Eco-friendly Christmas

Index of topics

ECO-SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS

Christmas days are the perfect time to take a small but important test in your life: am I learning not to waste? It takes very little to achieve this, cheerfully and lightly, simply by using the precious category of common sense and paying attention to small things, small gestures, which can however have great value. Especially if we can make them contagious. Here are some simple and clear tips for a Eco-sustainable Christmas, waste-free and environmentally friendly.

ALSO READ: Christmas Gifts: 10 Golden Rules for Saving Money, Choosing the Right Gift, and Avoiding Waste

SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS

From Christmas decorations to homemade Christmas Eve recipes, here's a collection of helpful tips for minimizing waste and reducing your Christmas's impact on the environment:

ADDOBBI NATALIZI

SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS TREE

We've already shared many interesting ideas for making one at home with recycled materials. Alternatively, choose a "local" or "artificial" tree.fir A fake tree becomes the most eco-friendly solution if it can be reused for several years once purchased. Otherwise, it's better to buy a real tree: just consider that creating a fake tree emits 23 kg of carbon dioxide, while cultivated trees absorb CO2 and produce oxygen. Not to mention the problem of disposal once the tree becomes old and unusable.

Therefore, if possible, choose a natural tree: those of Italian origin mostly come from specialized cultivations that provide employment to small agroforestry companies. A small percentage are trees sold without roots, obtained from forest thinning and clearing, which helps improve the area's hydrogeological structure. After the holidays, if possible, plant the tree in your garden or donate it to collection centers designated by nurseries and municipalities.

TO KNOW MORE: Christmas tree, the most original is the one made from old telephone books (photo)

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS WITH RECYCLED MATERIALS

Remember to make your own tree decorations and your own Christmas decorations, but also the cribYou can use recycled materials: boxes, buttons, fabrics, old socks, corks, pieces of wood. The list of materials is really long: just put them together, to create splendid decorations. From garlands to DIY balls: here you will find original and creative ideas.

TO KNOW MORE: DIY Christmas decorations: a collection of fun and easy-to-make ideas.

ECOLOGICAL LIGHTS

Always choose those low consumption, for example those at LED They consume much less energy than traditional lights. Avoid leaving colored lights on during the day, and above all, remember to turn them off before going to sleep at night. To create the right Christmas atmosphere, you can also avoid artificial lights, turning on beautiful, scented ones instead. eco-friendly candles, made from beeswax or soy wax. In addition to saving on your energy bill, you'll reduce your CO2 emissions.

TO KNOW MORE: Candle holders with glass bottles

THE DINNER

NO DISPOSABLE ITEMS

Avoid plates, glasses and cutlery letter or plastic.

TO KNOW MORE: The word of the year? Disposable. It's the civilization of horror and waste that is waning. Luckily for us (photo)

SHOPPING LIST

Do a thorough check of your fridge and pantry, writing down only what you really need for Christmas Eve dinner. You'll save time, money, and, most importantly, avoid food waste.

TO KNOW MORE: Grocery shopping lists and leftover cooking: here's how to combat food waste.

BULK FOOD

For your Christmas shopping and, in general, all year round, choose the loose productsThey only offer advantages. Economic savings: packaging makes products much more expensive. Food savings: you can buy only the quantities you actually need. Environmental savings: packaging is often not recyclable and ends up incinerated, increasing pollution.

TO KNOW MORE: On-tap and packaging-free stores: where to find them throughout Italy. Region by region.

TRADITIONAL RECIPES

Say no to foie gras which causes great suffering for animals, caviar or lobster: bring them to the table at Christmas traditional recipes Based on local and seasonal products, this encourages zero-mile production and reduces harmful emissions from transportation. Also, reduce your meat consumption.

COOKING WITH LEFTOVERS

Reuse leftover food to create tasty dishes for the next day. You'll avoid throwing away a lot of food that's still good. You'll also be able to test your culinary creativity, having fun creating new starters, appetizing main courses, and imaginative desserts. To make the experience even more engaging, cook with your kids. And if you really can't reuse leftovers, use them to make your own. compost.

DIY GIFTS

To save money and give your loved ones something special, choose the following at Christmas: DIY giftsYou can indulge in all sorts of curious ideas: from Chocolates prepared at home brooch heart-shaped for friends, from necklaces handcrafted to knitted scarves.

Don't give away exotic species: they fuel illegal trade and contribute to their extinction.

If you decide to focus on technological gifts or household appliances, make sure they are “efficient”.

For your gift-hunting trips, leave the car at home and opt for the bicycle or public transport and always carry a reusable cloth bag with you to store your purchases.

TO KNOW MORE: Christmas Gifts: Lots of Ideas for Charity, DIY, and Low-Cost Gifts

PAY ATTENTION TO THE LABEL

When you decide to buy an item as a gift, check thelabel To check how and where it was manufactured, and whether it contains pollutants that can cause environmental or health damage. Opt for fair trade products, which protect the environment and workers' rights, if possible.

TO KNOW MORE: Want to save €1400 a year on food? Read the label.

GAMES FOR CHILDREN

If you have to give toys to children, make sure they are plastic-free and made of natural materials. Also make sure they are capable of stimulating the creativity of the little ones.

TO KNOW MORE: Wooden constructions for children help develop cognitive skills and creativity.

GIFT PACKAGES

To wrap gifts use recycled paperFor example, you can use newspaper, making colorful collages with the most beautiful images and articles. If you prefer not to use paper, you can experiment with other materials such as cloth napkins, old shirts, scarves. To further enrich the packages, decorate them with strings, dried fruit, pine cones, sweets, colored pencils Or any other object you can give a second life to. Unleash your imagination, and banish plastic ribbons and bows.

TO KNOW MORE: DIY wrapping paper: How to personalize Christmas gifts creatively and inexpensively | Photo

ECO-FRIENDLY CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

Finally, if during the Christmas period you decide to go on a trip journey Make sure yours is a responsible holiday, attentive to biodiversity. If possible, choose Italian destinations and make the most of the many villages that make our country unique.

TO KNOW MORE: From Bolzano to Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, and Naples, here are the most beautiful and evocative Christmas markets in Italy, with many events for children.

HOW TO LIVE SUSTAINABLY AND WITHOUT WASTE:

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