Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. We spend time with our loved ones, eating, drinking, and laughing together… At the same time, however, the Christmas season is also a time for reflection. We look back on the past year and set goals for 2021. We can also use this opportunity to reflect on our impact on the environment. We tend to forget that our consumption habits during the Christmas season have a major impact on our planet.
Waste of Resources Due to Gifts
We look forward to Christmas every year: It’s the season of gifts! Unfortunately, though, it’s also the season of waste. Germans produce up to 20 percent more waste during the Christmas season. However, the amount of waste generated by Germans isn’t just high at the end of the year. Overall, Germany was the third-largest waste producer among all EU countries in 2017. The following table shows that each German generated an average of 633 kg of waste per year, placing Germans well above the European average.
To avoid an exponential increase in trash this Christmas, you can keep the following points in mind:
Take a closer look at the materials used in the products you’re giving as gifts. Were they produced sustainably and under fair conditions, and will the recipient actually use them? You might also consider buying secondhand gifts.
Mass Consumption at Christmas
At Christmas, however, gifts are not the only cause of environmental pollution and waste. 88 million metric tons of food are wasted in Europe every year. In Germany, each consumer throws away 81.6 kilograms of food annually. Food waste increases significantly at Christmas compared to the rest of the year. We therefore suggest enjoying the season in moderation and limiting ourselves to what we truly need, both in terms of gifts and the Christmas meal.
Unfortunately, overconsumption increases in all areas during the Christmas season. Every year, we use about 28% more electricity in December. On top of that, electricity consumption per household is rising due to crisis-related work from home. So what can we do? The key lies in acting consciously and responsibly. Every little bit counts.
You don't have to go without decorations over Christmas, but eco-friendly lights and decorations that you only turn on when you're at home can help reduce excessive electricity consumption.
It's time to reduce our carbon footprint
Let’s make this year’s Christmas sustainable together and do something good for our loved ones and our planet. By choosing sustainable and fairly produced gifts, we can make Christmas more sustainable. To do this, we need to look into the production and material composition of the products we buy and choose natural, biodegradable products.
In addition, we can give the gift of experiences instead of material things. Make a donation to a nonprofit organization or plant trees with your family. And finally, we should always ask ourselves some key questions before giving a gift: Does the person really need what we want to give them, and do we really need a gift from every single family member? Perhaps this is an opportunity to create new traditions and focus more on quality than quantity.
That’s why at Kipli, we offer sustainable products at fair prices all year round. If you’d like to give the planet a gift this year, you’ll find what you’re looking for at Kipli. At Kipli, we donate 1% of our sales to organizations like Boom Forest and Sea Shepherd, which are committed to protecting our planet.
If you're still looking for the perfect gift, you can also purchase a Kipli gift certificate. To do so, simply contact our customer service team at kontakt@meubleauthentique.live.
Until then, we wish you a merry and peaceful holiday season!
Your Kipli Team