Whether you’ve been naughty or nice to the environment this year, the holiday season is the perfect time to be more mindful of your impact on the planet.
The melting North Pole has definitely brought climate change right to my doorstep, and I’ve learnt a few tips and tricks to help reduce my carbon footprint. To help you keep Christmas green like a Christmas tree, I’ve made this sustainable Christmas guide with some tips on keeping the holiday season more green than red this year.
Get creative with your wrapping!
Instead of buying wrapping paper why not recycle newspapers and magazines to wrap your presents? I like to spruce my gifts up by adding bright red ribbon.
Keep it real
Putting up the Christmas tree is one of my favourite things to do for Christmas! Now I know buying a plastic tree can be tempting, but at the end of the day they end up in landfill and harming our environment. So this year keep it green and buy a potted tree or shrub, you can always replant it and they’ll also keep your house smelling fresh!
Useful gifts
Buying gifts is always tricky when there are so many people on your list to get through. So instead of buying last minute (bad for the environment) gifts, why not consider buying gifts that your loved ones will find useful? Here are a few ideas:
- For the coffee lover – try a reusable coffee cup to put a stop to disposable plastic cups.
- For the foodie – bake some cookies or whip up some jam and gift it in recycled glass jars.
- For the generous one – make a donation to charity on behalf of a loved one. This is the gift that keep on giving and makes everyone feel good.
Decorate
If you’re anything like me, you go a little overboard when decorating for Christmas. This year I’ve tried to make use of nature to make my home beautiful. Think pine cones, green shrubs, and even branches – get creative!
Christmas day celebrations
This year do your best to go local when buying food for the big Christmas meal. This should reduce waste on packaging and also help your local grocers and farmers out. Also try to use reusable plates and cutlery rather than disposable ones – these convenience items are not so convenient for the planet!
I hope this guide helps you make a decisions that are a little more helpful for our environment over the holiday season. Most importantly I hope you have a great time with your friends and loved ones and enjoy a well-deserved break!
With love from the North Pole.
Mrs Claus
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