A sustainable Christmas, what does it look like? From tree to Christmas dinner and from wine list to wrapping paper: you can turn a lot of knobs in the run-up to and during the holidays. And the nice thing is: a green Christmas is so much cozier and more original Believe us: with these tips, you will have a lot of fun this year. and upcoming - holidays. Do it differently. Do it greener!
A sustainable Christmas: not white, but green
Everyone dreams of a white Christmas. If the Christmas movies are to be believed, it is very much in the cards. But usually the holidays in the Netherlands are hopelessly grey. Outside then, because inside we make it a greener party. At least, if you let these tips inspire you!
Go for a sustainable Christmas tree!
Go for a sustainable Christmas tree! Consider an organically adopted tree, but even more sustainable is a second-hand artificial Christmas tree or a fun alternative such as a Christmas tree made of cardboard. Why? A Christmas tree has quite an environmental impact and more sustainable alternatives are just as cosy! Christmas tree growers take between four and 10 years to grow a Christmas tree. Production consumes (fossil) energy, (artificial) fertiliser, pesticides and water to grow millions of Christmas trees every year. And after Christmas, 2.5 million Christmas trees are discarded in the wheelie bin or with the VGF waste. So with Christmas trees, we put a strain on the planet. Milieu Centraal calculated that the climate impact of a Christmas tree is equivalent to about 25 kilometres of car driving. Want to know more about Christmas trees and how to choose them more sustainably? There is so much to say about that that we have devoted a separate article to it.
Ideas for a sustainable Christmas: painting old recycled baubles and an organic Christmas tree planted back. This one is from Better Tree.
So much more original: second-hand Christmas decorations
Every year the garden centres are full of the latest trends of baubles and garlands. All accessories we use for a few weeks a year, only to put it back in a box in the attic for almost a year. And next Christmas? Then the shops try to convince us with ‘new’ trends that we need new baubles and garlands again. Because, of course, those blue ones from last year really can't last any longer... Such a shame, because it is precisely our urge for stuff that is a big problem. We buy too much, use things only briefly and then throw them away. The earth is polluting, heating up and raw materials are running out. We can do better, especially with Christmas stuff that you only put out for a month every year.
At thegreenlist.nl we have a much better plan. No trends, just buy things (second-hand) and make them yourself. In short, things that suit you and your home and that you can enjoy for years. Find the cutest and most original Christmas stuff at the thrift shop Or make your own. How about a DIY Christmas table, DIY gift-wrapping tips or pimping up old baubles from the thrift store with a lick of paint. Nowhere in the world is there a table/wrapped present/Christmas ball that looks exactly like yours. How cool is that!
Tip: Around October/November, many thrift shops open the doors of their Christmas shops, often this is a department or a corner of the shop that is specially decorated for the holidays. Especially if you come at the beginning of the season, you can find beautiful Christmas items such as baubles, LED lights, artificial Christmas trees and festive clothes here.
The thrift shop is full of Christmas stuff, and you can also make a lot yourself. The second picture shows a placemet made from a music book from the thrift shop and the tablecloth is also a curtain from the thrift store.
Sustainable presents under the tree
In the Instagram community of thegreenlist.nl we see and hear that more and more people are opting for fewer presents under the tree. They prefer one to three really good presents, rather than a lot of trinkets. Christmas presents are also increasingly used to give the children something they needed anyway: new pyjamas, warm slippers or a sports outfit. These are fine sounds, because you can make a big difference with that wish list. Those Christmas presents are still stuff too huh, just like those trendy baubles... A few ideas:
- Give and ask for second-hand gifts under the Christmas tree. Take a peek at Sinterklaas to find those cool gifts second-hand. He has very useful tips for this.
- You can give a sustainable gift card. Think of a Sustainable Fashion Gift Card, a map of ohmygood or a recycling voucher).
- Ask or give a DIY gift, think: a night away, a dinner at your favourite restaurant, an escaperoom, an amusement park, a subscription to a playground, a museum card, etc.
Sustainable Christmas dinner
Will you be in the kitchen this Christmas? Then you are in a strategic position! You can also take a more sustainable approach to Christmas dinner: vegetarian or perhaps vegan. Or you can start with a super-local menu with ingredients from the Netherlands or even better: from your region! It will probably take some getting used to for some family members, so the choice is yours: you can use the sustainable Christmas dinner as a conversation starter, but you might also like to keep it cosy at your sustainable Christmas table. You've obviously tried so hard with that tinkering of course... In that case, you can also just not bring it up. Shrug your shoulders and serve a great menu where everyone happy of it. Does someone make a comment, laugh it off. Next year, someone else may pick up the gauntlet for Christmas dinner again, but at least this year you did your best!
Bonus tip: Serve Dutch wine at Christmas dinner. That's a sustainable choice! Because a wine from the Netherlands is not a common choice, your guests will find it a nice surprise. This way, you can tell something about the menu and sustainable choices from a positive angle. Check out the list of tasty Dutch wines. And read what's wrong with wine and why wine from the Netherlands is again a good choice.
Are you team dessert at Christmas this year? Then check out this vegan trifle. Looks spectacularly good, but in reality is ready very quickly. That's what you want!
Your sustainable Christmas
How do you celebrate Christmas more sustainably? Do you have any great ideas for decorations, an alternative Christmas tree or for family members you could stick behind the wallpaper sometimes? Let us know! You'll find contact buttons at the bottom of this page. We will add to the list with love! Happy sustainable holidays! We are dreaming of a green(er) Christmas...
More holiday tips from thegreenlist.nl
- This totally fits with a sustainable Christmas with children: DIY advent calendar making.
- Not so good for the environment: Why it's better to avoid (eco) glitter.
- Timeless Christmas decorations: DIY Dutch houses from old cardboard.
- Are you left with peppercorns after St Nicholas: leftover peppernuts, here's what you can do with them.
Photo credits main image and Christmas dinner Nicole Michalou (Pexels).
