Holiday Green!
Rise to the challenge this year and take the opportunity to celebrate Christmas in a more eco-friendly way, by organizing a celebration that is focused on sharing without over-consuming. Here are our suggestions of decorations and some smart consumer tips.
There are many ways to do this, such as:
Choosing decorations that are more environmentally-friendly
You can light up your Christmas tree or the outside of your home with LED bulbs. They last 7 times longer and consume 90 % less energy on average. There are even decorative lights that operate on solar energy.
Install a timer and you’ll save on energy when lights are automatically turned off when you are away and also during the night.
Make your own decorations for your Christmas tree. Kids will love making hanging decorations, and pasta or popcorn garlands. Keep your decorations from one year to the next; it’s always a surprise when we open the box the following year.
You could even make a reusable Advent calendar and include songs, various objects, sweets, messages of love, vouchers for pre-Christmas activities and Christmas tree decorations, etc.
Should we choose a natural or artificial Christmas tree? Many will say we should buy an artificial tree because natural tree production and transportation costs create a lot of greenhouse gas emissions. Think again, because an artificial tree, unless you keep it for approximately twenty years, is far from being environmentally-friendly because it is made of plastic and generates more greenhouse gas emissions due to its composition, manufacturing, origin, and transportation. It’s all a matter of choice and personal ethics. However, it’s best to try to minimize the impact of the product we wish to buy on the environment. If you want to be “greener,” why not choose a small indoor conifer such as a Norfolk pine. It can be kept in the house as an indoor plant, but you will only be able to put a few small decorations on it.
In the City of Deux-Montagnes, natural Christmas trees are picked up at the beginning of January and are shredded and turned into ramial chipped wood.
For Gifts
Make homemade gifts! They’re often more popular and less expensive! When talking about homemade gifts, we often think of Christmas cookies, candy or jam. However, there are many other things that you can make such as calendars with family photos or jewelry.
Give gifts that are made here! By choosing to buy local
products, we encourage regional and national businesses and economies. You’ll find a wide variety of local products, clothing and Quebec jewelry designers, objects made from recycled materials or cosmetics.
Use recycled wrapping paper, and cloth or paper bags that can be stored and reused.
Make your own greeting cards to send to your loved ones, or send virtual cards that will save on paper consumption. If you buy your greeting cards, choose ones that are made with recycled paper and are sold for a social cause you believe in.
Give gifts that require little or no packaging and wrapping such as gift vouchers, concert or theatre tickets or passes for a family activity such as going to the museum, a skiing or tobogganing day, enrollment in a cooking class or a physical activity, or a massage or body-care certificate, etc. You can also give a voucher for someone’s time or lend a helping hand such as baby-sitting, gardening, housecleaning, or renovation work, etc. The choices are endless!
Organize a gift exchange at work that does not require any shopping such as a music or book exchange. All you need to do is bring some music or books from home for the exchange. Another possibility might be to bring an object from home that you no longer want or need for the gift exchange.
For Holiday Season Meals:
Integrate local and organic foods in your menu. Take the opportunity to try new recipes. Choose meat produced in a healthy environment from Quebec as well as local winter vegetables. Products that aren’t in season are often more expensive and usually leave a larger ecological footprint.
Use real plates and utensils for your meals that are washable and reusable instead of those made from cardboard or plastic. Wash dishes in a group, it’s always more fun!
For Activities and Trips:
Travel together as a family or group. It’s a good idea to carpool! Combine your trips into one when you go shopping or for all planned activities.
