6 ways to show thanks for the Earth this holiday

This article first appeared at WorldWatch Institute.

This Thanksgiving, consider joining me in adding our planet to your list of things to be thankful for. Given all that the Earth provides for us (like the tasty food we’re about to enjoy), here are some ways you can make your Thanksgiving holiday more sustainable and give some appreciation back to our planet.

Welcome sweaters

Encourage your holiday guests to bring a sweater and maybe even hold a fun sweater competition! The extra layer will let you lower your home’s thermostat. This way you’ll use less energy for heat, reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air.

Did you know? According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, you can save about 3 percent on your heating bill for every degree you turn down your thermostat.

Boost conversation

To cut your energy consumption, limit the amount of electronics used on Thanksgiving Day. Want to watch football or the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? Invite friends and family and gather around a single TV. One challenge that my family holds every year is to create a cellphone pile in another room. Whoever touches their cell phone first has to clear the dinner table following the meal. Not only does this encourage more meaningful conversations, but it also helps sustain the environment by using less energy for electricity, again lowering the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air.

Did you know? In the United States alone, 38 percent of our carbon dioxide emissions come from combustion of fossil fuels to generate electricity, making electricity the largest source of emissions in the nation.

Check the label

When making your cornucopia or cooking for your T-Day meal, embrace sustainable food sources. Organic fruits and vegetables are pesticide-free and use, on average, up to 50 percent less fossil fuel energy than conventional farming. Also consider buying your turkey from a local small farmer, which can lower the amount of antibiotics used to raise your food.

Did you know? On average, food travels 1,500 miles from the farm to reach the consumer. By choosing to buy local, you can help reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released from transport emissions.

Cut the waste

Coordinate among your guests who will bring what food item, if you aren’t making the entire feast yourself. Check your refrigerator and pantry before going out and buying all-new food. This helps eliminate any replicated food items and the amount of food waste. Following your delicious meal, any uneaten fruit, vegetables or coffee grounds that you can’t save can be thrown into a compost pile.

Did you know? Food scraps and yard waste tend to make up about 20 to 30 percent of what we throw away. Composting these materials keeps them out of landfills where they take up space and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Keep it reusable

When making your meal, try to use as many reusable containers, dishes and cloths as possible. Cook your turkey in a pan that can be used again instead of in a foil one that you will throw out. Use washable plates and silverware instead of buying paper or plastic ones. Aim for using cloth tablecloths and napkins to eliminate paper waste as well. Ask your invited guests to help you clean up following the meal and make the task seem less daunting. Using reusable products can be more sustainable for the environment by cutting down the amount of waste.

Did you know? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, paper makes up about 30 percent of Americans’ waste each year. Plastic makes up about 12 percent. Both of these materials take up space in landfills and further diminish our supply of resources.

Don’t need it? Don’t buy it.

Even on Black Friday, if I don’t need an item, I don’t buy it. Instead, I use the opportunity of having friends and family gather to do an item swap and reuse unwanted things. One person’s trash could be another one’s treasure!

Did you know? If all 7 billion people on Earth consumed like Americans, we would need 4.1 Earths to have enough land and resources to sustain ourselves.