Christmas is coming soon. During the Advent season, many people think about gifts and how best to wrap them. Every year, gift wrapping creates a large amount of waste, which is often mistakenly disposed of in the waste paper bin. Wrapping paper is often covered in plastic paint to give it a nice sheen. As a result, however, it is no longer recyclable and useless for further use. Giving can certainly be made more sustainable.
When buying wrapping paper, care should be taken to ensure that ecological criteria are taken into account during production. The “Blue Angel” indicates that the paper is 100% waste paper and contains no optical brighteners. Also, the wrapping paper can be used multiple times. Although it requires a little more sensitivity when unpacking, it is significantly more environmentally friendly and also saves money. Instead of using wrapping paper, you can alternatively use other packaging, such as newspaper, beautiful cloth bags or glasses. The last two can be a gift in themselves. Designed as individual packs, they have a personal touch and are also reusable.
give time
There are also some ways to save resources when choosing a gift. The key word here is “giving time”. Friends and acquaintances will certainly be delighted by a trip together, an invitation to a lunch they have cooked themselves or a visit to the museum. A donation to a good cause is also an option.
The Christmas tree is another tradition. Many people put it in their living room every year. But most Christmas trees come from plantations where they have been chemically fertilized and treated with pesticides. Many of these plantation Christmas trees also have long transport routes behind them. Instead of growing in monoculture plantations, organic Christmas trees usually grow in mixed crops, so as to counteract species extinction instead of promoting it, for example. Organically grown trees are therefore not as susceptible to pests and therefore do not have to be treated with pesticides. When buying a Christmas tree, it is therefore essential to pay attention to the seals that certify organic cultivation – for example Bioland, Naturland, Demeter, FSC or used and protected terms such as “organic” and “eco”. Also, they should always be regional firs. Because many trees come from abroad and have long transport routes behind them.
Potted Christmas tree
An alternative to the traditional felled Christmas tree is the potted Christmas tree. Ideally, the Christmas tree has already grown in the pot so that the root system is intact. The only thing to note is that the Christmas tree must slowly get used to the warmer temperatures in the living room. For this to be successful, the tree can temporarily stand in the cold hallway or garage. The tree should therefore be watered every two days and sprayed with a little water so that it does not dry out and the needles do not fall off. Blue fir, Nordmann fir, Serbian spruce and sugarloaf spruce are the best. In addition, there are now many suppliers and rental services for potted Christmas trees as well. After the Christmas season you can simply return it. This is also often offered with delivery and collection.
Being creative and making an alternative Christmas tree is also an option, for example with natural materials such as branches and twigs. Natural materials are used for a completely sustainable Christmas tree decoration. A good example of this are straw stars, which are easy to tie. There are also stars, Santas and balls made from natural materials such as wood. It should only be ensured that it is not tropical wood, so as not to promote illegal logging. Real pine cones can be hung on the tree and reused every year. Another positive side effect of using natural materials is for your health. Conventionally produced Christmas tree decorations can contain heavy metals, plasticizers or toxic dyes.
(Text: PM Municipality of Offenbach)
