How to Have an Eco Friendly Christmas

Last Updated: December 21, 2022

Christmas is one of the most exciting times of the year for many of us. But have you ever realized how much waste this holiday produces? On average, Americans alone throw away about a million extra tons of trash each week from Thanksgiving to New Years Day!^{[citation needed]} In the UK, households generate 30% more waste over the holiday season.^{[1]
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Research source} What this is causing is horrifying. This wikiHow will show you how you can contribute less to this waste.

1

Consider the materials used in your decorations

Avoid plastic, polystyrene or easily-broken glass.^{[2]
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2

Sew or buy reusable gift bags.

This holiday season, Americans will use over four million tons of gift wrap and shopping bags.^{[citation needed]} That's more than 30 million trees. This year, use reusable gift bags. You can sew them easily on your own, and they last year after year. This way, you're not throwing away as much wrapping paper.
- Wrap your gifts in fabric. You can use the fabric for another project when you're done with it. Plus, these gifts make a neat touch to under the tree. Not to mention they're cute and unique! An adult may appreciate it if you wrapped their gift using tea towels, as it's like two gifts in one!^{[3]
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- Save regular gift bags, too. The normal paper bags you can get from any store can be reused as well. If you have a few in good condition, you can fold them up and save them for another gift. They store easily and don't take up much space.

3

Use old Christmas cards as gift tags.

Instead of buying tags, cut out cute pictures from old cards and use them instead. You can punch holes in the top for a ribbon to go through, or you can tape them right onto the gift. You save money by doing this, and you give your cards a second life.

4

Get a real tree and burn it when you're done with it.

Real trees take in carbon (CO₂) while they grow, but artificial trees create more CO₂ during production and transportation. If you buy a real tree and burn it when Christmas is over, this has a carbon footprint of only about 3.5kg.^{[citation needed]} If you put the tree into a landfill, it has a footprint of about 16kg.^{[citation needed]} An artificial tree has a footprint of 40kg.^{[citation needed]} You would need to keep a plastic tree for about 15 years to compensate for emissions caused by making it.^{[4]
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- Rent a tree. You can rent an artificial tree in certain cities during the holiday season. Once you're done with it, another family can rent it the next holiday season, and so on.
- Investigate renting a real tree. Some companies grow Christmas trees in fields through the year, put them roots-and-all into pots at Christmas time and allow customers to rent them over the festive season. When the tree is no longer needed, the companies collect it, and return it to the field to continue to grow only to be rented again next Christmas.

5

Give a 'green gift'

Gifts can be changed for the better, too, and there are several good ways to make sure that what you're giving is eco-friendly.
- Shop local. This isn't only supporting your local businesses; it lowers the CO₂ emissions from transporting goods.
- If someone you know has an iPhone, buy them an app. If you know of an app they've been wanting, you can buy it for them. Or allow them to download it.
- Avoid shopping online. Think about how far your package has to come. Probably from around the world, depending on where you live. The packages create more waste, and there is too much packaging a lot of times. Add in the CO₂ emissions from transport, and you have a pretty big carbon footprint just from ordering one package.
- Make your own gift. Chances are, the person who receives your gift will be tickled that you spent so much time on them.
- Buy tickets to a concert or play. This is a thoughtful gift with a small carbon footprint. They might cost a lot but can also be cheap.

6

Don't use plastic stocking stuffers!

Most of the cheaply made, inexpensive plastic toys that we buy to put in stockings often end up broken or lost by the end of December, making them a waste of money. And since plastic never fully decomposes, they have a fairly large footprint. Instead, try baked goods, candies, or something like a gift card.

7

Use reusable utensils and a reusable tablecloth.

Since we all like stuffing our faces on Christmas, we can take these simple steps to reduce waste. A reusable tablecloth is easy to wash every once in a while, taking the time to wash dishes creates a big difference in the long run.
- Only taking what you can eat is another way to reduce waste. The production of lost or wasted food generates the same amount of waste as 32.6 million cars' CO₂ emissions.

8

Put a timer on your Christmas lights.

Americans use more electricity during the holiday season than some countries use for an entire year. Christmas lights are the main cause. Consider putting a timer on your lights so that they are off during the night or day, instead of leaving them on. These timers are easy to set, and most of the time, they are inexpensive.

9

Use reusable plates, cups, and utensils.

If you use plastic or paper dinnerware for your holiday feast, you are creating a lot of waste. The best thing to do is switch over to reusable plates and utensils. This will stop the waste, and you can reuse these year after year. You even save money since you're not buying plastic dinnerware.
- Only take what you can eat. Food waste is a big part of what goes in your trash can. Remember, you can always get more.