12 Sustainable Holidays Tips for Apartments (+ FREE Checklist)

 

 

The holidays are a time for celebration, connection, and giving back—but they can also be a season of excess. For property managers, this presents a unique opportunity to implement eco-friendly initiatives for sustainable holidays that not only reduce waste but also enhance the sense of community among residents. One of the toughest parts of the season is managing holiday deliveries and increased waste generation.

But there are many small steps that you can take to ensure a sustainable holiday season. Having eco-sustainable holidays doesn’t have to mean forgoing fun or festivities. Instead, it means celebrating the holidays in a way that’s kind and thoughtful to the environment and our planet.

Read on for twelve tips on promoting sustainability at your multifamily property this holiday season.

This guide covers:

• The sustainability issue during the winter holiday session
• Package delivery problems at multifamily properties
• 12 ways to promote sustainable holiday practices among residents
• Make your holidays more sustainable with ButterflyMX

 

 

The sustainability issue during the winter holiday session

According to a Stanford University study, Americans throw away 25% more trash than usual between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. That accounts for a million extra tons of garbage per week. Researchers have estimated that if every American family reused two feet of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon that are saved could tie a bow around the planet. And that’s a whole lot of waste prevented.
In addition, the increased popularity and convenience of online shopping have made matters worse. Data from Statista shows that 47% of Americans are likely to use a same- or next-day delivery service when purchasing items online.

While convenient for customers, these expedited shipping options are harmful to the environment. Not only do they require excessive packaging, but the mode of delivery transportation also produces an unnecessary carbon footprint.

For example, instead of the delivery courier making the trip to your property one or two times a week, they might need to make the trip every day to meet delivery speed expectations. And each year, online sales and the subsequent delivery fleets reach all-time highs. According to the Deloitte Report, experts predict that online holiday season shopping will increase 14% year-over-year.

 

Watch how the ButterflyMX package room works:

 

Package delivery problems at multifamily properties

From everyday essentials to luxury goods, residents now are more likely to rely on delivery services than to shop in-store. So the importance of managing deliveries in apartments more effectively is becoming increasingly necessary.

What’s more, more brick and mortar stores than ever have been closing their physical storefronts and moving online. Therefore, multifamily properties have been dealing with the package management conundrum for years.
However, what’s not discussed nearly enough is how to manage the excessive waste that these package deliveries generate. Alongside an increasing emphasis on ESG and LEED certifications to combat the effects of climate change, waste management should play a more significant role in such discussions.

Although sustainability in buildings should be a year-long conversation, the holiday season is a great place to start. The winter holidays promote a sense of gratefulness and service, and we should also extend those feelings to the planet as well.

 

 

12 ways to promote sustainable holiday practices among residents

When it comes to sustainability, small steps go a long way. Although climate change may feel like an insurmountable problem to tackle, a couple of changes in our daily habits can really make a difference.

This holiday season, promote sustainable holiday practices among your residents in a fun, thoughtful, and engaging way.

Here are twelve ways to promote sustainable holiday practices:

1. Host DIY gift wrapping events for residents
2. Host eco-friendly community activities for residents
3. Decorate shared spaces with sustainable decor
4. Promote small businesses and encourage residents to buy locally
5. Implement sustainable renovations and upgrades
6. Use a green holiday checklist
7. Partner with sustainable brands
8. Add more recycling bins
9. Remind residents to “shut down” their units while on vacation
10. Promote options for combined orders
11. Organize a donation drive
12. Make sustainability a part of your building’s culture

 

1. Host DIY gift wrapping events for residents

Wrapping paper arguably generates the most waste during the holiday season. It’s often used once and thrown away. One way to encourage residents to gift sustainably is to host DIY gift wrapping – and even gift-making — bonding events.

Chances are that residents have recyclable materials, such as newspapers, magazines, paper bags, and cardboard boxes, lying around their apartments. These materials make great substitutes for wrapping paper, and, best of all, residents can get creative wrapping gifts in them.

For example, they can paint over newspapers and paper bags to make them look more festive. Or, they can avoid using paper entirely by using decorative boxes or bins – which recipients can keep and use to store materials. It’s like giving two gifts in one.

