Christmas is one of the biggest holidays with people spending over $1 trillion here in the US. There is so much happening in Christmas Season which makes it a perfect opportunity to try sustainable alternatives and be mindful of our rituals. Here are Top Ten Tips on how to be Green this Christmas. Small Changes makes big impact and these top tips will help you taken that green step.
- Upcycle used newspapers and magazine for gift wrapping
- Use ground shipping to post gifts and letters
- Avoid using single use plates, cups and cutleries
- Glitter is Litter, don’t bring these micro-plastics home.
- Switch to LED Christmas lights
- Decorate a tree for the birds.
- Buy less and buy only sustainable products
- Get together for Vegan Dinner
- Gift of Charity
- Gift of Experience
Tip #1 for Green Christmas- Upcycle Gift Wrapping
For all the gift giving that is going to happen, a neat way to go green this Christmas is to up-cycle used newspapers and magazine for gift wrapping. Even cut out pieces of fabrics, if you have, can be a great gift wrap and it is a great way to maximize utility of products. And look how fabulous they look!
Bonus! they cost almost nothing! That’s why its One on the list of Top Ten Tips for Green Christmas.
Tip #2 - Use Ground Shipping
Tip number 2 of top ten tips for Green Christmas is to use ground shipping to post your gifts and cards. There is still time to allow slower delivery so when possible, so choose ground shipping rather than air. Check what options your carrier have, like USPS has green shipping option. It’s cheaper and has low environmental impact. Your gifts don’t need to fly.
Tip #3 for Green Christmas - Avoid Single-use Plastics
Tip #3 for Green Christmas is to not use Paper plates and plastic cups and cutleries. With Christmas and all the get-togethers that you have planned, it might be easier to get disposable dinnerware but think twice, thrice, think until you decide not to get them. Plastic wastes are trashing our ocean and directly hurting marine lives.
Between paper and plastic, many of us will probably choose paper for lower environmental impact but most paper plates are lined with plastics too, to make then waterproof. Unlike other paper products, most paper plates are not recyclable either.
On top of all of that, who needs another tree cut down for something unnecessary like this, specially when we are going through an environmental crisis?
If you don’t have enough plates and spoons, borrow. After all Christmas is all about sharing.
Tip #4 - Glitter is Litter
Tip #4 for Green Christmas is remember Glitter is Litter. Do not use glitters or anything that has glitters on it this Christmas like decorations, Christmas crackers, ornaments and even nails. Glitters are just micro-plastics that are bound to end up in the ocean. Micro plastics are the biggest ocean polluter. As a result, they are consumed by fish, birds and other marine life which cause them to starve to death.
Scientists across the world are appealing for it to be banned. So even if the bills are not passed here, we should definitely ban them from our homes.
Lets make this Christmas Glam, without Glitters.
Tip #5 - LED Light up your Christmas Tree
Tip #5 for Green Christmas is to switch to LED Christmas lights. According to a report from Department of Energy, lighting accounts for a fifth of our household energy consumption in the US. LED bulb consumes 30 times less energy that regular 60 watt fluorescent light. Roughly, one LED bulb will minimize greenhouse gas emissions by almost half a ton.
Yes, just one LED bulb.
Brighten up your Christmas with energy saving lights this year. Here is one
Bonus- it will also bring down your electricity bill by 5-10%.
Tip #6 for Green Christmas - Decorate a Tree for the Birds
Tip #6 for Green Christmas is to Decorate a Tree for the Birds.
You can hang seed bells, place pine cones with peanut butter or seed trays on any tree (where it is allowed, of course!). That is a good way to spread joy to others, even when they probably don’t believe in Christmas.
Even better if you can use a living tree in your backyard or plant one as your Forever Christmas tree. It is such a good activity to do with the kids, at the same time, can be very meditative for adults too. All of this while we offer great source of food for the birds’ winter days.
Tip #7 - Buy Less and Buy Green Alternatives
Tip #7 of the top ten tips for Green Christmas is to buy less. With all the sale going on it is very tempting to feel a need to buy something unnecessary. If you wouldn’t buy it for full price, don’t buy it just coz it’s on sale. Gifts don’t have to be purchased, you can make something up-cycled, for example candles from unused crayons or a treasured recipe brownies.
And when you do buy, look for eco-friendly alternatives. It can be expensive, and sometimes takes time to research and find sustainable eco-friendly products, but it is a small price to pay if you compare that to the impact synthetic fibers and plastics will have on the planet and its other dwellers. Therefore, buy organic fabric instead of polyester, for instance hemp socks are great for green gifting this Christmas.
Tip #8 for Green Christmas - Get Together for Vegan Dinner
I gave my Husband a Vegan Recipe Cookbook for Christmas 2 years ago called The Thug Kitchen. Although we were not vegan then, we loved trying out the new recipes.
If you are not ready to give up meat, that is okay. But that should not be the reason to avoid eating more plant-based food. Try out new vegan recipes and have your friends and family enjoy them with you.
Livestock farming produces from 20% to 50% of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions. A meat lover carbon footprint is 3.3 tons of as compared to 1.5 tons of a vegan person.
There is no reason you cannot make vegan dinner for all your friends. It will be good for them to see it as an alternative. Hopefully it will also nudge them to the right direction. Consequently, reducing our carbon footprint a little bit. Thats Tip 8 of top 10 tips for Green Christmas.
Tip #9 - Gift of Charity
Tip #9 for green Christmas is to give gift of charity. For one, you can volunteer together as a family, with friends and colleagues at your local charity. Secondly, you can also give gift certificates for their charity of choice they can donate to.
This weekend, my family sorted through books, toys and clothes to give it to Charity so that we can make space for new gifts that Santa might be bringing.
For beginners in this green journey, like you and me, it’s might be a little unrealistic to go without giving or receiving gifts. But we can always make sure we giveaway the ones we have used to someone’s else who can enjoy it as much as we did. That’s the joy in sharing. That’s the #Spirit of Christmas
Share your toys and clothes with charities like Big Brother Big Sister. Christmas is all about giving, make sure you give plenty this Christmas.
Tip #10 - Gift of Experience
Top Tip #10 for Green Christmas is to remember, presents don’t have to be material.
How about we give each other experiences this Christmas. Something you can do together may be. Massages, Yoga Passes, Cooking lesson, paint lesson, and the list goes on.
Afterall, what is more Christmassy than spending more time with loved ones.
I highly recommend these in your Christmas gift ideas list. And I guarantee you that whoever gets this gift won’t complain.
Let me know what you think about these items and what else do you think should make it to the list?
Comment below how you plan to make this Christmas a little more Greener this year.
Don’t forget to share your Christmas gift ideas!!
In the mean time, check our post on
How to stay Eco-friendly through Holiday Sale.
