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Christmas is one of my favorite holidays and as an eco-friendly person, I always think about how can celebrate the holiday more sustainably.
During festival seasons, we unknowingly generate too much waste, harming our environment.
However, the great news is that we can all make those small changes, and with that, we can celebrate festivals in an eco-friendly way.
In my house, we celebrate each and every holiday with a twist of sustainability, including the joyous Christmas season!
Also Read:
– Eco-friendly Christmas Gifting Ideas
– Sustainable Christmas Tree Ideas
– Eco-friendly Lighting Ideas for this Christmas
– Biodegradable Christmas Ornaments Ideas
– Natural & Sustainable Wreath Ideas for Christmas
Sustainable Christmas Decor
I know decorating for Christmas is one of those fun things that should not be missed with, but it does not have to be at the expense of our environment.
I mean, why go out and buy hundreds of plastic decorations every year when you can make your own beautiful pine cones and dried oranges and eucalyptus?
Not only are they gorgeous, but these DIY decorations are also biodegradable! Additionally, You can also use sustainable materials like wood or fabric for ornaments.
I have written a detailed blog on DIY biodegradable Christmas ornaments Ideas.
The other way to celebrate Christmas eco-friendly is by using LED lights. They consume 80% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last 25 times longer.
There are different types of LED lights are available in the market. So you can try them in different types of decorations. You can read my post on LED lighting decoration Ideas here.
And when it comes to the tree, think about going sustainable with a living Christmas tree complete with roots you can plant.
My friends have told me they’ve regrown their trees and kept them alive after the holidays so it can be done! If that option is not applicable to you, you could rent a Christmas tree which is another eco-friendly aspect.
Some businesses will offer to send you the tree and pick it up again after Christmas, then go ahead and replant it. Read my guide on choosing a sustainable Christmas tree option.
Sustainable Christmas Gift Ideas
Although I love gifting, I try to steer clear of wasteful gifts that come heavily packaged. No, they don’t, so instead I try to stick with non-wrap gifts.
A cool way to be green during the holidays is by supporting local artisans. I also like giving handmade or upcycled products as presents — not only are they unique gifts, but great for small businesses.
One of my favorite sustainable products is actually experience-based. There is always a class to get, a spa-day voucher, or an event ticket in your area which you can present as gifts without creating any waste.
I gave my cousin a candle-making workshop – handmade candles last year which, she enjoyed it.
You can also gift sustainable items like organic fabric clothing, cork wallets, cork handbags, reusable tote bags, recyclable phone cases, reusable coffee mugs, etc. Read my full list of Christmas Gift Ideas here.
DIY gifts are a great alternative if you have artistic skills. Such as homemade jams, and bath salts for friends and family, they always enjoy the personal touch.
These gifts have a little more substance to them, and they make zero waste!
Eco-Friendly Wrapping + Gift Presentation
What a waste wrapping paper is. This is why I now exclusively wrap in fabric (Furoshiki) and re-useable bags. This is more simple than it sounds, and the fabric will last year after year.
You could also scavenge for what you have lying around — old maps, newspapers, and even fabric from a sewing project can be used to wrap gifts!
To know more about eco-friendly gift wrapping read my detailed blog on eco-friendly gift wrapping ideas.
I skip the plastic bows and ribbons and instead add some twine, dried flowers, or even cinnamon sticks to add decorations that can later be reused for another purpose.
It just looks a lot more natural and festive and is better for the environment.
Holiday Cards and Invitations That Do Some Good
The tradition of sending Christmas cards is lovely, but they can be wasteful. Now I am more of an e-card, digital-invite type of gal.
Not are they only more convenient to send, but they also create no waste and can be just as thoughtful.
That way, you can still have physical cards that are created on recycled paper or even plant seeds to grow into wildflowers!
I sent my friends plantable cards once and they thought that was the coolest thing ever Think about it. Read more about Eco-Friendly invitation card ideas here.
Hosting an Eco-Friendly Christmas Dinner
When we’re planning our Christmas Dinner, we always opt for local and organic ingredients as widely as possible in my family.
Utilizing farmers’ markets for our food allows us to eat fresh, seasonal, locally-grown produce. That not only takes it to the next level and lessens our environmental impact but they taste so much better too!
Furthermore, we put a lot of effort into planning our meals to keep food waste low. A small tip that works for us: dish out the food in smaller portions, then if anyone wants seconds they can tuck back in again!
Using cloth napkins instead of paper and using reusable dinnerware in most cases is a simple switch. And in the world of our house — we have completely eliminated paper napkins and single-use plastic cutlery.
Changes like this while small, can have a big impact on the amount of waste at your holiday get-togethers.
Zero Waste Gift Exchanges & Zero Waste Secret Santa Ideas
We did a zero-waste Secret Santa at work for Christmas last year and it was so successful! We created rules for second-hand, upcycled, and experience gifts.
It made the gift a little more personal and led to some solid conversations about sustainability.
Hosting a “white elephant” gift exchange, where everyone brings pre-loved or second-hand items could also be a good idea.
Actually, it is enjoyable to refurbish and reuse old things since this way demand for new products can be diminished.
Eco-Friendly Holidays Travel
Even if you are going out this Christmas, make an attempt on your carbon emission part.
Carpooling or catching rides with family and friends could reduce emissions, and in some cases, trains make for a greener alternative to flying long distances.
Another option is to offset your travel emissions by supporting a carbon offset program.
There are numerous projects in which you can donate for planting different species of trees or solar, wind, and other forms of renewable energy sources — basically matching your carbon footprint.
Giving Back with Sustainable Charitable Donations
Christmas is a time for giving, so why not extend that generosity to the planet? This year, consider donating to an environmental charity in your loved ones’ name.
You can consider organizations like the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) or local community gardens for donations.
In the past, I’ve made donations in place of gifts for family members who are passionate about sustainability, and it’s been a nice experience for all.
By thinking creatively and being mindful, we can indulge in the holiday season while making only a small dent in the planet.
And trust me, from using eco-friendly decor to zero-waste gifting, there are endless ways of making Christmas green
Well, but that could be done this time of the year. I mean, do you want this year to be the year we all believe in Santa Susana and save Christmas for our world instead? Happy eco-friendly holidays!