Hosting events that promote sustainable gift-giving ideas for the holidays will encourage residents to be more creative and sustainable this holiday season while fostering a sense of community within the building. Resident events for a cause tend to attract more participants and invoke organic connections.

 

2. Host eco-friendly community activities for residents

Hosting sustainable events is a great way to foster community while promoting green living.

Consider these ideas for more sustainable community holidays:

• Recycling workshops. Teach residents how to recycle holiday materials like wrapping paper, packaging, and even Christmas trees.
• Clothing or book swaps. Encourage residents to trade gently used items rather than purchasing new gifts.
• Composting classes. Introduce residents to composting with a demonstration or provide a communal compost bin for organic waste.

These activities not only reduce waste but also strengthen community bonds by bringing residents together for a shared purpose.

 

3. Decorate shared spaces with sustainable decor

Apartment lobbies, lounges, and outdoor spaces often feature elaborate decorations during the holidays.

Make your building stand out with eco-friendly alternatives:

• LED lighting. Use LED holiday lights, which consume up to 80% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs.
• Recycled materials. Craft decorations from upcycled materials like fabric scraps, cardboard, or even old ornaments.
• Decor rentals. Partner with local businesses to rent decor instead of purchasing items that will only be used once.

 

4. Promote small businesses and encourage residents to buy locally

The holiday season is a perfect time to support local businesses while fostering a sense of community among residents. By promoting nearby shops, artisans, and service providers, you can help reduce the environmental impact of shipping while boosting your neighborhood’s economy.

Here’s how you can encourage residents to shop locally this holiday season:

• Highlight local vendors. Create a guide or directory of small businesses in your area that offer unique, sustainable holiday gifts. Include bakeries, craft stores, florists, and eco-friendly retailers. Share this list in newsletters, on bulletin boards, or through digital communication platforms used by residents.
• Host a holiday pop-up market. Organize a small market in your building’s common area featuring local vendors. Residents can shop for gifts without leaving home, and it’s a great way to introduce them to local businesses. Partner with vendors that focus on handmade, recycled, or organic products to emphasize sustainability.
• Promote local events. Share information about nearby holiday events such as craft fairs, food festivals, or farmer’s markets. Encourage residents to attend and support their community while enjoying holiday cheer.

 

5. Implement sustainable renovations and upgrades

The holidays are the perfect time to introduce eco-friendly upgrades that benefit your property year-round.

Consider:

• Smart thermostats. Help residents and staff save energy by installing smart thermostats in common areas.
• Solar-powered lighting. Use solar-powered outdoor lighting for holiday decorations or permanent outdoor features.
• Energy-efficient appliances. Invest in energy-efficient appliances for shared kitchens or laundry facilities.

What’s more, consider upgrading your access control system. Investing in a modern, energy-efficient access control system is a sustainable step that enhances your building’s security and operational efficiency.

You can make your building more sustainable by:

• Reduce energy use. Smart access systems consume significantly less power than traditional methods, especially when integrated with other building systems.
• Eliminate physical waste. By replacing traditional key systems with keyless or mobile-based access control, you reduce the need for physical keys or access cards, which often end up in landfills.
• Integrate smart technologies. Combine access control with other building systems like HVAC and lighting to optimize energy usage throughout your property.

 

6. Use a green holiday checklist

Planning a sustainable holiday season doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right tools, you can take simple steps to reduce waste, conserve energy, and foster a greener community.

That’s why we’ve created a free green holiday checklist—a practical resource designed to help you make your building’s holiday celebrations more eco-friendly.

 

 

7. Partner with sustainable brands

Collaborating with sustainable brands can amplify your efforts to create a greener, more eco-conscious holiday season. By working with companies that share your commitment to the environment, you can access eco-friendly solutions while demonstrating leadership in sustainability.

Promote your partnerships through building newsletters, social media, or events to inspire residents to make greener choices. You could even offer perks like exclusive discounts from your partnered brands to encourage resident participation.

 

8. Add more recycling bins

Ensure that residents recycle by making it extremely convenient for them to do so. The recycling room or bins in your building will probably be overfilled on most days this holiday season. So, consider adding more recycling bins throughout the hallways on each floor. Residents will see these additional bins and think twice before throwing recyclables out in the landfill.

