With the wind getting chilly, it’s time to welcome the Christmas decorations, the beloved Christmas tree, and the much-awaited festive holiday season. Ranging from the pumpkin spice latte, to perfectly marinated turkey and lovingly wrapped gifts. Christmas traditions have us hooked. However, for a long time we’ve all been consuming far too much around this time of the year. Which doesn’t really align with the sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle many of us are trying to achieve nowadays.
So, if you’re an eco-conscious family and don’t know how to make your Christmas eco-friendly, we have some amazing ideas in store for you! Here are a few ways to get in to the Christmas spirit in an eco-friendly way.
1. Make Your Own Christmas Cards
We all have extra paper and cards lying around in the cupboards, so what’s the point of purchasing new Christmas cards when you can get some DIY card ideas and make the cards at home? All you need are some papers, your art and craft box, and some colours to make the homemade cards pop while staying sustainable!
2. Wrap Presents In Old Newspapers
Gift wrapping is serious business, but it doesn’t have to be green and red Christmas-y wrapping paper. Instead, you can use old newspapers to wrap the gift (it’s truly a unique wrapping paper), use green paper to cut out the Christmas tree, and paste it to the gift for some sprucing up. In fact, you can search for wrapping paper ideas to make the newspaper wrapping look unique.
3. Make Homemade Stocking Stuffers
Who doesn’t love hanging the Christmas stocking on Christmas Eve – after all, that’s where you get all presents! However, store-bought stocking stuffers only add to the landfill, so isn’t it better to get some homemade stocking stuffers? You could make homemade beauty products such as body scrub or lotion, or make candles or even bracelets made of yarn or thread. Homemade gifts are always extra special because of the time that goes into making them.
4. Use Recycled Gift Wrap Paper
There is nothing more sustainable than recycling, right? So, using the old and recycled gift wrap paper is the epitome of a green gift wrap idea. For this purpose, just use the old gift wrapping papers that you’ve collected over the years and use them rather than purchasing new ones from the cute stationery shop by the corner. You can also reuse last year’s Christmas cards as gift tags – just cut out the picture on the front and add some string or ribbon to attach to the present.
5. Gift Something That Lasts
Gifts are an undeniable part of Christmas, but when we hoard on them, they are left unused and don’t really help the planet. So, why don’t you get your loved ones some indoor plants that last for months, if not years? Needless to say, the indoor plants are kinder to the planet, and the receiver will cherish them long after Christmas is over!
6. Handmade Christmas Gifts
If you are someone who is good with crafts and have a creative side, handmade gifts are perfectly sustainable and more personal. It doesn’t matter if you like baking, painting, or sewing, just use your creative side, put your stamp on their Christmas gift, and watch the receiver smile with joy.
7. Handmade Christmas Decorations
We’ve all purchased tree toppers, ornaments, stockings, and tree skirts at some point during this time of the year. However, when you’re trying to save the planet, try switching to handmade Christmas decorations instead. Not only does it look captivating, it’s also great for the environment. In fact, many stores now even offer handmade Christmas decorations. So don’t forget to check them out (personally, we love handmade stockings and ornaments made from biodegradable materials).
8. Say No To A Christmas Tree
Wait a minute, we aren’t stopping you from having a Christmas tree – we are just saying that you should stop purchasing special Christmas trees. The idea is to spruce up your big houseplant, decorate it with fairy lights and ornaments, and the Christmas tree is ready. Remember, it doesn’t have to be a particular fir tree or pine tree, just use what you have available to you. You could even buy a live, potted Christmas tree so you could plant it outside afterwards. Or, even keep it in it’s pot so you can use it again and again each year.
9. Plant A Tree
When the whole world is busy cutting down the trees to decorate their home, why not set a new tradition of planting a tree? It’s innovative, great for the planet, and you’ve no idea how rewarding it feels!
10. Green Travel
Christmas trips are always fun, but they don’t have to be in your car always. We suggest that you use local busses and trains to travel to help reduce carbon emissions. Not to forget, these trips are amazingly interactive since you get to meet new people on the ride!
Conclusion
Christmas is a fun occasion that doesn’t have to pollute the planet. While old Christmas traditions can harm the environment, setting new sustainable traditions for the holidays will help to minimise the impact on the planet! Plus, they can also be great if you’re looking to have this Christmas on a budget.
You could even binge watch all of the Christmas adverts on TV on a certain night each year. What a simple, and budget friendly way to start Christmas!
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