Christmas doesn’t necessarily have to be a time of excess. That is why we’ve created this guide on how to get a sustainable and eco friendly Christmas.
Christmas tree. Artificial or natural?
For many people, Christmas simply would not be Christmas without a Christmas tree. But what is better? Natural or artificial?
Artificial plastic trees are usually reused for a few years, but finally they end up in the garbage. They are not degradable. And in addition, they are usually imported from far away and it takes a lot of energy and resources to manufacture and transport them to our homes. Luckily, in the market you can also find trees made of other biodegradable materials such as wood, which although they’re not so realistic can give a touch of Nordic decoration to our Christmas.
Natural trees also have a footprint, but it is relatively compensated by the carbon absorbed during their time in the ground. The most ecological option is to use a pine or a cypress planted in a pot so that it can be used year after year. You can also use a large branch that has fallen off the tree naturally and place it in a flowerpot as a Christmas tree.
Eco friendly christmas decoration
To decorate we can use what we already have at home from previous christmas or make the decorations by ourselves with recycled materials.
If we finally have to buy some items, it’s always better to choose durable and quality decorations that will last for many years.
In terms of lighting, remember that less is more. A small light composition can remain effective and elegant without the need for light excess. Be sure to use LED bulbs, they last much longer and consume much less energy.
Christmas cards and wrapping
To reduce the tons of wrapping paper that we throw to garbage each Christmas is a good idea to reuse wrappings from other seasons or use tissues or pieces of cloth instead to wrap our gifts. With the Japanese Furoshiki technique your present will be perfectly and beautifully wrapped.
You can also make your own Christmas cards by cutting cards from other years or recycling materials that you have at home. Or you can choose to send electronic christmas cards, as they are a great option to save on resources and fight deforestation.
If you finally have to send traditional cards and have no way to make them yourself, choose the ones made with recycled paper and those that support a charity cause.
Christmas food
Instead of using disposable paper napkins, tablecloths, plates and cutlery, choose the ones you can wash and reuse. You can decorate the table with flowers or pine cones.
To cook the best is to buy local and seasonal products. This way we help local businesses and reduce unnecessary transport.
Cuando hacemos comidas o cenas con familia y amigos es muy habitual cometer excesos, y después esto nos pasa factura con dolores de estómago o ardores. También ocurre que al final terminamos tirando montones de comida a la basura.
When we make meals or dinners with family and friends it is very common to commit excesses. It also happens that we end up throwing lots of food to the trash. Instead of throwing away the leftovers, it’s best to freeze them and use them another day, or be creative in the kitchen and turn them into another dish.
Presents
For your christmas gifts we suggest you to choose vintage, handmade and local gifts.
Think carefully about what you buy, where it comes from and under what conditions it was manufactured. To help you a with this topic we’ve created our Guide of sustainable and vegan Christmas gifts. All of them are Peta Vegan Approved.
