Every year during every festivity, streets in Malaysia are bound to be crowded. People will be busy with their shopping, trying out local food stalls, and enjoying street performances. There is also one thing that is inevitable after every celebration, and that is the sight of rubbish filling the streets. Plastic bags will be piling up along the alleyways and pavements.
Have you paused to wonder, what is the footprint left by such celebrations year after year? Let's explore some ways we can improve in this aspect and make this year's celebration a more sustainable one.
It is a tradition for most households who celebrate CNY to have a round of spring cleaning right before the first day (Chor 1). Families will spend a day or two decluttering their spaces and throwing away items which are no longer needed. This is mostly done to expel negative energy from the house and prepare for a new year of prosperity. Instead of throwing everything into black rubbish bags, take some time to sort out items which are still usable, or can be modified and used by someone else. Examples are clothing, unused furniture and electronics which have been collecting dust. There are platforms where you can e-recycle and get paid while you are at it. While you Marie Kondo away, be more aware of this and you'll be making a difference in no time.
Aside from the annual animal zodiac-related decorations, most CNY couplets and lanterns can be reused, provided they are in decent condition. Go through your store room and see if there are any salvageable ones from last year. If you do not have this habit, it is never too late to start now. When CNY is over, take the extra effort to keep the decorations properly so you can reuse them for 2026.
Red packets, or Angpows, are customary when it comes to CNY. It has long been a tradition for us to give and receive physical red packets during this festive period. However, the paper used to make these originates from trees, and a study found that in Hong Kong alone, over 320 million red packets are exchanged annually. This amounts to the felling of approximately 16,300 trees. While it is understandable that the older generation might prefer a more physical form of affection, you may consider to switch to digital angpows when it comes to the younger generation.
4. Reduce food waste
CNY is not the same without a table full of scrumptious foods. Families tend to cook or order more food that they can manage to finish as this signifies abundance. Instead of going full throttle this year, try to plan for the number of people eating, and do redirect the leftovers to avenues where it is accessible to those who need it.
So, do make the extra effort to be more mindful of our CNY habits. If we all include this in our 2025 resolution, our country would be a more sustainable place. As always, to those who celebrate CNY, Happy Chinese New Year!
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