We asked thought leaders this question: What is your favorite minimalist, eco-friendly way to celebrate the holiday season in harmony with nature?

Here’s how they responded.

Create Minimalistic Eco-Friendly Outdoor Spaces

As someone deeply invested in sustainable landscaping, I find creating minimalistic, eco-friendly outdoor spaces improves the holiday season beautifully. Using natural elements like local stones and native plants can transform a yard into an inviting winter wonderland without harming the environment. This strategy reduces water use and supports local ecosystems.

One practical approach I recommend is incorporating an outdoor fire pit. This feature not only extends outdoor enjoyment in colder months but also serves as a cozy gathering spot for holiday storytelling or roasting marshmallows. Some of our clients have opted for fire pits using sustainable materials, which adds both functionality and aesthetic charm.

Additionally, instead of relying on artificial and often wasteful decorations, I’ve used brightly colored fallen leaves and pinecones to naturally adorn gardens. Clients have appreciated this for its simplicity and ecological benefit. These decorations celebrate the season while minimizing waste, aligning perfectly with my commitment to eco-friendly practices.

Joe Dogherty, Owner, D&G Landscaping

Adopt a Digital-First December Tradition

My family adopted a “Digital-First December” tradition where we replaced physical decorations with programmable LED light arrays, cutting our holiday carbon footprint by 84% while creating stunning, reusable displays.

The key metric that transformed our approach was tracking our holiday waste—we went from generating 40lbs of holiday waste to under 5lbs by focusing on experiences over objects. Our most memorable celebration involved a night hike with solar lanterns and a zero-waste picnic.

Pro tip: Create a “circular celebration system”—I developed an algorithmic approach where each holiday activity either produces zero waste or actively benefits the environment (like planting winter herbs or creating LED light shows that don’t disturb local wildlife).

Vaibhav Khaitan, Founder, Studiolabs AI

Make Decorations from Natural Materials

One of my favorite easy and eco-friendly ways to enjoy the holiday season is to make decorations out of things like sticks, dried orange slices, and pine cones. I like going for walks to gather these things. It calms me down and gets me outside in the winter. As an example, I just finished making garlands out of dried orange slices that were tied together with jute twine. The room smelled lovely and warm because of them. This is better for the environment and makes the decorations feel more unique than ones made in a factory.

This tradition is important to me and how I live and work. When I work in e-commerce, I try to get people to think about the things they buy. Making things out of things I already have seems like a natural way to carry on that idea. During this busy time of year, I also remember to enjoy the process and take my time. Each one-of-a-kind item brings a bit of nature inside, making the room feel warm and cozy. This makes the holiday easy and good for the environment.

Jean Christophe Gabler, Publisher & Founder, YOGI TIMES

Embrace Hygge with Eco-Friendly Candles

My passion for sustainability is reflected in our commitment to crafting eco-friendly, literary-inspired candles. During the holiday season, I celebrate the minimalist way by embracing the hygge concept—creating a cozy, sustainable atmosphere with our soy candles that are hand-poured in our Minneapolis studio. This simple act nurtures a peaceful environment and reduces environmental impact, as our candles use renewable soy wax and recyclable containers.

For a holiday activity, I love engaging in the natural beauty of our surroundings, much like how our candles capture the essence of fictional worlds. This can involve collecting natural materials like fallen leaves or pine branches to create homemade decorations. It deepens my connection with nature, similar to the thematic inspirations behind our fragrances that transport you to other worlds.

I also believe in supporting local artisans and gifting thoughtfully. Just as we began selling our candles at local markets, I recommend exploring local businesses for unique, handcrafted gifts. This approach not only minimizes the environmental footprint but also strengthens community ties, making the holiday season feel richer and more personal.

Roxie Lubanovic, Co-Founder, Frostbeard Studio

Hike to View Christmas Lights

Near my house, there’s a park that happens to be the highest point in the country. At the park, there’s a tower you can climb. During the holiday season, we like to hike up to the tower at night and look out at all the houses decorated with Christmas lights. This has become a Christmas tradition for us since we’ve been doing it for several years now. It’s really amazing to see just how many homes are lit up for the holidays.

Evan McCarthy, President and CEO, SportingSmiles