Tips for climate-friendly Christmas

1. Christmas tree

Christmas trees are often treated with pesticides and come from monocultures abroad. Trees made of plastic are also not a real alternative to avoid CO₂. Better: Regional, ecological trees or self-made Christmas trees – e.g. from leftover lumber, fallen branches, and leaves!

A list of suppliers of ecological Christmas trees can be found on the website of the environmental association Robin Wood or at the Initiative Bioweihnachtsbaum (the link refers to a German website).

2. Decoration

You don't need plastic or tinsel to create a Christmas ambiance. Cookies made of salt dough, dried orange slices, stars made of straw, cardboard or paper, nuts, pine cones... There are no limits to your creativity! And for those who don't want to make crafts: Christmas decorations can be bought wonderfully second-hand – or be swapped among friends or family!

You can find DIY ideas for festive and sustainable Christmas decorations on Pinterest, for example (the link refers to a German website)!

3. Gifts

While many gifts make the recipients happy, producing and transporting them – yes, especially the many returns – are often environmentally harmful and ethically questionable. Therefore, be conscious about your purchases and pay attention to sustainability – or better yet, give second-hand gifts or make your own handicrafts.

Also a nice gift idea: A tree as a present. You can find an overview of suppliers here (the link refers to a German website)!

4. Gift wrapping

Wrapping paper and ribbons are nice – especially if you use them a second, third, or fourth time! Or you forego them altogether and wrap your gifts in old newspapers, tins, beautiful fabrics, or canning jars, which you can also decorate by yourself. This makes not only the recipients happy, but also the climate.

Inspiration for sustainable packaging can be found at Mit Vergnügen (the link refers to a German website)!

5. Christmas menu

When it comes to Christmas dinner, it pays out to focus on sustainability. To avoid throwing away food, go for quality instead of quantity! Fairly traded, preferably seasonal and regional products not only taste better, but are also good for the climate. And why not go vegetarian or vegan? Christmas goose, duck, and the like are now also available on a plant-based basis.

Tips for a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings and nothing heavy on the conscience can be found at the Verbraucherzentrale for example (the link refers to a German website).