The holiday season in Victoria has a magic all its own, crisp ocean air, twinkling lights downtown, the quiet hum of community gatherings, and that irresistible feeling of slowing down (just a little) to appreciate what truly matters. But as joyful as the season is, it also tends to be one of the most wasteful times of the year. From excess packaging to single-use gift wrap to fast, disposable decor, the footprint can add up quickly. The good news? With a little intention and a lot of local inspiration, it’s easier than ever to celebrate more sustainably.

How to Celebrate the Holidays with Less Waste

At The Green Kiss, sustainability isn’t a trend. It’s woven into everything we do, from compostable packaging to local manufacturing partnerships to low-waste product curation. And while we’re proud of the steps we’ve taken (you may have seen our blog on “10 Swaps to Make Our Small Business More Sustainable”), we also know that meaningful change happens community-wide. So this season, we’re sharing thoughtful, achievable ways to celebrate greener, right here in Victoria. Read on for The Green Kiss team’s top picks for celebrating a more sustainable, low-waste holiday season in Victoria.

1. Rethink Gifting: Choose Meaningful, Low-Waste Alternatives

The heart of sustainable gifting is simple: give something that will truly be loved, used, and cherished. That often means choosing quality over quantity and leaning into items that support a lighter footprint. Victoria is filled with makers, small shops, and artisans doing incredible work - and choosing to shop local is inherently lower-impact. It shortens supply chains, supports local jobs, and reduces the carbon footprint of shipping and distribution.

At The Green Kiss, our curated Low-Waste Collection features products packaged in plastic-free, refillable, compostable, or biodegradable materials, perfect for anyone looking to gift mindfully. And if you're shopping for someone else but aren’t quite sure what to choose, Green Kiss electronic and physical gift cards make a wonderful gift - letting your loved one pick exactly what they want while keeping gifting simple. Our digital gift certificates are delivered instantly by email (perfect for last-minute gifting!) and can be printed or forwarded directly to the recipient. Each gift card includes easy instructions for redeeming at checkout and contains no additional processing fees - just a thoughtful, flexible gift that never goes to waste.

2. Trim the Waste, Not the Joy: Sustainable Holiday Decor

You don’t have to sacrifice festive flair to live more sustainably. Victoria’s natural surroundings offer endless inspiration: cedar boughs, pinecones, driftwood, and eucalyptus make beautiful, compostable decor long after the season passes.

A few easy swaps:

• Replace plastic garlands with natural greenery from your garden or local florists. Bonus: this natural decor smells incredible and feels timeless.
• Opt for reusable fabric ribbons rather than single-use bows.
• Choose all-natural, clean-burning beeswax candles for a warm, natural glow without paraffin fumes or petroleum byproducts.
• Skip novelty plastic ornaments and choose handcrafted, long-lasting pieces that become heirlooms.

3. Wrap Smarter: Reduce Single-Use Packaging

It’s estimated that Canadians throw away thousands of tonnes of gift wrap every holiday season - much of it unrecyclable due to glitter, laminates, or synthetic coatings.

Sustainable alternatives are not only greener, but often more beautiful:

• Use kraft paper and dress it up with herbs or twine.
• Repurpose fabric, tea towels, or scarves as Furoshiki-style wrap.
• Save gift bags and reuse them year after year.
• Let kids decorate plain paper with potato stamps, crayons, or watercolours for personal, waste-free charm.

4. Celebrate Experiences Over Things

Victoria shines in the winter with opportunities to slow down and connect, from walks at Willows Beach to carriage rides downtown to festive markets at Fisherman’s Wharf and Bastion Square. These gifts honour what this season is truly about: connection, generosity, and community.

Experience-based gifts reduce waste and create memories far more meaningful than anything that comes in a box. Consider:

• A membership to a local gallery or gardens
• A workshop at a local studio
• A holiday tea reservation
• A donation to a local charity in someone’s name

5. Support Local Businesses Championing Sustainability

One of the most powerful ways to create a greener holiday season is to support businesses that actively embrace low-waste practices to reduce their environmental impact. When you choose to shop with sustainability-minded businesses, you help shift our entire local economy toward greener values.

At The Green Kiss, we’re committed to:

• Local, low-impact shipping. We partner with a zero-emission courier service for deliveries in Greater Victoria, so your orders arrive without sending up extra carbon.
• Compostable, eco-friendly packaging. Our boxes, tissue, and sealing stickers are all compostable (unlined / uncoated / unbleached paper, acid-free tissue, FSC-certified sticker with toxin-free dyes).
• Biodegradable packing materials. Instead of classic Styrofoam packing peanuts, we ship products cushioned with starch-based, plant-derived packing peanuts that can even be composted.
• Reducing plastic waste from returns. Because skincare and beauty products can’t be resold once opened, we avoid returns by offering in-store sampling and thorough consultations, helping ensure customers love what they order before buying.
• Eco-conscious cleaning & operations. We use biodegradable cleaning products and small-batch, locally made supplies, minimizing chemical pollution and single-use waste.
• More sustainable in-store materials. When a bag is needed, we give out unbleached, 100 % recyclable/compostable paper bags. We also offer paperless receipts via an eco-friendly receipt system (saving thousands of paper slips over the years).

These aren’t a few green touches tucked in - they’re foundational practices for us.

6. Create Low-Waste Traditions That Last

Sustainable celebrations aren’t about perfection, they’re about intention. A few small shifts can make the season feel more grounded, more meaningful, and more connected to the place we call home.

Some easy traditions to start:

• Bake with locally sourced ingredients
• Use reusable advent calendars
• Swap paper holiday cards for digital versions
• Host a family thrift-swap night for festive outfits
• Give one low-waste self-care product that supports daily rituals

Our Takeaway: Celebrate the Season, Sustainably

A greener holiday season isn’t about doing everything perfectly - it’s about making thoughtful choices that align with your values and honour the place you live. Here in Victoria, we’re lucky to have a community that already embraces mindful, local living. By choosing low-waste products, supporting small businesses, wrapping consciously, and leaning into experience-based gifts, you’re not just celebrating the holidays - you’re helping create a more sustainable future for our city. And if you’re looking to continue your low-waste journey, we invite you to explore our curated selection of natural, low-impact products, each chosen with care, intention, and the planet in mind.

Wishing you a warm, joyful, and sustainable holiday season.
xo, 
Megan 💚

Shop the Blog

• Low-Waste Collection: refillable, compostable, and plastic-free skincare.
• Green Kiss Gift Cards: the perfect low-waste gift when you’re not sure what to choose - digital cards arrive instantly.
• Green Kiss Limited Edition Holiday Spice Soap
• Green Kiss Limited Edition Douglas Fir Soap

All copy found on The Green Kiss website is written for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.