How to make white Christmas greener!
Let’s start with the protagonist of Christmas decoration, the Christmas tree! Real, artificial or no tree at all? All 3 options have their pros and cons. The choices alone do not make much difference. Whatever we choose we can make it more sustainable.
The real tree has a key advantage. The firs grown to meet Christmas demand take 8-12 years to grow and provide oxygen until they are cut.
If we choose a tree in a pot, after the holidays we can “store” it on our terrace and it will continue to clean the air all year round. Otherwise we can plant it after the holidays or recycle it (eg by composting it or give it to companies that reuse it). It is advisable to choose a tree of local origin to reduce the cost of transport.
If we choose an artificial tree, it has the advantage that it can be used for many seasons. The downside is that it is usually made from cheap materials that harm the environment, comes from afar and is probably manufactured in areas of the world with questionable ecological and ethical practices. Therefore, it is advisable to choose a good quality fake tree that will withstand at least 10-20 seasons.
If we decide not to decorate a tree this year, we can find some branches, put them in a vase and decorate them. In addition to the viability of this proposal, it is also a good solution for small spaces.
In addition to firs, the decoration usually includes wreaths and garlands for which it is preferable to choose true plants rather than fake ones, such as mistletoe, eucalyptus, olive, rosemary, etc.
For Christmas ornaments, do not forget there are many alternatives to avoid plastic balls: paper, wood, leather ornaments .. even various foods such as apples, orange peels and acorns can be used as natural decoration
If you like the glitter of Christmas decor, there are many materials that will give a glittery look without the need for extra glitter: metals, mirrors, crystals, gold or silver ornaments are just a few.
Buy fewer things and gifts or at least prefer your gifts to serve practical needs, meet basic sustainability criteria or be experience gifts. According to surveys, 40% of battery sales occur during the festive season … choose gifts that don’t need batteries to work. Also, if you receive as a gift the new model of an electronic device, remember to recycle the old device properly.
When it comes time to wrap up Christmas presents, avoid excessive tape and non-recyclable laminated glossy paper and consider the alternative to classic brown paper. If you find it very simple and boring you can decorate it with twine, fabric ribbon, ornaments (wood, cork, fabric ..), with some plant leaves or some card. If you receive gifts with a lot of wrap and ribbons you can save it for reuse.
Last but not least, try the solar-powered festive lights for your balconies and set timers to both outdoor and indoor lights to avoid wasting energy. Use LED lamps that will use up to 95% less energy than traditional holiday lamps. In addition, if a lamp burns, the rest of the row will remain lit. Feel more of the magic of Christmas by turning off the main lights and turning on only the tree lights and some paraffin-free eco candles.
