Here are 25 ways to make Christmas more environmentally friendly

As the countdown to Christmas 2021 has begun, make this year your environment first. When making a greener and more environmentally friendly choice, your gift goes far beyond yourself and affects future generations.

According to Ireland’s official waste management guide Mywaste.ie, we generate 25-30% more waste during the holiday season than usual. And we spent a lot of money: Data from the Central Bank in 2020 shows that compared with November, credit and debit card spending increased by 21% in December.

So this year, let us extend the season of goodwill to the natural world we live in.

Elaine Butler, head of the Sustainable Living Guide https://livinglightlyinireland.com/, said that making ecologically conscious choices can be boiled down to a broad principle, such as keeping consumption to a minimum. "Pay close attention to the level of consumption-throughout everything. 

If you reduce your consumption level across the board, you will do well. "Butler suggested, do your best, do your best. "Start with one or two changes." Before you know it, you will have an impact. Governments and companies pay attention to people's behavior-so how we spend money will greatly affect the type of world we have in the future. "Here are 25 ways to help create a greener Christmas.

1: The most environmentally friendly tree is the tree that already exists-you have had a reusable tree for many years, and you will bring it out every Christmas.

But unless you plan to keep and use it forever, this is not a green option-fake trees are made from materials that are difficult to recycle, usually shipped from Asia.

2: Rent a living Christmas tree in the flowerpot. The Cork company Christmastree.ie pioneered the concept this year: rent it during the holiday season, return it to the company in January, and then bring it back to the farm for care throughout the year. You can even rent the same Christmas tree next year because it will take a year to absorb carbon from the atmosphere.

Christmastree.ie delivers and picks up goods in Cork City/surrounding suburbs-anyone outside of the area can still rent, but must call in January to pick up and return the goods.

3: If you get a one-time real tree from a forest farm, make sure to recycle it later-it can be reused for wood chips or mulch. For more information about the drop-off point, please contact your local authority. Mindy O'Brien, the chief executive of the environmental charity VOICE, uses the branches of her tree to decorate her mantelpiece.

4: Forget about new color schemes that need new decorations every year, Butler said. "Part of the fun of Christmas is to bring out some decorations to remind you of the person who gave you the item, or the children made it when they were young." If you are moving into a new home, why not ask your parents/relatives to give you one they no longer The needed Christmas decorations-another way to create memories while being sustainable.

5: If you really have to buy, please buy a good quality new Christmas decoration within one year. Butler suggested that you choose metal (unlimited recyclable) and natural wood and other materials. "Let it be your true favorite decoration, a heirloom that you can pass on to your children." 

6: Charity shops can become an important source of decorations. "I made a front door wreath with wire hangers and Christmas baubles I bought at a charity store, so I made a decoration with something that already existed," Butler said.

7: Mywaste.ie recommends reducing decoration halls. "Create a festive atmosphere in your home by foraging for leaves and displaying natural decorations such as pine cones, holly, fruits and nuts." Find ideas on how to use natural materials to make Christmas table centerpieces on YouTube and Pinterest.

And use more energy-efficient LED lights-also invest in a timer to make sure you turn off the lights when you sleep/go out.

8: Does it pass the wrinkle or tear test? If you can tear it off easily, it is recyclable. Plastic coated wrapping paper (shiny/metal/glitter) cannot be recycled. "If you crumple it, it will bounce back - it won't remain crumpled like paper," Butler said.

Regarding the flash, Butler said it was “just a small part of the plastic that enters the environment and waterways-animals consume it, and so do we”. A 2019 study by the environmental charity WWF found that people may consume about 5 grams of plastic per week on average, which is equivalent to the weight of a credit card.

Jiminy.ie has recyclable and recyclable packaging paper-made from 100% recycled unbleached paper and cards, and environmentally friendly plant inks.

9: Use environmentally friendly packaging materials, such as reusable scarves, which can be used as part of the gift, or check YouTube to learn how to use newspapers to wrap gifts. "Open the gift carefully so you can use the wrapping paper again," said O'Brien, who suggested investing in gift bags. "They can be used repeatedly." 

10: According to Mywaste.ie, more than 50% of the gifts received at Christmas are considered useless. Butler recommends experience over things. "The most precious gift we can give is our time, because we have too little time. Christmas should be reconnecting. Arrange to go out with friends for the weekend or visit exhibitions together." Or-even if you don't plan to do it in person Participate in the experience-free dinner for two, skating tickets or theater tickets.

11: Decided to make Kris Kindle together with the whole family. Instead of buying a dozen smaller gifts for everyone to cover every family member, agree on a budget and pick a name from the hat so that everyone will buy more expensive gifts for the other. "As you get older, it becomes more and more difficult to buy something that someone really values ​​or needs for 20 euros. And you can get some very valuable things for 100 euros-this is a way of reducing consumption. It’s a good way, while giving gifts,” Butler said, and he recommends that everyone make a list—for the people buying for them—the items they want/need.

12: O'Brien suggested making his own gifts. "Every year, I make bread or jam for my neighbor. It's more personal." Butler also recommends buying consumables as gifts, such as wine or chocolate that you know the other person will like but won't buy for yourself. "Choose high-end or something they don't easily get. What you buy will be used, but it won't cause too much waste in the world." 

