7 tips to be green at Christmas

Aaah, Christmas... This bright period when we empty our wallets to give gifts to the whole family, when we eat festive dishes and when... pollutes enormously. Here are the 11 tips to be eco-friendly at Christmas!

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Christmas, a celebration as magical as it is polluting

Christmas is a highly anticipated holiday, both for young and old. We give each other gifts, we set up a luminous tree and festive decorations, we eat a huge meal with the family... And we pollute a lot. Of course, at the level of a single household, there is no problem. But, knowing that many families consume a lot at Christmas (packaging that fills the bins, overconsumption for gifts, food thrown away if unfinished meals, etc.), then we start to have a pack of waste in our hands ! But then, how can we compensate for all this waste ? How can we continue to celebrate Christmas while remaining aware of our environmental impact?

Tips for being eco-friendly

1. Gifts

Avoid buying too far away

When we buy gifts for our loved ones, we want the best for them (and that's normal). And, often, to get that best, we buy from Chinese, American, etc. And buying far rhymes with carbon emissions (well, it doesn't rhyme but you see). Indeed, it is most likely planes and/or trucks that will transport the gifts you have ordered. How can this be remedied? If possible, buy your gifts locally ! Favor stores/sites in your country, in order to limit the use of transport (and therefore CO² emissions) as much as possible.

Pay attention to the materials used

Then, when you buy a gift, make sure to check the manufacturing conditions! What is this article made of? Is it environmentally friendly ? These are the questions you need to ask yourself when shopping for gifts. There's no point in spending your money if it's to finance a company that doesn't fit into sustainable development! But how do you buy responsibly ? There are some apps that allow you to do this (like ClearFashion, which allows you to scan barcodes to find out the process of making a garment, etc.).

Think about what you buy

Why not rethink the way we choose our gifts? Let's focus on second-hand items ! You might as well please your loved ones, while bringing objects back to life and paying attention to the environment. It also makes it possible to curb overconsumption in large clothing or other chains, which are polluting and unethical. Otherwise... Why not offer an "experience" ? A meal, a weekend, a trip, an activity... Give your loved ones unforgettable moments, rather than objects that will not be used after a few months! And, thus, you are sure not to disappoint!

2. Packaging

Use reusable packaging

Seeing the excitement of someone you love while they open their presents is magical. But seeing her open a gift with reusable or recyclable packaging is even better! Whenever you can, opt for reusable packaging such as cloth bags. Or recycle! That way, the next time you see old newspapers/papers lying around, you'll know what to do.

3. The Christmas tree

Choosing a natural tree

There are a lot of discussions every year about buying the tree. Should you opt for a synthetic or a real tree? People will probably answer "a plastic tree is better because it can be reused every year!". Well, not so sure. Indeed, for a plastic tree to be truly profitable, it must be used every year for at least 20 years (even if they are generally only used for 6 years). So, as ironic as it may seem, we should favor real trees!

Why ? There are farms specially dedicated to planting fir trees (in order to resell them for Christmas). Thus, no deforestation is involved. In addition, during their growth (a tree takes between 10 and 20 years to grow), trees release oxygen and absorb CO² – which, by default, is not the case with plastic trees, which are often made far away with materials that are not very eco-friendly.

4. The meal

Local

Your Christmas shopping list is done and you already have all your recipe ideas for the menu. All that's left to do is buy your food... locally ! As mentioned above (in the gifts section for those who followed), there's no point in buying products from faraway countries when we have everything (or almost) here! Let's avoid unnecessary carbon emissions and consume local.

Seasonal

Let's not forget that, if we must consume locally, we must also consume seasonally ! Seasonal foods are generally healthier than imported fruits and vegetables (because the latter lose their vitamins along the way). So, you promote local agriculture and the local economy, and you take care of yourself and your loved ones. Isn't this a good initiative ?

To eat healthy (at Christmas or during the rest of the year), there are apps that can help you: do you know them?

Christmas is a wonderful time to spend with family, friends or alone, as long as you let yourself go to the beauty of this holiday. With all these tips to be eco-friendly at Christmas, you will now celebrate New Year's Eve without having to feel guilty because of your environmental impact!

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