India’s love for festivals is unmatched. From homes to corporate spaces, every corner gets decked up with colors, lights, and festive decorations to welcome joy and positive energy. But behind the celebration lies a growing issue that’s too often overlooked—festival waste.
In this blog, we uncover how festival celebrations are adding pressure on landfills, why this matters for our environment, and how you can make a sustainable shift through conscious choices.
The Hidden Cost of Celebration: A Waste Crisis
Our research at Scrapshala shows that most decorations used during festivals are single-use and made of non-biodegradable materials like plastic, thermocol, synthetic fabric, and toxic chemical paints. These items are:
- Cheap to buy
- Aesthetic for a few days
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Discarded immediately after the celebration
The result? A growing mountain of plastic pollution and toxic festival waste dumped into landfills every 2–3 months from households, offices, and public spaces across India.
How Landfills Are Struggling with Festival Waste
Each major festival season brings in:
- Tons of plastic streamers, banners, and ornaments
- Thermocol idols and decorations coated with glitter paint
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Chemical-based rangoli powders, wrapping paper, and gift boxes
These items don’t just disappear after use—they stay in landfills for decades, releasing toxins into the soil and water, while contributing to air pollution when incinerated.
Scrapshala’s Sustainable Solution: Eco-Friendly, Reusable Decor
At Scrapshala, we saw the need for change. That’s why we launched a line of eco-friendly festival decorations that are:
- Made from natural and upcycled materials
- Handcrafted by Indian artisans
- Reusable year after year
- Free from plastic and synthetic paints
For example, our Christmas Ornaments Pack is crafted from natural wood, handpainted, and multipurpose—offering a plastic-free, elegant alternative to traditional decor.
Time for Corporate India to Lead by Example
We strongly urge corporate houses, offices, and event organizers to opt for sustainable decor starting this festive season—especially during large-scale celebrations like:
- Diwali
-
Holi
- Christmas
- Raksha Bandhan
- Ganesh Chaturthi
- Durga Puja
By doing so, they not only reduce waste but also set the tone for eco-conscious practices that others can follow.
Celebrate Consciously, Live Sustainably
Making conscious choices during festivals doesn’t mean compromising on joy or beauty. It means:
Reducing single-use plastics
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Supporting local artisans
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Creating less waste and more impact
Let’s not forget: small changes today can shape a cleaner, greener tomorrow.
