Christmas is a celebration of love – and of consumption. Candles, fairy lights, presents and wrapping paper are all part of Christmas, but unfortunately they're anything but sustainable. Does reducing your environmental footprint mean giving up festive traditions, a cosy atmosphere and that famous sparkle in everyone's eyes when the presents are opened? Not at all! With these tips, you can celebrate a sustainable Christmas – from the decorations on your dining table to the presents under the tree.
How to have a sustainable Christmas:
- Long-lasting table decorations
- Eco-friendly Christmas lighting
- Sustainable Christmas gifts
- Sustainable gift wrapping
Long-lasting table decorations
Christmas is a special time for all of us, so the festive table should look the part. If you'd like to decorate your table for Christmas in a sustainable way, avoid disposable products and choose long-lasting accessories made from sustainable, natural materials.
Here are a few examples:
- We wouldn't want to do without table linen, as it gives the table a festive touch. But it can be sustainable, too: LindDNA designs extremely durable placemats from recycled leather. You can reuse them for years – not just on special occasions. For an even more festive look, use tablecloths made from natural materials such as linen and cotton. Neutral designs work not only at Christmas, but for any occasion throughout the year.
- Skip paper napkins and use cloth napkins made from cotton or linen instead.
- When it comes to tableware, it's also worth looking at the material. Glass, stoneware and ceramics are environmentally friendly and very durable. Many brands already make their glasses and carafes from recycled glass, too.
Extra tip: Mix and match sustainably! Neutral designs can be combined with vintage pieces or heirlooms, especially on special occasions. They give the table a personal touch – and you don't have to buy tableware for twelve or more people.
As a general rule: you can create a festive atmosphere on any table. You don't need decorative figures and accessories that can only be used at Christmas. Blogger Lena (@lena_living) shows how simple candle holders and tableware you use all year round, combined with homemade paper tags and a few branches from the woods, can turn the festive table into a Christmas showpiece in no time. You'll find more of Lena's creative ideas in her home story.
A really simple trick for a sustainable festive feel: place a few eucalyptus or fir branches and dried flowers in wintry colours in your favourite vases. Dried plants last the whole winter season – long-lasting decorations that are also very much on trend.
Eco-friendly Christmas lighting
Fairy lights and sparkling decorations as far as the eye can see: at Christmas, markets and homes in the neighbourhood are brightly lit. Unfortunately, conventional Christmas lighting often uses a lot of electricity, which puts a strain on the environment. So this Christmas, choose energy-saving LED lighting, or simply cosy candlelight.
On the table, simple candle holders and a little fir greenery can be turned into a decorative Advent candle arrangement. On shelves, windowsills and even the Christmas tree, candles are an eco-friendly alternative to the usual fairy lights, creating an equally atmospheric, warm glow. Soy wax candles from Meraki and several other brands are a particularly sustainable choice, so you can enjoy the cosy atmosphere to the full with an eye on the environment.
Of course, you can still have a sustainable Christmas with fairy lights. But it's worth replacing the old finds from the box labelled "Christmas lights". In general, it's best to use newer LED models. They use 80% less energy than conventional bulbs and last considerably longer. A timer function also helps limit electricity use. Some manufacturers offer products with environmental certifications such as the "Blue Angel" or "Energy Star", which guarantee sustainable production and energy consumption standards.
Sustainable Christmas gifts
Even when you're celebrating sustainably, there's one thing Christmas wouldn't be complete without: presents. Here are three of the most popular ideas for sustainable Christmas gifts:
1. Muuto's Restore storage baskets make an eco-friendly Christmas present. They're made from PET – in other words, the material is recovered from old soft drink bottles – and the felt-look baskets come in a wide range of on-trend colours. Don't just give the basket: turn it into a gift box. For a wellbeing gift, for example, fill Restore with a good book from your own collection, a quality hand cream, towels and a soy wax scented candle. Our Me Time Favorites page has more ideas for what to include.
2. Cosy textiles always make a lovely gift idea, especially now in the cold winter months. Elvang's blankets are made from warm alpaca and sheep's wool, and the manufacturer follows the principles of the UN Global Compact, the world's largest network of socially responsible companies. Pair the blanket with fair-trade candles and a tea light holder made from recycled glass, and you'll be giving not just a blanket, but a "cosy winter evening" package.
3. Another Christmas favourite: chocolates and other festive treats, which unfortunately usually come with a lot of packaging waste. Our expert Kerstin has an idea:
"Why not buy chocolates and other treats from a chocolate counter or zero-waste shop? Better still, make them yourself, along with some Christmas biscuits. You can give them in beautiful sweet jars and biscuit tins that the recipient can refill again and again." – Kerstin, interior expert
More sustainable Christmas gifts:
Sustainable gift wrapping
This is the year to ban wrapping paper and curling ribbon from Christmas. After all, you can wrap Christmas presents sustainably, too. Here are three of our favourite alternatives:
1. Use neutral storage boxes or caskets as a gift box. They can be used again after Christmas. Storage jars – whether new or old preserving jars – are also perfect for wrapping small gifts, and you can decorate them with jute twine and twigs.
2. Another lovely idea, which originally comes from Japan, is known as "furoshiki": wrap your presents in beautiful fabrics that can be used again and again. Attractive tea towels or cloth napkins work well, too, and make a lovely extra gift. If you've reached your budget, fabric scraps are just as suitable.
3. If you don't want to do without paper, use materials you already have at home: newspapers, old maps, book pages or even paper bags from the supermarket. Tie the present with jute twine, string or cotton ribbon instead of using plastic tape. Decorate it with dried flowers, twigs or pine cones. Stamped or hand-painted motifs also give your present a personal touch.
We hope we've inspired you to celebrate an eco-friendly Christmas, and we wish you a wonderful festive season with lasting joy!
Photo credit: image of the Restore storage basket by Carina vom Dorff of wohngoldstueck.de
