You are probably already preparing for the festive month of December. Every year we list tips for a sustainable Christmas for you. Christmas tree, decorations, gifts, promotional gifts and party tips; use it to your advantage!
- We found a lot of good tips on this Flemish site; for the Christmas tree, Christmas cards, dinner, bubbles, gifts, wrapping paper, Christmas decorations and more.
- Christmas tree: if you want a real tree this year, you can do it as sustainably as possible with the following tips.
– Adopt a tree and bring it back after Christmas! These adoption trees are all grown organically.
– Do you have a Christmas tree with a root ball? Take him to the Christmas tree shelter after the holidays and pick him up again next year; sustainable idea!
– Buy a tree with an organic certificate, proving that it has been grown free of fertilizers and chemical pesticides.
– Find out from which country the tree comes and whether the tree is transported emission-free. A change in the market starts with asking questions. Also consider how you transport the Christmas tree yourself. The car ride is sometimes the most polluting.
– Save your Christmas tree from the incinerator and have it recycled. Around the turn of the year, you can find out how best to do this on the municipality’s website.
– Don’t forget to remove all decorations from the tree and put it bare in the collection area. In this way, the municipality can process it into compost in a sustainable way. Do not use angel hair or artificial snow, otherwise it will end up in the environment. - Alternative Christmas tree A wooden Christmas tree is available in many garden centers and furniture stores. You can also give a second life to an artificial tree from the thrift store. You can find more tips about a sustainable Christmas tree and Christmas party here or here.
- If you focus on the decoration, you may no longer need a tree. We already told you about these beautiful alternative Christmas trees last year: look for inspiration at notmartha.org.
- When shopping for decorations, buy 100% paper decorations, confetti, streamers etc. Avoid plastic, glitter confetti, spray snow, especially if the decoration will be used outdoors. And many second hand stores have Christmas sections! Do you have children around; making your own Christmas decorations from sustainable materials is fun.
- Sustainable gifts; you just have to look around the internet and you will find them; no-waste, eco, sustainable and more. De Plantage has once ordered seed paper from Greengiving. You can also look at Ditiswaar.nl. And what about a tree as a gift? If you are going to pack, take a look at this original way of packaging.
- Tips from your own neighborhood
– Blooming Buildings has a promotion for entrepreneurs in De Plantage; organically grown bulbs for a good price. For your own (facade) garden or as a gift for customers, visitors or relations? Be quick, the promotion runs until November 26.
– ZininVorm designs wrapping paper, paper bags and greeting cards for your business. It is of course extra fun to wrap presents in your own wrapping paper and to see your customer walk out of the store with a paper bag with your company printed on it. - What you get up close is the most sustainable! Also look around for Christmas and gift packages. We owe your an overview of what is available in De Plantage! You can also buy at a second-hand store.
- A gift with which you do good for the world is of course very much appreciated; Doctors Without Borders has several donation options.
- Try to keep the Christmas menu as sustainable as possible by choosing vegetarian/vegan, local products and seasonal products. Get your groceries close by.
- Do you like candles? Many candles are made from petroleum, which is not good for our planet. Fortunately, there are more and more sustainable candles for sale. Or use LED candles or other LED lighting.
Let’s make the holidays as sustainable as possible this year!
Enjoy the preparation!