Have a Sustainable Holiday Season in Vancouver

Lonely Planet named Vancouver one of the world's most sustainable cities in 2021. Many Vancouverites have an eco-friendly mindset, and that extends to the holiday season.

Shop for Eco-Friendly Gifts

It's possible to get the perfect gift for everyone on your list and be mindful of your environmental impact at the same time.

Instead of buying new, browse vintage shops and thrift stores to find one-of-a-kind gifts. Locals love shopping for bargains at several Salvation Army Thrift Store locations around town and smaller thrift stores like Thriftique and Wildlife Thrift Store. If you're looking for vintage home goods and accessories, check out Step Back in Kitsilano. For vintage clothing straight from the Y2K era, visit F as in Frank which has locations on Main Street and in Gastown.

You can also give experiences, rather than things. Get tickets to an upcoming concert or play, a Canucks hockey game, or a Whitecaps FC soccer game. Or treat them to a day out at one of Vancouver's iconic attractions like the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain, VanDusen Botanical Garden's Festival of Lights, or Vancouver Aquarium.

It's also a great time of year to give back. Instead of buying gifts, donate to one of the city's deserving charities like the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, which provides fresh food to those in need. Other great options include the BC Cancer Foundation, Covenant House, and BC Children's Hospital.

Embrace Local Food

Choose locally produced food this holiday season to lessen your carbon footprint.

If you're cooking, Vancouver's Farmer's Markets are a great place to start. Shop for local vegetables like cabbage, kale, potatoes, onions, and squash, as well as locally-raised eggs, poultry, and pork. In December, the Downtown Farmer's Market is open each Wednesday from 2 to 6 pm, the Kitsilano Winter Farmer's Market runs on Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm, and the Riley Park Farmer's Market is open on Saturdays between 10 am and 2 pm.

You can also dine out at Vancouver's farm-to-table restaurants like Fable Kitchen, Farmer's Apprentice, The Mackenzie Room, or Michelin Guide-rated Nightingale. At each one, you'll find a menu that changes with the season to take advantage of local produce and seafood.

Reduce the Impact of the Holidays

Wrapping paper creates a lot of waste. Instead of using holiday paper, consider wrapping gifts in old maps, magazines, or calendars. Or decorate plain brown paper to make your own bespoke gift wrap. You can also wrap one gift in another gift. For example, pick up a cute tea towel or scarf, and then use that as wrapping paper.

If you choose to use wrapping paper, avoid paper with glossy or metallic coatings because it can't be recycled. Shop for eco-friendly wrapping paper made of recycled materials. Or opt for gift bags which can be reused multiple times. Paper-Ya on Granville Island and Regional Assembly of Text on Main Street both have lots of unique options.

Instead of buying new holiday decor, get creative and make your own. Use pinecones, cedar boughs, and branches to deck the halls. After the holidays, they can be composted in your green bin. Or use leftover magazines, wrapping paper or other discarded materials to make holiday ornaments and garlands.