Have a Holly Jolly Sustainable Christmas!

 It’s December, Christmas time! This year Christmas will look different everywhere, so why not try some sustainable ways to enjoy Christmas. During this season we buy ten times more things, we excessively decorate every inch of our house, and we jam out to Christmas bops. In this blog, I hope to give you some sustainable alternatives to your Christmas traditions.

 1. Consider alternative Christmas trees

The number one Christmas tradition is the tall pine tree that lights up our home. Nowadays, there are several options when it comes to Christmas trees, which all have their pros and cons for the environment.

• A real cut Christmas Tree: This is the traditional tree everyone loves; the smell of the pine and its unique shape is cherished. When buying a cut Christmas tree look for local and sustainably grown trees. Consider going to a tree farm instead of a department store! Most importantly, once the Christmas season is over, avoid throwing it in the garbage as it will rot in the landfill. There are several charities and organizations which dispose of Christmas trees sustainably.

• Renting a Christmas tree: This is the most sustainable method there is, especially if the farm is local. The trees come in pots (like a house plant) and are easy to handle. Once the season is over, return the tree to the farm as they will take care of it until next year. The best part is that several farms allow you to get the same tree every year!

• Artificial Christmas tree: This is the type of tree my family has been using for years, hence I was disappointed to find out they have the worst environmental impact. Artificial trees are rarely recyclable, causing them to have an environmental impact ten times greater than a real tree. To make an artificial tree more sustainable, use it for at least ten years. 

 

2. Finding sustainable Christmas gifts

Shopping for Christmas gifts is already difficult and trying to be sustainable at the same time makes it a lot harder. I tend to struggle with this as it’s easy to want to order all your gifts off amazon. You want to buy all the nifty gadgets for your loved ones however, it’s important to consider their environmental impact.

• Buy a long-term gift: Try finding presents that you know the person will use for several years. You can do this by purchasing higher quality products, as well as thinking of a gift which the receiver will not outgrow or get bored by. As a result, it reduces the chance of creating more waste in the future and usually makes for a great present!

• Shop locally: This is a popular answer for how to live a more sustainable lifestyle, but is very true! Buying local products reduces the emissions which major companies cause when fabricating and shipping their products. Before you buy a gift from Amazon, look if any local stores around you sell it as it will also reduce the packaging waste. Another great option is Etsy, a website where you can find local artisans who sell handcrafted art. Not only is it great for the environment but it also supports your community.

 3. Wrapping your gifts

Opening presents on Christmas morning is an exciting moment for all. Unfortunately, it results in mountains of wrapping paper which end up in the landfill. Luckily, there are many great alternatives to wrapping paper! I’ve been using newspaper to wrap gifts for many years, to add some Christmas spirit I draw on cute designs. This article by Greenpeace Canada has so many great recommendations, but here are some of my favourites:

• Use pieces of cloth to wrap gifts

• Utilize your outdated maps

• Search for those old magazines which no one reads

• You can even use a shirt to wrap a gift

 

 

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