Christmas has traditionally been a period of peak consumption, but if I have learned something this year, is that we should start taking care of the environment. You can host an eco-friendly Christmas and still enjoy the magic of it.
Having spent almost a year without seeing most of my family and friends, I learned (the hard way) that what really matters is the people around you. Having expensive decoration and loads of presents is no longer important –I just want to be with the people I love, and if on top of that, I can cause less harm to the environment, I think we have a deal. Here are some ways to have a more sustainable Christmas:
Re-use decorations as much as possible, unless they are broken, there is no need to change all your ornaments and tree once a year. If you still feel like you could use some new stuff, make sure you shop locally or make your own handmade decoration and opt for ornaments made from biodegradable materials. You can even turn your houseplant into a Christmas tree!
Have a vegetarian Christmas dinner! The meat and dairy industry pollutes more than all the world’s planes, trains, cars and boats. I know that for those that aren’t vegetarian, it is a tough thing to ask, but I’ve been vegetarian for over 10 years and it’s the decision that I’m the proudest of. Why not try a plant-based menu for a change? If you still want your turkey, you can make some small changes like including more veggies than usual and try to choose food that is light on packaging.
Christmas should be about sharing with the ones you love, whether you are having a zoom meeting with your friends or you are lucky enough to be close to your relatives, please make sure that the time you spend with them is more important than the material things that are around you. In the end, that is all that matters.