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How to Spend a Nature-Filled Christmas? - Kipli

How can you spend a nature-filled Christmas?

in Blog – Our Articles

 

The Tree. Choose natural over synthetic.

"My precious 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 trees? "20 years," says Camille Crosnier on the France Inter radio station during her segment "Plastic or Natural: Are Our Christmas Trees Eco-Friendly?" (broadcast on November 18, 2020). These trees, all of which are petroleum-based, are replaced every three years on average...

If you choose a natural tree (a real one, with needles!), your New Year’s Eve will not only have a fresh scent, butnature will be a guest at your party. 85% of European Christmas tree sales take place in France. Grown in specially designated fields, most of the trees from French nurseries do not come from the mountains. 5,000 hectares—or 5.5 million trees—are located mainly in the Morvan region of France; the rest come from Belgium and Denmark. The downside: These fir plantationsare chemically treated with various pesticides. The solution? There are organizations offering eco-friendly trees that allow youto rent a potted treeand then replant it in the city once the holiday season is over. 

And let’s not forget Spain:FromNovember 21 through December 23,students at the Polytechnic University of Madrid are distributing these precious trees throughout the community, bringing nature indoors.

Why not try this other sustainable option at home?Plantyour own tree (a small one for your windowsill or a larger one in your yard) or take your ideas even further...

AtKipli, we simply used one of our many plants—the one that used to take pride of place in our office lobby. With simple, elegant decor... The result is stunning!

If you're looking for even more creative ideas, there are lots of ingenious ideas from various brands online: trees made of , wood, macramé, or even old books!

 

Wrapping. Choose reusable wrapping paper.

They sparkle and fill us with joy! Unfortunately, they aren't very respectful of our precious planet. Small packages are very popular during the Nativity scene season: they're used between 10% and 20% more than during the rest of the year. If you’re looking for a more sustainable solution, we recommend using recycled paper certified by FSC or PEFC, which guarantees that it comes from sustainably managed forests. You can also reuse old newspapers. Better yet, use fabric wrapping! 

Have you ever tried theJapanese furoshiki technique? Using a beautiful natural linen or GOTS-certified organic cotton fabric, you can use this traditional technique to wrap gifts in a piece of fabric that doubles as a second gift.

Gifts. Less is more.

Every year you look for the perfect gift for Uncle Carlos, Aunt María Luisa, and your cousin, but they always have such particular tastes. The result: on Christmas Day, you exchange your zillion gifts, and half end up in a box in the basement. Yay, consumerism!

Why not cut back on consumption at a time when the risk of "overindulgence" and temptation are so high? 

In English-speaking countries, the“Secret Santa” tradition allows families, coworkers, or friends to exchange gifts at random. It’s an anonymous drawing, and 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 Christmas game has been made easier by planners likeTirokodo: it’s simple, fast, and you can even write your own list to your personal Santa Claus. 

The idea of buying just one good gift and avoiding the year-end rush is a relief andlets you end the year on a peaceful note. Without meaning to criticize Santa’s traditions, I’ve decided to buy just one gift by participating in a Secret Santa exchange.

 

And for the little ones, consider eco-friendly toys!

In Europe, 85% of the toys sold come from China, and only 7% of the toys manufactured in Spain are sold domestically. Among the Spanish companies that operate in line with environmental and safety principles are: Ecodukatoys which offers toys made of wood and natural fabrics; Alupé with simple, educational, and above all, safe toys; or CucuToys, with toys made from recycled materials

Dinner. Supporting local producers and sustainably caught fish

Support local producers!There’s nothing like fresh local produceto fill your table.Formeat, it’s best to go to your neighborhood or town butcher and make sure the meat comes fromhigh-quality, organic Spanish farms, or order it directly from a rancher. For fish, you cango to your local fishmonger, again paying attention to where the products come from.

Tips for Reducing Food Waste

In Spain, 7.7 million metric tons of food are thrown away each year and food waste peaks at 17% in Europe during the Christmas season. At Christmas, a time of splendor, we tend to buy more than we need to impress our guests with lavish meals overflowing with colors and tableware. And then, either we manage to eat the leftovers in the days that follow, or they sadly end up in the trash. While the government is developing a draft bill to combat food waste and transition to a circular economy, we can take the lead by shopping more responsibly. Let’s ask our guests first to find out their preferences, check the labels on perishable foods, and buy in bulk to reduce packaging...

And if you have leftover food, there are countless recipes to help you avoid wasting it. The website Phenix is dedicated to saving fruits and vegetables that are about to go to waste and repurposing them in ways that don’t create unnecessary waste.

We hope you find these tips helpful. Every little bit counts, so don't hesitate to try even just one of them. 

 

 

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