We are approaching what, without a doubt, is the most consumerist date of the year: Christmas. At this time we are experiencing a spike in the production of plastic and difficult-to-manage waste, energy consumption, unnecessary purchases and a multitude of excesses, which it is in our hands to avoid.
Christmas is a time of year when people take the opportunity to have more friends and family gatherings, sharing more time together and taking advantage of what is usually a holiday period to reunite with their loved ones. We took the opportunity to take a look at the year and we were left with the good memories and shared moments. However, this era is often accompanied by really unnecessary overflowing consumerism. Is it possible to avoid it? Of course the answer is "yes".
To avoid another year of excess and waste, making this year more eco-conscious parties, we give you four pieces of advice to apply the slow life lifestyle and sustainability to our parties:
1. Ornaments
Decorating our home makes us experience Christmas in a more captivating and special way. This usually comes along with the purchase of a tree (the typical pine tree) whether plastic or natural. Is either option ecological or sustainable? Really no.
If you already have a synthetic tree, it is certainly a good idea to reuse it, but instead, we do not recommend purchasing one, as we will be generating new plastic waste and neither will natural trees, as they rarely survive in the world. indoors, due to the heat in the house and the fact that it is in a vase. The simplest option, a wall "tree" that can be shaped with the materials you prefer.
The solution? Create our own decoration with twigs, leaves, dehydrated citrus fruits, cinnamon sticks (even anise stars)... or plants we have at home. Imagination to power! In addition to reusing all the decorations we already have, it is very rewarding to create your own, there are countless ideas with recycled materials.
2. Gifts
Most of the time, we buy objects that end up forgotten in some corner of the house. What if we give experiences? A visit to the theater, a ticket to a nearby concert, an art exhibition, enjoying wine tourism, nature trails or a getaway will certainly be an option that our loved ones will enjoy more.
And, if we choose to buy something, it is always better to choose ecological or sustainable brands and at direct points of sale or through small local businesses.
Gift wrapping is also a point to take into account, as many papers contain plastic components or paints that prevent correct recycling. The best option is to opt for kraft paper (yes, cardboard-colored paper that has not been subjected to aggressive or harmful chemical processes) and decorate it with bows, twigs or dried flowers; if they can be reused, even better.
3. Energy consumption
We love adding a Christmas touch to our home, but it's not necessary for the house to be full of lights everywhere. We can choose LED options and support ourselves with something that gives it a really special charm: candles. They are an ideal choice to decorate the corners we want and also to add warmth to the table.
As temperatures drop, many homes raise the thermostat by system, when especially during gatherings, the fact that more people are at home will cause the temperature to rise a little more than normal.
4. Menu
There are numerous studies that have concluded that more food is wasted on these dates. Why? We tend to buy a lot, again.
Let's stop and think about the number of guests and what we're going to eat to create an appropriate menu, just the right amount. Especially taking into account that, for dinners, it would be especially recommended that they be light.
In short, by applying these simple tips we will be able to spend the holidays in an eco-conscious way, living them according to the slow life standard and being more sustainable. Without a doubt, by opting for these small tips we will end these dates with pride in having contributed to our small action because every action counts.
Wall tree Table decoration with candles