Christmas is upon us! That means eating more than you can stomach, checking off the wish list and spending time with family and friends. Love is at the core of Christmas — right next to excess. These holidays, why not prioritise the planet alongside all the pampering? We'll even make it easy for you with our gift idea list for a climate-conscious Christmas.
1. A tailored collection of used books
This one's not for the last-minute shoppers but, for those who love antiques and digging through cardboard boxes at flea markets. Collecting and curating vintage books to complement your funny uncle’s many interests will help cut down on the 300 million tonnes of paper that the world currently produces every year.
2. Tools to plant a bee garden
Our tiny black and yellow buddies are having a rough time. Right now, 24% of Europe’s bumblebees are threatened by extinction, so ‘tis the season to give them a chance. Wrap up daisies, marigolds, and flower seeds for all seasons and containers for bee baths. You know what they say — 10 different seeds of bee-friendly flowers make for the best bee garden.
3. Ingenious recycling bins
A DIY-project for the handy gift-givers! Many probably want to recycle more, but it's much easier said than done. Search for decorative containers to label or design your own system. Making recycling both less space-consuming and a more integrated part of the home will score you a lot of points and, potentially, orders from more loved ones.
4. Reusable everyday items
Want to help cut down on personal waste? Every person on the planet generates 0.74 kg on average a day, and we’ve already got a lot of fine utensils to lower that number. We admit that it mightn't be the most thrilling to receive a reusable coffee press or silicone baking sheets, so consider building a toolkit for a reusable lifestyle.
5. A local getaway experience
Our urge to explore the world can make us blind to the treasures just outside our doors. Trips to local museums, adventures and cities close by can help us rediscover the benefits of national tourism and the comforts of a staycation. Remember, taking one return flight generates more CO2 than some countries’ citizens produce in a whole year.
6. Plant-based gift baskets
Livestock accounts for 14,5% of all greenhouse gas emissions. It may feel weird encouraging relatives to forgo meat and dairy for the holidays, but the plant-curious (and non-curious) may be pleasantly surprised by the introduction. So, deck the halls with Beyond Meat, coconut cheeses, nut butters and more!
7. A subscription to trustworthy news
Staying informed and armed with accurate information is a Christmas miracle these days. Supporting a credible news source is an excellent way to ensure we're properly updated on the world around us. As seen in our report made with JA studio, people find it hard these days to navigate post-factual society — why not help them find a new, knowledgable friend?
8. Must-see movies on DVD
As with the books, you can go treasure-hunting for a collection of old DVDs and Blu-rays. Why? In Denmark alone, two hours of streaming on Netflix every day for a year will amount to the same CO2 production as eating 6kg of meat, driving a 1000km or flying 384km. So, how about some old school DVD and chill?
9. Support someone that needs it
Some have a hard time even coming up with a wishlist for Christmas. In that situation, why not support a cause that'll do a lot of good in their name? Help charities or organisations that do important work in your local community or those in need of immediate help.
10. Buy fewer gifts
We saved the most controversial but, also most effective for last! Why not cut down buying presents all together? In 2017, Danes spent €4.5 billion during the month of Christmas, and 14.2% of Americans had to sell their possessions to fund Christmas spending. Some families have decided only to give gifts to children or limit the gift-giving to one present per person. Any takers?
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Image: Anthony Delanoix
