Sustainable Christmas: 7 Eco-Friendly Steps

Sustainable Celebrations

Amidst the hustle of buying presents, preparing meals, wrapping gifts, and adorning homes for Christmas, it’s easy to overlook green habits. However, a more environmentally sustainable Christmas is achievable with creative tips from experts.

1. Create a Foraged Wreath: Embark on a festive home makeover with a foraged wreath, echoing a 19th-century tradition. Decorate using natural materials like ivy, conifer, holly, and dried flowers, minimizing waste and embracing a sustainable alternative to store-bought wreaths.
2. Give Christmas Jumpers a Second Life: Combat the environmental impact of Christmas jumpers by wearing existing ones, organizing swaps with friends or colleagues, or opting for pre-loved jumpers from charity shops or online platforms. Reducing annual purchases helps curb the environmental footprint, particularly when considering the prevalent use of non-recyclable materials in new jumpers.
3. Set Up a Second-Hand Secret Santa: Extend the eco-friendly approach to gift-giving by arranging a thrifted Secret Santa. Vintage homewares, vinyl records, or prints from antique books make thoughtful and sustainable presents, promoting creativity and reducing the demand for new items.
4. Plan Plant-Based Christmas Meals: Acknowledge the environmental impact of food by incorporating plant-based meals during the festive season. Reducing meat consumption aids in lowering carbon emissions associated with food production. A mix of traditional and meat-free mains provides a satisfying culinary experience while contributing to environmental sustainability.
5. Reduce Food Waste: Combat food waste by planning meals meticulously, avoiding excessive purchases, and reconsidering the necessity of traditional but uneaten items. The ‘scrunch’ test helps identify recyclable wrapping, emphasizing conscious shopping and waste reduction.
6. Choose Eco-Friendly Wrapping: Opt for recyclable and recycled wrapping paper, avoiding shiny, plastic-coated, or glitter-covered varieties. Explore alternatives like fabric wrapping (furoshiki) or repurposing old wallpaper samples for an eco-friendly and visually appealing touch.
7. Select a Sustainable Christmas Tree: Make environmentally conscious choices regarding Christmas trees. Artificial trees, while reusable, have production-related environmental drawbacks. Fresh-cut trees contribute to landfill waste, but opting for living trees in pots or rentals from local nurseries presents more sustainable alternatives.

Embrace these eco-friendly practices to infuse sustainability into your Christmas celebrations, making a positive impact on the environment.

_{Re-reported from the article originally published in Good Housekeeping}