10 ways you can go sustainable this Christmas

 

 

Amidst the beauty of glittering decorations and gift-giving a growing awareness of our environmental footprint prompts us to reimagine the way we celebrate. Celebrating an eco-friendly Christmas is not merely a trend but a conscious choice that people have now started taking in consideration. This is the time of the year that brings immense joy and loveliness to our lives but with this it brings a lot of consumerism. Therefore, comes the need to figure out innovative ways  to celebrate the season in sustainable ways. Merely buying eco-friendly gifts and products won’t complete the idea of a conscious Christmas. We have curated a list of practices that will help have a positive impact on the planet. 

 

Conscious Christmas tips

 

Choose quality over quantity.

Remember all the times when you complain about the gifts you received that you did not even need. Instead of numerous gifts focus on selecting meaningful and high quality presents. Consider presents that hold emotional or sentimental value, are durable and consciously made. Consuming consciously is the key. Ask yourself if you really need it before making any purchase.  Choosing few but high quality products can reduce wastage and encourage a sustainable lifestyle. 

 

Upcycle things

Upcycle things for Christmas decor do not throw away. This is the Christmas season so there isn’t any reason to celebrate a wasteful Christmas. Clean up the clutter by giving them new life. Upcycle those everyday items to innovate and create something unique out of it. Cutting down on wastage at the same time.

 

Join the Treecember community.

If you are running out of mindful and valuable gifting ideas, give a tree outdoors or a sapling. By gifting trees outdoors we mean taking care of the tree or the plant. In other words, the makings of the green Christmas and sustainable holiday season. This has to be one of the most sensible Christmas presents ever. 

 

Embracing Eco- friendly cheer.

Go for a real Christmas tree instead of the artificial ones. The potted plant then gets to live on and keep doing their carbon sequestering duty.  Adding to the already wasted environment is not conscious. There are a lot of alternatives to an artificial Christmas tree out there in the market. The recent one is the origami Christmas tree that's stealing the limelight this Christmas season. 

 

Cut your food waste 

Planning ahead might help to reduce the food wastage. Be realistic about how much food will be consumed by doing so you will also be able to cut down your expenses. Instead of using cling wraps use tupperwares to store the leftovers nice and fresh. 

 

Christmas lights

Talking about Christmas season lights and decor automatically ticks our minds. Switching to LED Christmas lights can be a great idea. Put timers on the lights so that it automatically switches off after people are asleep, saving a lot of unnecessary energy. This will not only reduce electricity bills but also minimizes environmental impact associated with energy production. 

 

Reusable gift wraps

Think of reusable gift wraps like fabrics, scarfs and reusable gift bags. Ideate and conceptualize materials like old cloth pieces and newspapers and maps and avoid using single use plastic wraps. Repurpose them not only to reduce the ecological footprint but also adding a personal touch eventually making this planet a better place. 

Gifts that inspire and provoke sustainability in others.

Talking about sustainability is not enough and is boring at the same time. Hence, gifting is a fun way to provoke and inspire them to inculcate consciousness towards the environment while enjoying the most of the festive season. 

Shop local and ethical.

Be a responsible citizen of not just the country but also the planet. Support local businesses, local artisans and buy from brands that ethically sourced products when buying gifts. Ensure that the wood and paper gifts are made from recycled materials. Vintage clothes and refurbished items can make great sustainable gifts. 

 

Experiential gifting
Gifting experiences instead of material can have a long lasting impact on your loved ones and also the environment. Bring people together by gifting them your time or a pre-bought experience. This will strengthen bonds and relationships and give birth to new ideas apart from materialism.