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As the holiday season approaches, it’s a great time to think about how to celebrate Christmas in a way that’s both joyful and kind to our planet. With a few mindful choices, it’s easy to make your holiday celebrations more sustainable and eco-friendly. Follow these tips to enjoy a green Christmas that’s full of cheer, not environmental fear.
1. Deck the Halls With Eco-Friendly Decorations
As you fill up your home with Christmas cheer, pause and consider what materials your decorations are made from. Plastic decorations are usually non-recyclable and contribute to the vast amounts of plastic waste every year.
Instead of plastic, make the most of natural decorations, like pine cones and foraged branches. Decorations from nature are charming and a lot more eco-friendly than their plastic counterparts.
You might also scour thrift stores, antique shops, and online marketplaces for used decorations. This will give pre-loved decorations a new life and prevent them from ending up in landfills.
Another eco-friendly holiday decor tip is choosing LED lights over traditional bulbs. LED lights use up to 80% less energy and last a lot longer than traditional ones.
If you love a month-long advent calendar, consider using a reusable one to reduce waste. You could fill it with small tokens, eco-friendly gifts, or handwritten notes to make each day leading to Christmas special and personal.
2. Gift Sustainably This Christmas
Gift-giving is a core part of the holiday spirit. To gift more sustainably, consider shopping at local artisans and small businesses. This will support your local community while reducing the carbon footprint from transporting goods.
Consider choosing gifts made from sustainable materials, such as recycled materials or bamboo rather than plastic or polyester. Gifting experiences can also be a great idea. In fact, it’s reported that more than three-quarters of millennials prefer experiences over physical gifts.
If you’re crafty, you could also go the DIY route with gifts like homemade jams, knitted scarves, or hand-poured candles. These gifts will have a personal touch while reducing waste.
3. Ditch the Conventional Wrapping Paper
The holiday season sees a big increase in waste, with wrapping paper being a major contributor. In fact, 227,000 miles of wrapping paper are thrown away each year.
All this wrapping paper contributes to deforestation. What’s more, some of it is plastic-based, so it’s not biodegradable. This environmental footprint really isn’t worth the five seconds we enjoy wrapping paper before ripping it off a gift.
To reduce waste, consider switching to reusable fabric wraps or bags this year. Recycled and biodegradable paper is also a more eco-friendly option.
Beautify your gifts with natural materials like twine, dried oranges, dried flowers, or cinnamon sticks rather than synthetic ribbons and bows.
4. Choose Eco-Friendly Holiday Cards
Along similar lines, holiday cards can involve a lot of wasted paper and plastic. To have a more sustainable Christmas, look for cards made from recycled paper.
If you’re into crafts, making your own cards from upcycled materials can be a fun and personal way to spread the holiday spirit. You could also send digital cards to eliminate paper waste altogether.
5. Cook up a Mindful Christmas Feast
The Christmas feast is the heart of many celebrations. However, it can end up with a lot of food waste if you make more than you and your family can consume. Thoughtful planning and using leftovers creatively can help reduce food waste this Christmas.
You can also make your meal more sustainable by embracing local and seasonal produce, which reduces the environmental costs of transporting food. Embracing some vegetarian or vegan options can also lower the carbon footprint of your meal.
6. Choose Your Tree with the Planet in Mind
When choosing your Christmas tree, consider supporting sustainable or organic farms and recycle your tree after the holiday season is over. You might also explore whether tree rental services are available in your area. Tree rental companies let you keep a live tree in your home and return it later to be replanted.
If you prefer an artificial tree, invest in a high-quality one that will last for 10 years or longer. Using your tree for as many years as possible will help offset its environmental impact.
7. Opt for Natural Christmas Scents
If you love filling your home with the scent of cinnamon or balsam fir, opt for natural scents over artificial air fresheners or candles. Many artificial options contain chemicals, such as phthalates and parabens, that can be harmful to your health and the environment.
Non-toxic air fresheners and candles are a healthier choice that still offer those warm, Christmas scents. You could also take a DIY approach. Some ideas include:
- Making your own scented candles
- Simmering a pot of water with cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange
- Using essential oils in a diffuser
- Making potpourri with dried fruits and spices
8. Plan a Sustainable Holiday Party
If you’re hosting a Christmas party this year, make it a green one. Use real dishes and cutlery instead of disposable plastic ones to reduce waste. Decorate with reusable items and natural elements like branches and berries.
For your snacks and meal, focus on locally-sourced, organic foods and plant-based dishes. All these moves will be better for the environment, and they might inspire your guests to make similarly sustainable choices during the holidays.
9. Offset Your Holiday Travel Emissions
Traveling during the Christmas season can increase your carbon footprint. If possible, choose more sustainable travel options, such as trains over planes or carpooling with friends or family.
If you do fly, consider offsetting your carbon emissions through programs that support environmental projects, such as Carbonfund.org or Gold Standard.
Dream of a Green Christmas This Year
Many of us dream of a white Christmas, but how about embracing a green one this year? By being mindful about the gifts you buy, the tree you choose, and the decorations you put in your home, you can celebrate more sustainably this year while reducing unnecessary waste.
For more ways to embrace eco-friendly habits this holiday season, check out our guide on how to shop sustainably. And if you’re looking ahead to next fall, consider these tips for an eco-friendly Halloween.
