The Christmas tree. Better real than plastic!
“Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, how green are your leaves…,” not “your plastic”! They’re often imported from Chinese factories. Do you know how long it takes for the carbon footprint of plastic trees to be offset? “20 years,” claims Camille Crosnier on a French radio station in her column “Plastic or Nature: Are Our Trees Eco-Friendly?” These trees, all of which are made from a type of petroleum derivative, are replaced on average every three years …
If you choose a natural tree (the real one, with prickly needles!), not only will your Christmas Eve be filled with a fresh scent, but you'll also be inviting nature into your celebration!
According to estimates by the German Forest Protection Association (SDW) from 2020, between 23 and 25 million Christmas trees are purchased annually by one in every two German households. The Nordmann fir, which is grown on specially established plantations, accounts for 80% of sales.
A minor drawback: These Christmas tree plantations are often treated with various pesticides. What’s the solution? First, make sure the tree comes from the local area. The shorter the distance it’s transported, the more environmentally and climate-friendly your tree will be.
There are organic Christmas trees, most of which bear the EU organic label and the labels of farming associations such as Bioland, Demeter, or Naturland. If you come across the “Fair Trees” label, it comes from a Danish initiative that advocates for fair wages for pine cone pickers and their families in Georgia, where the seeds are harvested.
Why not try a sustainable alternative at home, too? Plant your own tree (a small one for your balcony or windowsill, or a larger one in your yard) or take your ideas a step further …
At Kipli, we simply decorated one of our many plants—the one that stands proudly in the entrance to our office. A simple and elegant decoration can create a wonderful result!
If you're looking for even more creative ideas, there are many ingenious inventions from various brands on the market: trees made of hardwood flooring, wood, macramé, or even old books …
Packaging. Choose reusable wrapping paper!
They sparkle; their shine makes us beam, but they’re pretty harmful to our beautiful planet. Packaging materials are among the most popular products during the Christmas season: 10% to 20% more of them are used than during the rest of the year. If you’re looking for a more responsible alternative, we recommend using FSC- or PEFC-certified recycled paper, which is certified to come from sustainably managed forests. You can also reuse old newspaper or magazines you’ve already read. Even better: use fabric wrapping!
Have you ever tried the Japanese art of furoshiki? Using a beautiful, natural fabric made of linen or organic cotton, you can use this traditional technique to wrap your gifts in a piece of fabric that can even serve as a second gift (such as a cloth napkin).
Gifts. Less is more.
Every year, are you on the hunt for the perfect gift for Uncle Paul or Aunt Louise, and does your cousin always have such unique taste? The result: On Christmas Eve, you exchange a thousand gifts, and half of them end up buried in a box in the basement. Hello, excessive consumption!
Why shouldn't we limit our consumption, even in a time when the danger of "too much" and the temptation are so great?
In Anglo-Saxon countries, the “Secret Santa” tradition (known as “Wichteln” here) allows families, coworkers, or friends to exchange gifts with each other at random. Since names are drawn anonymously, the surprise is greatest when participants manage to keep the recipient’s identity a secret until the big day. For several years now, websites like Wichtel-o-mat have been helping people organize this little holiday game.
The idea of buying just one beautiful gift and skipping the end-of-year shopping frenzy takes the pressure off you and the planet, and lets you wind down the year in a completely relaxed way!
And for your little ones, be sure to choose eco-friendly toys!
In Europe, 85% of the toys sold come from China. Among the German companies that manufacture sustainable wooden children’s toys is the Goki brand. There, you’ll find everything a child could want, and you can be sure that sustainability is a top priority.
And if you'd like to bring some joy this Christmas to children who, unfortunately, won't be receiving any gifts, you can get involved with the Initiative Kinderarmut in Deutschland e.V. This way, you can make a donation that makes a difference and goes directly to the children.
Dinner. Choose local producers and fish from sustainable fisheries.
Show your support for local producers! There’s nothing better than fresh, locally sourced ingredients for a festive meal. When it comes to meat, it’s best to consult your butcher and make sure the meat comes from a German organic or environmentally responsible farm, or order directly from a farmer. For fish, you can visit the fishmonger at the weekly market, though you should also pay attention to the origin of the products here. Keep an eye out for local fish farms as well, such as the Fisch Hofladen in Erfurt. You might even find a local fish farmer in your area that you hadn’t thought of before…
If you'd like to skip the fish and meat, we've found a wonderful recipe idea for a vegetarian feast just for you.
Tips for Reducing Food Waste
In Germany, about 12 million metric tons of food are thrown away every year. In Europe, food waste peaks at 17% during the Christmas season. At Christmas, when we like to go all out, we often buy more than we need to treat our guests to a delicious meal (or even several). And then we either manage to eat the leftovers over the next few days, or, unfortunately, they end up in the trash. In other countries, such as France, an anti-waste law came into effect on January 1, 2021.
It might be worth considering asking our guests in advance about their preferences, noting the expiration dates of individual food items, or even shopping at stores that don’t use packaging (such as the Berlin store Original Unverpackt).
And if you do happen to have any leftovers, just come up with a new recipe to use them up. You can find a few ideas from Sophia Hoffmann, a highly dedicated zero-waste chef.
We hope these tips were helpful to you. Keep in mind that every little gesture counts, so don't hesitate to try even just one of them!