13: Considering stocking stuffing, O'Brien urges that he is becoming more and more "anti-joke trinkets or tat-things that people pick up and then'haha' and then throw away". Consider whether the person will use the item—and how often. "In our Christmas stockings, my parents always give something, such as shower caps, toothbrushes, fruits and other edible things, a year’s calendar, a beautiful notebook-for children who like to throw, you may Will give them a throwing glove." 

14: Looking for second-hand gifts. "My daughter wants a treadmill. I went to Adverts.ietarget="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> and bought it there," said O'Brien, who also recommended the shopping app Depoptarget="_blank" rel ="noopener noreferrer"> and Thriftify, an online charity store.

15: Turn your talents into gifts. "If you are good at riding a bicycle, and your friend has a chair that needs upholstery, then take the initiative. Or propose to paint the room or weed their garden," O'Brien said, recalling a friend in her biological diversity Christmas gift of wild flower seeds harvested from the sex garden.

16: Pursue quality rather than quantity. A study published by the University of Toledo in 2018 found that the fewer toys, the higher the quality of children's games. Living Lightly in Ireland has a long list of sustainable and ethical toys-with a good explanation of their ecological certificate-and where to get them

17: Becomes aversion to plastics. Three years ago, Dublin mother Sharon Keilthy opened jiminy.ie, an eco-toy store, aiming to change the toy industry in Ireland. “For toys purchased in Ireland alone, we have to plant 3.6 million trees to absorb the carbon dioxide made of plastic — four trees for each child,” Keilthy explained.

She has purchased more than 700 toys for everyone from babies to teenagers. Although some are wooden toys, this is not all. "Most are bioplastics (an innovative climate-positive plastic made from plants), safe recycled plastics, cardboard, cotton and paper." 

18: Butler recommends that if you buy battery-powered toys, choose rechargeable batteries instead of one-time use. And choose a power source that does not consume too much power-check the comments on power consumption. "Imaginext brand toys are good quality, durable, and consume little power. They are usually second-hand because they are very wear-resistant." 

19: Don't over-buy. An EPA Stop Food Waste survey found that 50% of respondents noticed more food waste during Christmas than at other times of the year—70% admitted that they bought extra food, "just in case In case" accidental visitors.

"Before Christmas, all the ads were about indulging yourself. In January, they were all about sacrifice. We dumped it every year and overbuyed it," Butler said.

She focused her Christmas food expenditure on the main feature of Christmas dinner-meat or meat substitutes-and made special desserts for Christmas. A jar of biscuits or a box of roses is outdated-instead, she chose options that can be frozen and have a long shelf life, such as mince pies and Christmas cakes. 

"Christmas cake can be eaten for several months. You can cut it into thin slices. It is easy to freeze and then thaw in the microwave for one minute. Therefore, you will not generate waste from foods that need to be eaten quickly." 

20: Buy locally grown vegetables-many vegetables for Christmas can be grown in Ireland, such as potatoes, carrots, and Brussels sprouts. If you can afford it, buy organic food. "If you can afford to pay more than 30 cents for vegetables, you should do it. This is one of the best ways to support our farmers, the environment, and the health," Butler said.

Check her list of fresh produce growers target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> and free range animal products.

21: Actively combat waste. O'Brien curbed excessive purchases by avoiding stores three days before and three days after Christmas. 

She said that the cost per kilogram of food waste is 3 Euros, including the price of purchase and disposal. She recommends offering a "family-style" Christmas dinner-served in a bowl so that people can eat only what they want. "Plating everything in advance is often more wasteful, because you won't use the leftovers." 

Check out the EPA booklets "12 Days of Christmas Recipe target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">" and "Leftover Recipes."

22: Proficient in food storage. "Don't freeze bread — it will spoil faster. Separate bananas from other fruits to avoid rapid ripening. Onions and potatoes can be kept longer in the shade," O'Brien suggested.

Observe how you dispose of food waste-put it in a composting facility instead of disposing of it with general waste, as the waste will be sent to landfills and produce methane.

23: Butler recommends using "appropriate" pottery, glassware and cutlery instead of disposable items. “Rent some, borrow from friends/family, or let guests bring them yourself. Mix and match looks add to the festive atmosphere.” If you do choose compostable, please make sure your guests know that they are treated as food waste rather than recycled. In addition, you can also send your guests home with dog bags full of leftovers.

24: Buy canned wine-more sustainable than bottled wine, Butler said. "Aluminum recycling works well in Ireland. Compared to glass, there is less carbon emissions during transportation because cans are lighter-and recycling aluminum requires less energy than glass." Another tip is to buy higher quality. Wine-high-quality gin or organic wine. "Buying less is better-buying more expensive will reduce consumption," Butler said.

For parties, carbonated beverage manufacturers, such as Sodastream or Aarke brands, can well reduce the amount of plastic bottles produced.

25: Will this year be the year you bypass the Christmas cookies? If you can't at all, choose re-usabletarget="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">-not cheap, but if you use them year after year, it will definitely be more environmentally friendly-or make your own. 

Butler collected a series of small biscuit toys from previous years: tape measure, small card box. You can also buy a cookie-making kit-this kit is plastic-free and environmentally friendly.

Is that Christmas sweater really necessary? "Acrylic pullovers are 100% plastic. The world doesn't need more," said Butler, who suggested linking Christmas pullover swaps to charity fundraising activities. Or buy it at a charity store-otherwise reuse your existing store.

Read more about Dream Christmas Tree: How to set up your spruce

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