Sustainable Christmas When the lesser is the merrier

The Christmas season is upon us and as difficult as this year might be for many of us, it is still the synonyms for abundance, gift-giving, and indulging. But how we can still be joyful and merry while doing it the more environment-friendly way you ask? Well, by tuning down the quantity and pumping up the value in both material gifts and time spent with each other.

Valued gifts

As mentioned above, it is better to give one bigger (in value) gift than many small ones, which might be forgotten easier.

• For small children, a few bigger/more interesting gifs will be far more enjoyed than a full box of different trains or dolls.
• Think outside the material gifts and more about experience and time with the family/friends. Maybe a family holiday, a cooking course, or a ski trip can be the alternative.
• You can also invest in home improvements or upgrades such as a gym or exercise equipment for the times you need to stay inside. This year we purchase a home gym with monkey bars, ladder, etc that all three (pretty soon four) of us can use.
• We opt out of other expensive gifts for each other to save money for a quality vacation in the summer.
• If you have a collection of kid’s art creations from daycare/nursery/kindergarten, just pick some to be part of the gifts for grandparents and other relatives. They will surely have a special display space in their homes and their hearts.

Wanted vs. unwanted gifts

We all received, and we all gave them at some point in our lives.  Buying them at the last minute, frustrated by the usual answers: “I don’t need anything” or “I don’t know” from our loved ones. But there is a solution to unwanted gifts and it is called a”gift certificate”! You can purchase almost any sort of gift certificate these days, depending on the interest of the recipient:

• their/your favorite sustainable brand/service/store
• subscription to a digital version of magazine/newspaper, streaming service, audiobooks
• (season) tickets to a sporting team, or art events (or specific money value if the annual pass is too expensive)
• department store cards
• online or offline course, organized trip, etc
• an annual pass for a museum, gallery, park, entertainment park, gym, etc

Shop local

It does not mean you can only buy gifts from your immediate surrounding areas but look for Christmas markets that sell local producers, or jump on Etsy and define your desired location. You will both, support the local business and lower the possible carbon footprint for long-distance deliveries. Local markets and sustainable shops are full of small handcrafted gifts such as soaps & cosmetics, jewelry, knitwear, or home decor, you can choose from.

Christmas tree

We all love the smell of a fresh pine tree, but there are now more sustainable options.

• Look for a tree made of recycled plastic, which will last you for 10+ years.
• Try something completely different, such as: decorating your existing house plant, create one out of your books, or even toilet paper rolls.
• Create one from wooden branches, or hang your family pictures in the shape of a tree on the wall.
• Pinterest and Instagram are great resources to find alternatives to a real fresh tree.
• If after all, you cannot resist, try to purchase a tree with a sustainable certification such as FSC Certification.

Gift wrapping

You might know this already, but the more metallic and shiny gift paper, the lesser are the chances it can be recycled. Especially if it is covered with sticky tape (that one is not recyclable at all). You can purchase almost any sort of gift certificate these days, depending on the interest of the recipient:

• Choose brown wrapping paper (you can add personalization to it) and textile ribbons, which can be untangled and reused next year.
• Reuse gift bags. In our family, we have switched to gift bags many years ago which we reuse again and again and use minimum wrapping paper.
• Make your own cloth gift bags, which can be then used again as well, if you have the time. Depending on the motives you would use, they might be used even all-year-long for package-free shopping, so it will be a gift that keeps giving.
• Don’t trash extra paper used in packages you received throughout the year but flatter it out and store it for later.
• Use alternative wrappings such as clothes, newspapers, cloth towels, or boxes from cookies, etc.

Food

Try to really buy only what you know you will use up and not too much extra, just because it is Christmas. The best thing is to lower your meat consumption and do as much home cooking as possible. If you bake cookies for Christmas you can also make an extra bunch, package it nicely (see gift wrapping above) and hand them as small gifts. If you end up with too many leftovers, try to have a day of a potluck and or freeze the portions for later. Whatever you decide to do or purchase this holiday season, please make a decision with a purpose.

Be reasonable, be merry and be sustainable.