Sustainable Holiday Practices with Layla Rashid: Green Gifting, Eco-Friendly Décor, and Mindful Consumption
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): A Further Inquiry
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/09/03
Layla Rashid is a Strategic Sustainability Manager at Ramboll, where she helps organizations develop and implement climate action strategies across supply chains, infrastructure, and logistics. With a decade of consulting experience, including four years at Deloitte, she specializes in decarbonization strategy and execution of related initiatives, including Scope 3 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions management. Known for her collaborative and strategic approach, Layla works with clients to design practical transition plans that balance environmental responsibility with business realities. Based in the broader New York City area, she is passionate about advancing sustainability beyond policy into everyday practices that empower communities, consumers, and industries to reduce their carbon footprint meaningfully.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: How can individuals embrace “green gifting” without sacrificing personalization or meaning?
Layla Rashid: Green gifting is about thoughtfulness — giving fewer, more intentional gifts that reflect someone’s values and interests. A sustainable gift can feel more personal because it carries a story of care, not just convenience. Finding a meaningful, sentimental gift from a secondhand store or gifting a personalized experience are some ways to embrace green gifting.
Jacobsen: What low-waste wrapping alternatives are practical and aesthetically pleasing?
Rashid: Fabric wraps, reusable gift bags, or even a beautiful scarf can replace single-use paper. Re-using retail store paper bags and decorating the bags is also a fun way to reuse during the holiday season. These options cut waste and often become part of the gift itself.
Jacobsen: Are there overlooked opportunities for reducing energy waste during the holidays?
Rashid: Switching to LED string lights, putting decorations on timers, and unplugging devices when not in use can significantly cut holiday energy waste. For outdoor lights on homes, consider switching to solar-powered lights which can significantly reduce your energy bill for the holiday season.
Jacobsen: How can holiday decorations be more sustainable?
Rashid: Choose decorations that can stand the test of time: avoid buying décor that might only last one or two holiday seasons. You can also craft your own from natural materials like pinecones or dried citrus. Sustainable décor adds some holiday flair without creating extra waste.
Jacobsen: What role can mindful consumption play in making holidays feel less commercialized?
Rashid: Mindful consumption shifts the focus from quantity to quality. When we buy less and choose more meaningfully, the holidays feel less about shopping and more about intention and connection. Mindful consumption can be practiced with holiday meals: preparing only foods that the collective group will eat and limiting overall quantities to avoid food waste.
Jacobsen: How can families balance tradition with sustainability?
Rashid: In many ways, tradition and sustainability go hand in hand. So many of the less sustainable practices have been developed in more recent years. Therefore, families seeking to maintain tradition can reflect on how these traditions were carried out by earlier generations, such as limiting the use of plastics and only using energy when needed.
Jacobsen: What advice would you give to consumers trying to choose eco-conscious brands?
Rashid: Look for transparency. Eco-conscious brands openly share where their products come from, how they’re made, and what commitments they’ve made to reduce impact.
It’s often easier to understand what an eco-conscious product is made of compared to a less eco-conscious brand. Transparency in product inputs and sourcing is key.
Jacobsen: How can sustainability become embedded in cultural celebrations?
Rashid: Embedding sustainability is a journey, so it’s important to create space and time for the collective community to gradually adapt to sustainable practices. Sustainability becomes embedded when communities collectively embrace eco-friendly practices, from green event planning to shared resources, so they feel natural within the celebration.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Layla.
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