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Zero Waste Team Releases Guide to a Greener Holiday

DECEMBER 9, 2019 — On November 21, the National Ocean Service Zero Waste (ZW) Team released a Guide to Hosting a ZW Holiday Party. Following the simple steps in the guide, we can celebrate the season while also protecting our planet.

Holiday gifts in jars
Homemade sweets packaged in reusable jars make great holiday gifts. Image credit: NOAA.

NOS leadership established the NOS ZW Team in July 2019. The Team, made up of representatives from each NOS line office plus support from the Marine Debris Program (MDP), is working to reform office operations and provide tools and guidance to increase NOS employees’ sustainable behaviors. One of the charges in their fiscal year 2020 ZW Action Plan includes reducing waste at NOS events, so the Team thought that this year’s holiday gatherings were the perfect places to start. The guide includes tips for reducing waste in catering orders, decorations, and gift swaps, as well as a method to measure the waste diverted at each celebration. Events are being logged throughout the year by the NOS ZW Team to track waste reduction.

See: Guide to Hosting a Zero Waste Holiday Party

For more information, please contact the MDP Team at marinedebris.web@noaa.gov.

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Wrapped gifts.
Try wrapping gifts in packing paper, reusable grocery bags, cloth, other reusable or recyclable materials. Image credit: NOAA.
Last updated Tuesday, November 8, 2022 1:47pm PST