Tips for a Greener Christmas

Christmas 2019.

When asked what they’d like for Christmas, our kids answered:

7 year old: “I’d like a carving knife” (inspired by his adventures at nature school).

9 year old (after a long thinking pause…): “Just a black marker.”

True story.

But, as you can see, Christmas hasn’t always been so ‘green’ for us.

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Despite how this photo looks (anxiety, anyone?!?!), in 2014, we were progressing well in our low-waste journey. However, nudging family members towards sustainability adds a whole new challenge. Particularly when you have the only two grandchildren (on both sides). Don’t get me wrong, we love doting aunts, uncles and grandparents – but this approach to gifting just doesn’t jive with our lifestyle, household and waste bin!

Luckily for us, those same doting family members have gradually adapted (and I think even grown to appreciate) our “less stuff, more life” approach. Instead of spending time at stores or wrapping gifts, they are opting for experience gifts – museum visits with grandparents, tickets to the theater with cousins – and even thrifted books and clothing!

We’ve stopped exchanging gifts between the adults, and instead simply focus on the quality time spent together (and yes, the good food…). If you’re transitioning to a simplified, greener Christmas tradition, why not opt for a ‘Secret Santa’ approach, where you only need to buy one person an item? You can also gradually add suggestions/conditions (some may call these “rules), such as “only gift items that are homemade or thrifted”, or “experience gifts only”. It gives a fun ‘theme’ to the season and provides direction for the gift givers.

Listed below are 5 areas you can transition towards greener Christmas traditions.

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1. Sustainable Gift Ideas

• Experience gifts – go sledding, camping, go to a play, spa date, visit a museum (you can even have a sleepover at the Canadian Museum of Nature!), or even learn a new skill like cooking or woodworking classes!
• Homemade gifts – consumable items like a jar of homemade brittle, or these upcycled crayons made from scraps
• Services – offer to babysit, shovel snow, clean
• Pre-loved items – books from a thrift shop, passed down clothing, used items found online
• Locally made items and services – package-free soaps and toques, or sign up for a local farm food box, reclaimed wood furniture and accessories, preserves and other consumables
• Gifts that promote sustainability – a reusable thermal travel mug for the coffee-lover, reusable grocery bags/produce bags for shoppers, stainless steel lunch containers for busy-always-making-lunch-parents
• Donate to a good cause – whether it’s a local animal sanctuary, food bank or other green initiative

For more green gift ideas, visit my 2015 post “Tis the Season”

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2. Green Gift Wrap

The stats on holiday gift wrap waste are mind-blowing. Save money and the planet by skipping the gift wrap. Instead, consider using:

• reused gift bags and tissue
• kids’ old artwork
• pages from a magazine or newspaper
• paper bags
• reused bows, ribbon, string and lace
• fabric scraps, scarves or tea towels
• thrifted baskets
• jars or reusable bags (you can even sew your own produce bags!)
• saved (clean) bits of trash, like reversed chip bags, netting and elastics

We collect these types of items in a bin throughout the year – not just for Christmas, but for low-waste kids’ birthdays too!

See my Instagram feed for more sustainable gift wrap inspiration.

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3. Christmas Trees & Decorations

Our DIY Christmas Tree is on its third year already! There are many alternatives out there and in the age of the internet, there really is no limit. Many options are even free! The Green Travel Blog gives some good insight into the sustainability of Christmas trees.

As for decorations, again, there are so many options out there to avoid buying new — Use what you already have, buy used, re-purpose and upcycle, or simply stick to natural materials like greenery, pinecones and these dehydrated orange peels.

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4. Low-Impact Christmas Meals

Consider a plant-based holiday meal – heck, why not switch it up entirely and do a themed meal like homemade Indian or pizza-making?!

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If you’re not up for skipping the turkey tradition, look into local organic farm sources, like Funny Duck Farms.

When it comes to holiday snacking, avoid packaged foods and opt for homemade and bulk bought items, like these chocolate PB cups or sourdough bread.

No matter how many guests, try to avoid disposable dishes and cutlery. If the number of dishes seems daunting, recruit some helpers or even make an activity of it 😉 We have hosted large community events (yes, even with kids and even outdoors in winter) and been able to avoid disposables, so YOU CAN DO THIS!

5. Focus on Creating Memories, not Waste

Why not try to get outside and active over the holidays — spending quality time together in nature is a great way to unwind and re-connect with our surroundings, especially in this notoriously busy season in this notoriously busy decade…

Go sledding (depending where you live 😉 , visit a nearby park or simply go for a walk. Maybe even leave your devices behind and embrace the freedom of disconnecting!

Another option is to organize a family activity – bowling, skating or even helping out a local charity like a food kitchen or dog walking service.

To me, getting in the Christmas spirit isn’t about sitting around a tree and stuffing our faces (as enjoyable as that can be). With each passing year, I’m reminded of how fortunate we are to have a roof over our heads, food on the table and family to comfort us. Many are not so fortunate and Christmas is the time of giving and connection.

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This transition didn’t happen overnight, but with gradual steps towards low waste living, we are happier than ever with our simplified (slower and less costly!) Christmas traditions. Yes, even with kids and full time jobs and on a budget.

Maybe you are already well on your way to a more sustainable holiday season, or maybe you are reading this and thinking “this mom is nuts, my family will never get on board with this, my kids want new stuff…..” — either way, I hope that these ideas have helped to open minds and start conversations.

Happy happy holidays!