Savor the Season: A Sustainable Guide to Thanksgiving
Published on October 20, 2025
Thanksgiving is a time to gather with family and friends, share a meal and reflect on what we’re grateful for. But it can also be a season of excess – long car trips, disposable plates and utensils and more food waste than almost any other holiday. This year, consider celebrating in a way that’s both festive and sustainable. With a few mindful choices, you can enjoy your favorite traditions while showing gratitude for the planet, too.
Use local and seasonal foods
One of the easiest ways to make your Thanksgiving more sustainable is to shop locally. Supporting nearby farms not only reduces transportation emissions but also ensures fresher, more flavorful dishes. Build your menu around what’s in season: consider locally grown sweet potatoes, greens, apples, pumpkins and squash that celebrate the harvest and lower your carbon footprint.
Reduce food waste
It’s easy to overestimate how much food a gathering will need. Try portioning smartly based on your guest count, and give new life to leftovers with soups, casseroles or freezer meals. Compost fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells and coffee grounds to turn waste into nourishment for the soil.
Set a sustainable table
Reusable dinnerware, cloth napkins, and tablecloths add a touch of tradition while keeping disposables out of landfills. If single-use items are necessary, choose compostable or recyclable materials. Even decorations can be sustainable like natural centerpieces made from pinecones, leaves or gourds.
Travel mindfully
If your holiday involves travel to family for a Friendsgiving, consider carpooling or off setting the trip by supporting a local environmental project. Sometimes small steps or shared rides can make a big difference.
At its heart, Thanksgiving is a celebration of gratitude for family, food, community and the world around us. By approaching the holiday with sustainability in mind, we can honor not only our traditions but also the earth that sustains them.
