This year it's our turn—this Christmas, give the planet a gift.
Christmas is the best time of the year. We get together with our families to eat, drink, and laugh… We forget our problems for a moment and enjoy what’s truly important. We show our appreciation to our friends, we dance, we sing, and we look for a little magic in our children’s eyes… But do we think about the planet?By taking care of the planet, we’re taking care of our families.We tend to forget that our actions continue to have an impact on the planet during this season. The amount of waste and trash produced—from gift wrapping and overconsumption—increases significantly. In this article, we’ll discuss some statistics from recent Christmas seasons and offer several tips to help you take care of the best gift of all: our planet…
The Gift-Giving Season: The Trash Season?
Every year we look forward to Christmas, New Year’s, and Three Kings’ Day… We all celebrate and receive gifts. However, the best time of the year is also one of the times when pollution is at its highest. During the 2017–2018 Christmas season, Spaniards generated approximately 862,000 metric tons of paper and cardboard waste (data from Aspapel), directly related to Christmas gifts. Recycling of these materials increased by 10%, but this is not enough.
Although recycling is important, it does not have a significant impact on the amount of waste produced annually per person in Europe. The chart below shows thatthe average amount of waste produced in Europe is 478 kg per person.
Given this information, one thing is very clear: we need to take action, and this action needs to continue throughout the year—and Christmas is a great time to start.
At Christmas, gifts aren't the only source of pollution and waste.
During this time of year, we eat a lot, but we also throw away a lot of food. We cook more than usual, and a lot of food ends up in the trash. 88 million metric tons of food are wasted each year in Europe. This represents a cost of approximately 143 million euros (Planetoscope). In some places, such as the United Kingdom or Italy, food waste increases by up to 80% during this time of year compared to the rest of the year. In Italy, 440,000 metric tons of food end up in the trash every Christmas.
So… What can we do? The secret lies in mindful and responsible consumption. And every little bit counts.
Overconsumption Everywhere
Unfortunately, overconsumption increases in every way at this time of year. Christmas lights, travel…All of our actions have an impact on our carbon footprint.
Every December, we use more than 28% more energy than usual. And this year we need to be even more mindful, since the measures implemented in response to the health crisis—such as working remotely and lockdowns—may cause us to unconsciously increase our energy consumption. We’re not saying you should stop decorating your homes, but we do recommend using energy-efficient lights and eco-friendly decorations. By lighting up your Christmas tree only when you’re at home or at night, you’re already avoiding excessive electricity use.
The best time to reduce our carbon footprint.
Typically, 36% of Spaniards travel by car during the holidays. And a large portion of tourism during this time depends on air travel.
But this year, we can make a difference. The health crisis has put us all in a very difficult situation, and things aren’t going to change overnight just because Christmas or New Year’s is coming. Unfortunately, many families won’t be able to see their loved ones this year. But we have to look on the bright side. While it’s true that staying home may increase our electricity usage, we’ll also be significantly reducing our carbon footprint by not traveling.
Small Solutions: The Best Gift Is the Planet
This year, it’s our turn to thank the planet by giving it a gift. But how can we do that without having to give up our traditions and still give the best gifts to our family and friends?
We can choose to stop ignoring the planet. By learning about climate change and the small steps we can take, we can start making a list of New Year’s resolutions while still enjoying the holidays.
By choosing sustainable gifts, we can help the environment. One of the most important things to do when buying a gift is to learn as much as possible about how the products are made and what materials they’re made of. If we choose products that are natural, biodegradable, and free of chemicals and pollutants, we’ll be taking care of the planet, as well as our family and friends.
Another idea is to give experiences instead of material things. Make a donation to a charity, or plant trees with your family. There are many ways to help. And finally, there’s a fundamental question we should always ask ourselves when buying a gift: Does the person really need what we’re giving them? Do we really need to give a gift to every member of our family?
Maybe this is the perfect time to start new traditions. By organizing a gift exchange, you can choose a great gift for just one person, making sure it’s something that suits them and is of high quality. That way, instead of buying eight or ten gifts, you’d buy one that’s truly worth it. But if there’s one thing that’s always true, it’s thatthe most important thing about a gift isn’t its price, but what it represents.
Awareness is the key.
We can make a difference, if we want to.
That’s why at Kipli we offer sustainable products all year round. If you want to give the planet a gift this year, choosing Kipli is a great idea. At Kipli, we donate1%of the price of every saletoorganizations dedicated to caring for the planet, such asBoom Forest and Sea Shepherd.
This year, do your research, think it through, and choose your gifts responsibly.After all, we already have the most important gift of all… the planet.
So, yes, it's the best time of year to thank the planet. (And to keep doing so next year.)
At Kipli, family and nature are what matter most.
The Kipli team wishes you Happy Holidays!