How to Be Eco-Friendly at Christmas

10 Ways You Can Make Your Festive Season More Eco-Friendly

Dec 16 2019 by Leslie Tulip

The most wonderful time of the year is also a time when household waste multiplies . . . a lot. From wrapping paper to food, it's easy to waste more than we normally would during the festive season, when parties and family get-togethers are involved. But with the realities of climate change becoming a more pressing concern every day, it's good to think of the little ways you can be more eco-friendly. From making homemade ornaments to emailing cards to choosing reusable napkins, there's a myriad of small, sustainable decisions that can lead to a big reduction waste. Keep reading to see them all now, and get ready to go green (and red).

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1. Use Real Crockery and Cutlery

The temptation to use plates and silverware that you don't have to wash after hosting a festive party is a big one. Instead, commit to using real crockery and utensils. With so many helpful hands around, cleaning up will be a breeze and you'll avoid the giant, unnecessary waste that comes with single-use items.

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2. Gift-Wrap Presents With Fabric and String

Instead of wrapping presents in paper wrapping paper that's sure to be thrown away after being opened, try wrapping gifts in reusable fabric and tying it nicely with a string. Your gifts will look stunning and you won't be wasting as much!

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3. Give Plants as Gifts

Plants require little to no gift-wrapping and even do their own little bit to purify the air. Plus, that vibrant greenery in the home is sure to be a welcome presence during the Winter months.

Image Source: Unsplash / Jackie Tsang

4. Use Cloth Napkins

In the same vein as crockery, resist the urge to use paper napkins and instead give your guests a cloth napkin. One easy run through the wash and those napkins are good as new. If you don't own cloth napkins, Christmas is a great time to buy some! Pick up a cute festive print or grab a solid colour for all-year use. You'll be able to use them time and time again instead of filling up a landfill with one-use napkins.

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5. Give Food Items as Gifts

Who doesn't love homemade jams, chutneys, and syrups?! You can take almost any fruit or herb and boil it with sugar to create delicious drizzles that could be used in cocktails, on pancakes, in your tea, and much more! And it doesn't just have to be syrup. Any homemade goodie is extra thoughtful, and sharing something you've made creates a lifelong festive memory that you and your loved one will always look back on.

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6. Utilise the Decorations You Already Have

Don't worry about trends. Christmas is timeless! You don't need to buy more and newer decorations — you just need to get creative. If you've grown tired of your usual decorations, try setting them up in a new way. Change up where you put the tree, move the stockings, or hang the lights in a new way. Even small differences that break with years of simple habit can feel like big, exciting changes.

Image Source: Unsplash / Toa Heftiba

7. Make Salt Dough Ornaments

If you're looking to add some new ornaments to your Christmas tree, try making them out of salt dough. You can even add essential oils to add a lovely aroma to your home. (Bonus: while you make some for yourself, you can also make some for gifts. Each ornament will come with a story to tell baked right in.)

Image Source: Unsplash / Joanna Kosinska

8. Give Tickets as Gifts

Whether it's concert tickets, museum tickets, airfare, or some other occasion, tickets can be a great present that fits your loved ones unique interests without requiring shipping or wrapping. Also, a lot of ticketing is done electronically now, which saves even more paper!

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9. Do a Secondhand-Gift Exchange

Arranging a secondhand-gift exchange is the perfect way to encourage others in your family to become more minimal. Part of the fun of thrift shopping is discovering hidden treasures that may be decades old, and changing it up with secondhand gifts is a fun way to shop that's also good for the environment.

Image Source: Unsplash / Julien-Pier Belanger