Tips to lower your footprint when decorating and gifting at Christmas
A green Christmas is just as magical, joyful and meaningful with the added warmth of knowing that you are making choices that respect our planet and all its beautiful inhabitants.
1. Eco-Friendly Holiday Decor
Decorating for the season in an eco-friendly way can make your home feel and smell festive without creating waste.
- Sustainable Tree Options: If you need a tree, choose a potted, living tree you can keep indoors year-round. If you get an artificial tree, choose one that will last at least ten years and can be recycled.
- Natural Decor: Use dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks and pinecones for a rustic, natural look. Try garlands made from eucalyptus, holly or pine branches, which can be composted afterwards.
- Essential Oil Odours: You can also use an essential oil diffuser to fill a room with healthy and lovely scents. Home baking and cooking will also create the perfect aroma.
- Avoid Plastic: Instead of buying ornaments, consider making your own from paper or wood or recycled materials.
- Lights: Choose LED lights to save energy.
2. Kind and Sustainable Gift Ideas
When buying gifts, think less but better. Give gifts that are thoughtful, kind and that will last and be loved for a long time.
- Shop local: Shopping local helps reduce the energy needed to transport goods from far off places. It also supports Ireland’s thriving local crafts and arts industry. You can find loads of ideas on the Gifted Sustainable Items page.
- Eco-Friendly Beauty and Skincare: Purchase cruelty-free and vegan beauty products. Brands that use compostable or recyclable packaging are a bonus.
- Gift an Experience: Instead of items, give a voucher for a personalised experience, such as an online cooking or bread baking class or a yoga session.
- Homemade Edibles: Prepare jars of cookie mix, granola or spiced nuts – or make your own chocolate truffles or jams.
- Charitable Donations: Give in honour of a loved one to an environmental organisation (www.ien.ie), an animal sanctuary or a charity working for peace and justice in Ireland or Internationally. For example the Donkey Sanctuary Ireland offers adoption programmes where you can choose to sponsor one of their animals.
- Go Vintage: Vintage clothes, books, home furnishings, and refurbished technology can all make great sustainable gifts.
3. Wrapping It Up Sustainably
Gift wrapping is beautiful but can also be wasteful. Try these eco-friendly options:
- Reusable Wrapping Materials: Wrap your presents using scarves, cloth or reusable gift bags instead of traditional wrapping paper.
- Compostable and Recycled Paper: If you love paper, choose 100% recycled or compostable options.
- Natural Accents: Decorate gifts with rosemary, pine or dried flowers for a rustic and biodegradable touch.
- Reuse: Save and reuse any ribbons, bows, gift bags or wrapping paper you receive for future presents.
4. Ethical Winter Wear
Whether you’re spending the holidays at home or out and about, you can stay cosy with ethical and warm winter clothing.
- Reimagined outfits: This year, choose the sustainable option and try to reimagine the clothing that you already own by repurposing items into something new! If you can’t find anything to wear, ask your friends or family if you could borrow something. You never know, they might have a costume kicking around at the back of a cupboard.
- Sustainable Clothing: If buying clothing, look for brands that are vegan, use organic materials and follow fair-trade practices.
- Second-Hand Shopping: Charity shops offer a variety of Christmas jumpers and accessories that are both unique and environmentally friendly.
- Plant-Based Fabrics and Leather: Look for organic cotton, bamboo or hemp as well as plant-based leather alternatives, which are sustainable and biodegradable materials.
5. Rest and rejuvenate with your family and friends
Enjoy time together and think of those who may need a visit!
Overall, nothing is more important at Christmas than the people we spend it with. Consider how you can support people in the local community to combat loneliness, and enjoy rest, some wonderful walks in nature and quality time with loved ones this Christmas.
