As delightful of a celebration as it is, Christmas is also one of the times of the year when we tend to create the most waste, be it the useless presents, wrapping paper, plastic trees, or the giant portions of food that we cook for this occasion that end up thrown away. We advocate for rethinking your holiday habits and moving towards a more eco-conscious lifestyle. This Christmas, here are a few things that you can change about the way you celebrate this holiday.
Don’t cook too much food
Even since our childhood, we’re used to opulent holiday tables full of all kinds of food that not only took our mom a few days to make but were also way too much for anyone to finish. Christmas is the time of the year when food waste is at an all-time high. Just think about it: some people spend half of their monthly salary or even borrow money to put together a Christmas table and end up throwing away a big percentage of everything they’ve made. This holiday, be realistic about the sizes of the meals and how many people will enjoy them. Even if you end up cooking more food than you’ve planned, don’t throw it away and put it in the freezer instead; this way, you won’t only reduce your food waste, but also have a delicious meal on a day when you don’t feel like cooking.
Make thoughtful presents
Christmas presents to make up a big proportion of the holiday waste, not only because of all the cards, wrapping paper, and ribbons but also because of impractical souvenirs or gifts made of plastic and other unsustainable materials. Be conscious about what presents your friends and family members would prefer and how much of an impact these might have on our planet. Sustainable gift ideas include beeswax food wraps, wooden toys for the youngest receivers, zero waste kits, but also more common and traditional presents like knit sweaters, woolen scarves, or clothes made of recycled fabrics. A knit sweater made of 100% wool as those online https://www.tarairishclothing.com/collections/mens-knitwear , for example, will make a beautiful but most importantly eco-conscious Christmas present for anyone, no matter their age or occupation.
Search for sustainable alternatives
When possible, switch to sustainable alternatives: this will minimize your carbon footprint without ruining any of the Christmas moods. For example, you can use biodegradable or recycled wrapping paper instead of the traditional one and skip on the plastic ribbon. If you’re hosting a big party and need single-use cups or cutlery, there are plenty of affordable compostable alternatives to look for. If you want to be as environmentally friendly as possible, think about not having any Christmas tree, plastic or real, and decorate something that you already have in your homes, such as a plant, a pile of books, a ladder, or some shelves. Other than that, you can also choose to buy your Christmas presents or decorations from sustainable brands; there are plenty of companies that use recycled materials or plant trees for any of their order.
