away from the fun and excitement of the holidays, and it won’t take much time to accomplish — you’ll be ready to ring in the fall while feeling happy about your celebrations and doing something environmentally friendly.
Featured photo courtesy of Shutterstock
Editor’s note: First published: On September 1, 2017, this article was updated for August 2024.
