5 ways to make sure Christmas is as green as the tree!

Last updated on Wednesday, 18/12/2024

Can you feel a change in the atmosphere these days? The streets are full of lights, decorations and music. It is a time of celebration with family and friends, with long-lasting meals and above all, lots of presents. But have you ever thought about Christmas’ impact on the environment, or on the waste generated during this special time?

By now you probably know what climate change is and what its consequences are, the main impact being the increase of the planet's global temperature. The waste we generate only exacerbates the situation and, as you can probably imagine, waste is estimated to increase by 30% during the Christmas period!

The good news is that you can make more environmentally friendly choices to minimise the damage. Does it mean you have to cancel Christmas? Of course not! There are plenty of ways you can help the environment while celebrating.

There are many ways to reduce your ecological footprint, but perhaps the thing you produce the most waste with is gifts. At this time of the year, we buy a lot of presents, often in a hurry without thinking about the environment. Here are some tips not to fall in this trap and go for the perfect environmentally-friendly Christmas gifts for your beloved ones.
 

1. Zero waste gifts for pleasure time

Remember that pullover you never wore? Instead of panicking and buying a gift that will probably end up in the back of the wardrobe or in a container, why not opt for something immaterial, something special that one will really appreciate?

From a subscription to a sports club or a ticket to the cinema or theatre to a cooking or yoga lesson, the possibilities are endless. You can take your parents to a concert, invite your friends to bowling, plan a spa visit with your siblings, or surprise your partner with a special dinner at a restaurant. These gifts, in addition to causing less ecological impact, will also create a priceless memory for both parties.

Another good option are digital entertainment and wellbeing memberships. You can give a digital subscription to an audiovisual platform as a gift. This may not be as special, but it is probably one of the most practical and environmentally friendly options that cannot go wrong.

Finally, you can also offer a tree or plant a tree as a gift (there are several organisations that offer this initiative), or offer a chicken to a family in a developing country, as well as donate to an NGO. In addition to being different and zero waste gifts, they contribute to the planet and to society.
 

2. Second hand for exceptional gifts

Sometimes money can be an obstacle to buying a good gift, or maybe that's what you think, but why not go to a second-hand shop to get an exceptional gift? If someone loves cooking, you might be able to get this baking machine at a great price, for example.

If you don’t have a lot of money, some shops can take something you don’t use anymore, like an old pair of skis, to exchange it with something else! This can also be a great opportunity to exchange those gifts you received that you didn't want or never used. Instead of throwing them away and generating more waste, you can give them a second life.

One of the best second-hand gifts you can give are books, which are always a fantastic option. Although it will not be a zero waste product per se, a second-hand book can transmit that message.
 

3. Recycle to offer unique and creative gifts!

Why not create your own gifts? You can use your skills and imagination to create original and unique objects. 

If you like baking, you can make homemade cakes or biscuits and deliver them in a recycled container, such as an empty olive jar or a chip can, which will give them an even more original touch.

If crafts are your thing, you can make bracelets to give to your friends, prepare handmade soap for your family, produce candles with different scents for your partner or create a unique photo album that will give your gift a very personal touch.

If you are good at drawing, you can take advantage of this skill to create beautiful illustrations that you can then give as gifts. For example, you could reuse a mug, turning it into a new product by drawing something original on it; or create a bookmark from recycled cardboard.

Finally, if you knit, you can try making hats, scarves, gloves or maybe blankets, the possibilities are endless. And you can even reuse the yarn from a past creation that you no longer use. 

Whatever your skills are there is surely something you can do and these gifts will have the added element of being thoughtfully handmade which will make it extra special for the person.
 

4. If you still prefer to buy something new, buy ethical

Buy sustainable products, you can support local consumption by buying objects that have been produced in conditions that are fair to people.

Attend craft fairs or Christmas markets where you will find handmade products, and most of them will certainly be environmentally friendly too. There is a wide variety of eco-friendly products that can make the perfect gift, so you have no excuse! Here is a short list of examples.

• Organic cotton socks
• Vegan backpack
• Natural and handmade soap
• Handmade organic chocolate, coffee or tea
• Reusable drinks bottles
• Organic games for children
• Organic hygiene pack
• Organic clothing
   

5. Wrap sustainable

A lot of gift wrapping paper is wasted every year, to be more sustainable you have a lot of alternatives to that common wrapping paper. 

Use newspaper, recycled wrap or magazines. If you have a travel lover in your list of people you are going to give a gift to, you can use a map to wrap it, for example. An old cardboard shoe box can be another option, and you can decorate it with some of your illustrations. 

You can also make it very trendy by using a scarf or tee shirt from a second hand shop and wrap it using some Furoshiki techniques. There are a lot of videos on the internet that show you how to wrap presents in a clever and unique way. It doesn’t matter the shape or size of the gift, there is a Furoshiki technique for any kind of shape. What is more, if you choose this option you could make two gifts in one! 


So you have no excuse! Use your imagination, explore and find your perfect sustainable gift. In this way you will get two in one, being environmentally responsible and giving original gifts to your loved ones.

Written by Eurodesk Brussels Link