Sustainability Spotlight - December 2025 - Small Shifts, Big Meaning
The holidays invite us to slow down, open our doors, and spend time with the people and traditions that make this season feel special. Members of the Sustainable Wheat Ridge Committee shared how they bring sustainability into the season. These ideas remind us that sustainable holidays don’t have to be complicated or perfect. Instead, they’re about small, thoughtful choices that feel welcoming and easy to carry into everyday life.
“Over the years, my family has discovered that our favorite gifts are ‘experiences’!” — Joy
When it comes to gifting, experiences are often preferred over things. Joy and Rachel shared how their families now lean toward outings, performances, or simply spending quality time together. These gifts easily adapt to family dynamics, creating moments to look forward to and memories that last well beyond the holiday season, without adding clutter at home.
For those who enjoy giving physical gifts, secondhand finds bring personality and charm. Amy enjoys visiting thrift stores and local boutiques to find unique items to gift as-is or upcycle to fit someone’s lifestyle, whether a handmade mug, a puzzle, or a picture frame ready to hold a family photo or original artwork. Corinne also turns to thrift stores for baskets and containers, filling them with thoughtfully chosen items and locally sourced goodies to create gifts that feel special and personal. When Stew gives physical gifts, he looks for items that are useful, desired, and durable.
Wrapping and presentation offer another chance to add care and creativity. Corinne saves paper throughout the year and paints it to create one-of-a-kind wrapping. Reusable bags, cloth wraps, and handmade materials turn packaging into part of the gift that can be saved and enjoyed again and again.
At the holiday table, sustainability shows up in relaxed, flexible ways. Stew’s household puts less emphasis on meat and more focus on flavorful sides, which are easier to source responsibly and naturally bring people together. Small shifts like choosing local and seasonal foods, cooking just enough, adapting familiar recipes, and being thoughtful about leftovers help meals feel abundant without being wasteful, while staying delicious.
Beyond gifts and food, traditions help shape the feeling of the season. Joy noted that starting with one or two manageable changes brings more mindfulness to holiday routines. Whether it’s a winter walk, a creative alternative to a cut tree, or simply slowing down together, these small shifts help make the holidays feel lighter, warmer, and rooted in connection.
“We get outside for every holiday, whether it’s a long walk around town, walking along the Clear Creek trail, or hiking in the Front Range.” — Stew
Through meaningful choices that care for people and place, small moments come together to shape a holiday season filled with presence, warmth, and shared connection. Happy Holidays!
