Christmas is a festive season of eating, drinking and being merry. Families travel to reunite, delicious feasts and exchange presents. But this year, let us celebrate an eco-friendly Christmas. We can make a lot of difference by turning this holiday season more eco-friendly.
Here are some ideas to celebrate Christmas while caring for the Earth. Just read on.
Spend Less
Less is more. Presents are gestures of thoughtfulness. Have you found yourself receiving presents that you do not need at all?
The most sustainable thing to give during Christmas is nothing at all. But giving nothing to friends and family may hurt your relationships. I use a practical guide to target my gift-giving to help reduce carbon emissions.
Holiday presents should fill the practical needs. You can give more while spending less on personal and unique presents. During our corporate 2019 Christmas party, I gave a Starbucks Christmas reload card with RM30 value during our gifts exchange event.
You are not necessary to give store-bought items. A Swiss start-up Climeworks AG introduces the most sustainable gift in the world. I like the idea of buying carbon dioxide if you can afford it.
Here are other creative ideas for sustainable giving.
Buy Locally Made
If you need to buy physical Christmas presents, buy locally made ones. We import most Christmas gifts from other countries. However, transportation contributes to significant greenhouse emissions and global warming. Each gift from local craft and artisan shops usually have a unique story. Those presents are equally fabulous.
Buy battery-free toys
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, about 40% of all battery sales occur during November and December. We know discarded batteries are hazardous to the environment. We would discard rechargeable batteries eventually.
Re-gift is acceptable
Re-gifting is an environmentally friendly act of ensuring an item puts to good use. My mum has practised re-gifting since I was a toddler. When we receive something the family does not need, she will pass it to someone who can use it. She gave away toys that we no longer played with to our cousins. She also donated our children wears to charity during the holiday season. I continue this practice. Why keep something you do not need?
Eco-friendly Wrappers
American trashed four million tons of present wrap and shopping bags annually. Canadian wasted about 595,000 tons of wrappers. In the U.K. alone, you find 108 million rolls of wrapping paper in the landfills. Unfortunately, most glitter-decorated wrapping paper is not recyclable. So, choose paper wrappers instead.
If you open large gift packages with care, you can reuse the wrapper for other gift-giving occasions. If you need to buy one, choose wrapping paper made using recycled content. You can also reuse old calendars and posters to wrap gifts. Here are some creative alternatives.
If possible, ditch the wrapping paper. Similarly, switch to string from sticky tape to wrap your presents. I love Furoshiki, a Japanese practice to use a cloth to wrap gifts. You can reuse thousand times without fail. Why do you need to feel embarrassed? If the recipient cares about the present than you, there is no point in maintaining such friendship.
Eco-friendly Decorations
Many Christmas decorations made of plastic and other materials are harmful to the environment. Some are used once and thrown in the bin after the holiday season. Choose decorations that you can reuse over the years.
I remember we decorated our house with beautiful holiday lights two weeks before Christmas. Times have changed since the utility bill has doubled over the two decades. We decorate without any lights now.
If you need to install lights, remember to turn off all decorative lighting at bedtime. It is a waste of energy to leave the tree lights on at night after everyone has slept.
Personalized Greeting Cards
You can create personalized greeting cards using Canva. It offers free membership with easy-to-use templates. Send pre-designed e-cards to save trees.
Carbon-free Family Outing
Christmas is a time for family. Your presence is more valuable than any present. How long have you not enjoyed a picnic in the park?
Take this year to re-start the family tradition. Gather the family members outdoors and spend a day walking or hiking in the countryside. The walk will pique appetites and provide a shared topic for conversation during mealtime. It would make your Christmas more memorable.
Sustainable Christmas diet
Our diet is impacting our environment. A 2020 study by researchers at John Hopkins University found that U.S. residents can cut 30% off their food-related emissions by changing to plant-based food. If two-thirds of meals change to plant-based food, we will cut food-related emissions by nearly 60%.
Indeed, switching to a plant-based diet and eating less meat reduces your carbon footprint. Family reunion dinner is often the exception for people to make a feast, but stop waste. Choose local produce where possible and only cook what you need.
The future will be challenging for everyone. We will have to rethink our actions, look for alternatives, challenge ourselves — and grow through the experience. This is not just about doing without, but also about making the most of opportunities and developing as persons. Let’s believe in tomorrow
Believe in the Magic of the Season
In 2021, we witnessed the unimaginable floods in Germany and followed by the Henan Flood in China in the same month. At the same time, American West Coast faced the worst drought and forest fires. Back at home, the districts of Klang in Selangor State are facing the historic worst flood on 18th December, a week before Christmas.
#COP26 highlighted we are at the tipping point. The intensity of extreme weather is getting severe. Our actions are directly impacting our natural home. The collective effort can reverse the climate crisis.
Christmas is about coming together and sharing happiness. Let us celebrate the season while caring for the planet with effort and creativity. Every small change will bring a positive meaning. Get creative!