Christmas is fast approaching, and while the gift-shopping rush is nearly over, we’re putting the finishing touches on our decorations and turning our attention to preparing the much-anticipated feast. A feast for up to 6 people, if we follow the government’s recommendations to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. What can you do to make your Christmas Eve celebration more responsible without compromising the Christmas spirit? Kipli shares 5 practical and easy-to-follow tips!
The Christmas tree. Choose a real one over an artificial one!
“My beautiful Christmas tree, king of the forests, how I love your greenery…” but not your plastic! Often imported from Chinese factories, do you know how long it takes to offset the carbon footprint of plastic Christmas trees?“20 years,”Camille Crosnier stated on France Inter in her segment “Plastic or Natural: Are Our Christmas Trees Eco-Friendly?” (column from November 18, 2020). These trees, all made from petroleum-based materials, are replaced every three years on average… If you opt for a natural tree (the real one, with prickly needles!), your Christmas Eve won’t just be filled with a fresh scent—you’ll be inviting nature to your celebration! 85% of Christmas tree sales take place in France. Grown in specially designated fields, most of the trees in French living rooms don’t come from our beautiful mountains. Phew! 5,000 hectares—or 5.5 million trees—are located mainly in the Morvan region; the rest come from Belgium and Denmark.
One small downside: These Christmas tree plantations are treated with various pesticides. The solution? You can find organic Christmas trees, or there are organizations that let you rent a potted tree and then replant it in the city once the Christmas season is over. The Lyon-based organization, Société Protectrice des Végétaux, is leading by example with a fabulous project launched in March 2021.Why not try this sustainable alternative at home? Plant your own Christmas tree (a small one for your windowsill or a larger one in your garden) or take your ideas evenfurther…At Kipli, we simply used one of our many plants—the one that proudly stood in our office lobby. With simple, elegant decorations… the result is breathtaking! If you’re looking for even more creative ideas, many ingenious concepts have been developed by various brands on the market: Christmas trees made of hardwood flooring, wood, macramé, or even old books…!
Wrapping. Choose reusable wrapping paper!
They sparkle, they make us dream with their glitter, but they aren’t very kind to our beautiful planet. Small gift wrappings are among the most popular products during the holiday season: we use 10% to 20% more of them than during the rest of the year. If you’re looking for a more sustainable alternative, we recommend using FSC- or PEFC-certified recycled paper, which guarantees that the paper comes from sustainably managed forests. You can also reuse old newspaper. Better yet: use fabric wrapping! Have you ever tried the Japanese technique of Furoshiki ? Using a beautiful natural fabric like linen or GOTS-certified organic cotton, apply this traditional technique to wrap your gifts in a cloth that will double as a second gift.
Gifts. Less is more.
Every year, are you searching for the perfect gift for Uncle Paul or Aunt Louise, and does your cousin always have such particular tastes? The result: on Christmas Day, you exchange a thousand gifts, and half of them end up in a box at the back of the basement. Talk about overconsumption!Why not cut back on your spending, even during a time when the risk of going “overboard” and the temptation to do so are so high? In English-speaking countries, the “Secret Santa” tradition (“Père Noël Secret” in France or “Noël canadien” in Quebec) lets families, coworkers, or friends exchange gifts at random. With an anonymous drawing, the surprise is at its peak—if you manage not to figure out the person’s name before the big day. For several years now, organizing this little holiday game has been made easier by sites like Tirokodo: it’s simple, fast, and you can even write your own Secret Santa list. The idea of buying just one nice gift and skipping the end-of-year shopping rush lets you take a load off and end the year in peace! Without meaning to criticize Santa’s traditions, why not opt to buy just one gift by playing Secret Santa instead!
And for your little ones, consider eco-friendly toys!
In Europe, 85% of the toys on the market come from China, and only 7% of the toys manufactured in France are sold in France. Among the French brands in this niche, you’ll find: Les Mini Mondes, which offers toys made from recycled plastic; Jeujouetique, which offers wooden, battery-free toys; and Greenweez, which offers eco-friendly puzzles, role-playing games, racetracks, and small bikes.
Dinner. Choose local producers and fish from sustainable fisheries
Support local producers! There’s nothing quite like fresh, locally sourced products to grace your table. When it comes to meat, it’s best to shop at your local butcher and make sure the meat comes from French organic or eco-friendly farms, or order directly from a farmer. For fish, you can visit your neighborhood fishmonger, again making sure to check the origin of the products. With Poiscaille, you can be sure you’re eating fish from sustainable fisheries—that is, fisheries that work directly with fishermen who use ethical practices and are mindful of their impact on the environment. The fish are caught in France, in their natural habitat. It ’s a true short supply chain from the sea that gives you access within 48 hours to sea bream, hake, and sea bass fillets—freshly caught!
Tips for Reducing Food Waste
In France, 10 million metric tons of food are thrown away each year, and food waste peaks at 17% in Europe during the holiday season. At Christmas, a time of celebration, we often buy more than we need to impress our guests with lavish feasts overflowing with colors and dishes. And then, either we manage to eat the leftovers in the days that follow, or they unfortunately end up in the trash. While the government has enacted the anti-waste law on the circular economy, which took effect on January 1, 2021, we can take the initiative by shopping more responsibly! Check in with your guests ahead of time to find out their preferences, check the expiration dates on perishable items, and buy in bulk to reduce packaging… And if by any chance you do have leftovers, there are plenty of recipes you can try to avoid wasting them. The Cuisineaz website offers plenty of anti-waste ideas, whether you have leftover turkey, seafood, or salmon! We hope you’ve found these tips helpful. Remember that every little bit counts, so don’t hesitate to try even just one of them! :)