The next few weeks are going to be crazy when it comes to consumption. But we believe that Christmas is about so much more than buying the right present. Nevertheless, we’re also going to give you some shopping tips. Check out this article if you want to have a more sustainable Christmas.
1. The Christmas tree. Natural or artificial?
A Deco study says that the plastic tree has 7 times more environmental impact than a natural Christmas tree. In other words, the artificial tree will have to be used for at least seven Christmases to offset the extra environmental impact.
The artificial tree is made of plastic, is not recyclable and is mostly shipped from China. Apart from the impact they have on the soil, which is greater with natural ones, the artificial Christmas tree has more impact. Seven times more.
If you want to choose natural, we suggest Planta Livre’s “Pinheiro Vivo” project, which, after Christmas, returns the tree to nature in a Portuguese forest or pine forest.
2. Christmas lights
Opt for LED bulbs: they consume less energy and have a longer lifespan. And, if possible, use timers, because they ensure that they don’t stay on during the day, wasting electricity.
But before you buy, there’s nothing like taking a look at what’s left over from previous years and making the most of the ones that still work. Whether it’s trees or lights, choosing the simplest will ensure that you don’t get bored and want to buy something new the following year.
3. Buy fewer presents
For many, it’s the most difficult sector to implement change in. But there is scope to continue giving gifts, albeit in a more conscious way.
Why not bring the Secret Santa habit into the family? That way, everyone gets a present and we only have to buy for one person.
Another valid option, and one that has a special value, is to make your own gift. Whether it’s pottery, a photograph, a drawing, homemade granola or making a spice blend, giving something you’ve made will be received in a different way.
4. More conscious gifts
We know that buying is almost unavoidable for most people and, in this case, we’re going to do it more consciously by supporting brands that, at their core, were born to provide an alternative with less impact on the planet.
Here are some suggestions:
. Bhoomi: abrand of jewelry made with ingredients such as flour, coffee, leftover varnish and spices.
. Zouri:footwear brand made with plastic collected from the oceans and natural products such as apple skin and pineapple leaf fiber.
. This: a men’s clothing brand that uses organic, natural materials and is manufactured in Portugal and is very transparent in its pricing: the customer knows how much each stage of the process and each manufacturing detail cost, to justify the final price.
5. Wraps
Here, there’s nothing like using the techniques of grandmothers, opening presents very carefully so as not to spoil the paper and being able to reuse it.
Another option is to use paper from magazines or newspapers, cloth bags or anything that can hide the contents without having to use store-bought wrapping paper.
Also, remember that wrapping paper goes in the blue recycling garbage can, but if it has a self-adhesive film or glitter on it, it can no longer be recycled and should be put in the regular garbage can – so let’s avoid this option.
On these days, ideally, we should postpone going to the recycling bin to avoid a build-up of garbage
6. Preparing Christmas dinner
To try to buy the best ingredients, have options for everyone and avoid waste, here are some tips:
. Comprar os ingredientes em mercados e no comércio local
. Ter uma opção vegetariana. Se não quiser cozinhar, existem restaurantes com opções para take away:
- Spill the Greensa vegan takeaway project that even offers discounts if you take the packages home.
- Pequeno Café Bistrôa restaurant in Lisbon that makes Christmas dishes and desserts to order and for takeaway.
. Aproveitar o calor do forno para vários cozinhados
. Comprar ingredientes a granel
. Encomendar cabazes de frutas e legumes de projetos locais
. Quanto às sobras, congelar o que for possível, reaproveitar para novas receitas, ou procurar instituições ou famílias que poderiam beneficiar de uma doação.
Marta Cerqueira is from Minho and a vegetarian. Luckily, she lives in Lisbon, where there is more tofu than sarrabulho. She has been a journalist for over 15 years, the last of which writing about food and sustainability. Now, out of the newsroom, she continues to write whenever she can, be it in magazines, journals, post its, or on her Instagram page, which she uses to share a life divided between being a mom-person-foodie-traveler. Still, she created Peggada so she could write about what doesn't fit in a magazine, journal, post it or Instagram: a better world.
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