In addition to packaging and wrapping paper, residents also have more food waste during the holidays. After all, residents are much more likely to cook and host group gatherings, which means they’ll generate more food scraps than usual.

If your building doesn’t already have a composting bin or program, consider adding one. Local farmer’s markets tend to organize composting programs. And if not, contact your local government office to see if there’s a county-wide program your property can join. There are also several ways you can compost in your outdoor space.

 

 

9. Remind residents to “shut down” their units while on vacation

Many of your residents may choose to travel during the holiday season. One easy — yet often forgotten — way to conserve energy is turning all lights and electronics off before leaving for a long trip. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), around 25% of residential energy consumption is generated from idle devices. That’s an estimated $8 million and 64 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity wasted each year.

Especially when residents are away from their homes during the holidays, they should turn off all the lights and unplug devices before traveling. This is especially important for those who choose to hang up holiday lights in their units. Not only will this save residents money on their utility bills, but it will also improve the building’s overall energy efficiency.

 

10. Promote options for combined orders

We currently live in an “on-demand” society. In other words, residents see on-demand services, such as food delivery, housekeeping, and even package delivery, as the expectation. However, same- or next-day deliveries come with a cost: excessive packaging materials and delivery truck fuel. Although it might be convenient to receive purchased goods right away, it’s not always necessary.

Most of the time, residents can wait a few extra days for their holiday deliveries. Even better, they can combine their deliveries and have them arrive in the same box. This reduces the number of boxes your maintenance crew needs to recycle, benefits the environment, and decreases your building’s carbon footprint.

So, encourage your residents to buy in bulk and choose the reduced packaging option when online shopping. You can entice them by setting up a friendly competition among residents for which unit or floor can have the least number of packages delivered per month. Or, group the units by their household size and partner with a local business to provide the winning group with gift cards to their stores.

 

Check out our top five tips for eco-friendly apartment living:

 

11. Organize a donation drive

The holidays will likely bring out the charitable spirit in residents. So, it’s a good time to remind them of community members who can’t celebrate the holidays due to extenuating circumstances. Some might even live in your very building.

Organize a donation drive to help those in need. Chances are that residents have items — or receive gifts — that they don’t use or need. But those items can make a world of difference for someone else. Contact your local hospital or charity to coordinate donation distributions.

 

12. Make sustainability a part of your building’s culture

Creating a truly sustainable community goes beyond seasonal initiatives—it requires integrating green practices into the everyday operations and culture of your building. When sustainability becomes a core value, it resonates with residents, attracts eco-conscious renters, and enhances your property’s reputation.

Use newsletters, social media, and community events to share updates about your building’s sustainable initiatives. Moreover, highlight milestones, such as energy savings or waste reduction, to keep residents engaged and informed.

Making sustainability part of your building’s culture isn’t just good for the planet—it also creates a stronger sense of community, enhances your property’s appeal, and ensures long-term savings. By embedding green practices into your building’s daily operations, you can foster a culture that residents are proud to call home.

 

Make your holidays more sustainable with ButterflyMX

Package deliveries are a year-round reality for multifamily buildings, not just during the holidays. How you manage these deliveries has a big impact on your staff, residents, and delivery couriers—and even on your property’s overall value.

A Package Room is a thoughtful and practical solution that benefits everyone. With the ButterflyMX Package Room, staff save countless hours previously spent managing deliveries. Residents enjoy the convenience of retrieving their packages any time, day or night.

For delivery couriers, the process is simple and efficient:

1. Couriers scan the package on the intercom system.
2. Select the resident recipient.
3. Securely place the package in the room.
4. Residents receive instant notifications about their deliveries and can access the package room by scanning their smartphone or entering a PIN.

 

If your building doesn’t have space for a package room, no problem:

Activate the Delivery Pass feature on your front entrance intercom. This allows residents to send delivery drivers a one-time PIN for secure building access, ensuring packages and food orders are delivered safely inside.

An efficient package management system is one of the top amenities modern renters look for when apartment hunting.

 

 

By implementing a solution like ButterflyMX this holiday season, you’ll:

• Show your staff and residents that their convenience and time are valued.
• Create a sustainable, hassle-free way to handle deliveries.
• Enhance your building’s appeal to prospective residents.

This simple upgrade is the gift that keeps on giving—making life easier for your community.