A Simple Guide to a Plastic-Free Thanksgiving

Last Updated November 15, 2023

Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday season. It’s time to gather, enjoy the company of those we love, watch football and of course, eat!

But Thanksgiving can also come with a lot of plastic waste. Considering that 8 out of the 10 most common items found in beach cleanups are food-related packaging, the largest meal of the year means more opportunities for plastic waste. Use this simple guide to help you avoid all the extra plastic.

• Make a Plan
• Make From Scratch
• Limit Meat & Dairy
• Focus on Sides
• Choose Drinks Bottled in Glass
• Shop at Farmers Market
• Shop the Perimeter of the Grocery Store
• Ask a Neighbor for Herbs
• Thrift Casserole Dishes For Guests
• Ask Guests to Bring Containers
• Ask Guests to Bring Things You Need
• Set the Table with Reusables
• Decorate with Compostable and/or Reusable Items

Make a Plan

If you’ve been a reader for a while, you know I love a good plan. Making a game plan helps avoid the last-minute hectic trip to the crowded grocery store the day of Thanksgiving. Plus, whatever last minute item you need will probably be plastic-wrapped. The best way to avoid plastics is to start with a plan and stick to it.

Map out:

• Dishes for the Main Meal
• Any Snacks
• Number of Guests
• Extra Serving Utensils or Dishes Required
• Ingredients for Breakfast Hash with Leftovers

Make From Scratch

Where you can, make items from scratch. Most pre-made items will be packaged in plastic. Yes, making things from scratch takes time, but fresh food tastes better!

To make cooking less work, can you cook with a family member or friend? Cooking with someone gives extra bonding time while completing a task. Win Win!

Limit Meat & Dairy

In general, meat and dairy come in plastic. Even butcher paper is oftentimes lined with plastic. Pre-COVID, I used to be able to bring my container to the butcher section of my grocery store to get meat but now they won’t allow it. If your local butcher allows this, then carry on!

Although I can’t do this with meat from the butcher, I can still do this with meat and cheese from the deli!

Focus on Sides

Let’s get real, the turkey is nice but what most of us are stoked for is the sides! The sides are what makes Thanksgiving the best meal of the year. Luckily, most of them are vegetable or bulk item based.

• Mashed potatoes – potatoes are loose with no packaging (don’t buy the big bags)
• Pasta – in a paper box or loose in the bulk section
• Green Beans – loose in the produce section or canned

Many Thanksgiving side dishes require milk. So if you can, buy it in a glass bottle:

When you’re done with the bottle, clean it out and bring it back to the store for your deposit back. The deposit is usually $2. The store gives them back to the dairy where they clean, sterilize, and refill them!

Choose Drinks Bottled in Glass

Speaking of glass bottles, when thinking of drinks to serve, stick to glass bottles. Here are some options:

• Wine
• Mulled Wine
• Beer in individual bottles or from a Growler
• Apple Cider

Shop at Farmers Market

The best place to find fresh food without plastic is at your local Farmers Market. The food there will be fresh, unpackaged and in season! What more can you ask for?

If there are items that the farmer has in plastic, ask if you can dump the items in your own bag. I do this with salad greens and berries. I make sure the vendor reuses the plastic bag or bin.

Shop the Perimeter of the Grocery Store

If you don’t have a farmers market, then stick to the perimeter of your grocery store. That’s where items are most likely to be loose instead of wrapped in plastic. This includes the produce section, deli, bakery, and bulk bins.

Don’t forget your cloth bags for the bulk bins or loose produce:

Do you need rolls or croissants for dinner? Get them fresh from the bakery in a paper bag, instead of pre-made and wrapped in plastic.

Ask a Neighbor for Herbs

Do you need a sprig of rosemary for your dish? How often do you buy a whole package or bundle of herbs and only use a sprig? The rest slowly melts into a puddle in your crisper draw. (Clearly, not speaking from experience. :P)

See if someone in your neighborhood grows rosemary. Check your local Buy Nothing Group to see if someone has extra.

We have a community garden and I see plots where their herbs have grown larger than me. Clearly no one will use all that rosemary. So, see if they’re willing to share.

If this is a dish you always make for Thanksgiving, consider growing herbs yourself next year!

Thrift Casserole Dishes For Guests

Need extra casserole dishes? Check out your local thrift store. The best thing about these is they work double duty! You can cook in them and then send them home with your guest to hold leftovers.

When I was growing up we would easily go through a whole box of plastic baggies, bagging up all the leftovers for family members to take home after Thanksgiving. Use this inexpensive and reusable method instead!

Ask Guests to Bring Containers

If your local thrift store was all cleaned out, then ask your guest to bring leftover containers if they wish to bring leftovers home.

Ask Guests to Bring Things You Need

Are you short on plates, serving spoons, cups, chairs, or whatever? Ask your guests to bring some over. I have a large set of metal plates for kids that I bought for my daughter’s birthday. My friends know I have them, so when we have gatherings, they ask me to bring them. I’m more than happy to help reduce waste and get some extra use out of my plates!

And a post about my daughter’s birthday a few years ago:

Set the Table with Reusables

You’ve worked so hard to make this delicious meal! Don’t cheapen it with plastic plates and utensils. Yes, I know it’s way easier but enlist some help to wash dishes. And remember that tip about casserole dishes? One less dish to clean!

Decorate with Compostable and/or Reusable Items

Finally, when decorating the table, choose compostable items like pumpkins, dried corn, or fresh flowers in a mason jar. Or shop secondhand to see if you can find a beautiful table runner or center pieces made to last. Avoid the cheap Turkey-themed decorations from the 99 cent store. Those usually don’t last more than one Thanksgiving.

What do you think? Do you feel equipped to have a plastic-free Thanksgiving? Tell me your tips in the comments!

For related and random posts, check out:

• Plastic-Free Dishwashing
• The Perfect Plastic-Free Hostess Gift
• My 2022 Plastic-Free Holiday Gift Guide