Sustainable Christmas

In everyday family life, you pay attention to living as sustainably as possible, because for the future of your child, you only wish for the best. Christmas is just around the corner, and you also want to make this celebration as sustainable as possible? In this article, we will show you 5 simple tricks on how your family can have a sustainable Christmas celebration.

1. Buy an ecological Christmas tree

There are many discussions surrounding the sustainability of a Christmas tree. Some continue to favor a real fir tree, while others opt for a durable artificial Christmas tree. What is certain: Christmas trees are sold in large quantities and quickly disposed of again – unfortunately not very sustainable. In the end, no one can make the Christmas tree decision for you – a few Tips for buying a tree but we do have for you:

• If you don't want to give up the Christmas tree, you can opt for an ecological Christmas tree that from environmentally friendly forest management comes from, instead of monocultures. Look especially for trees from farms that are either certified according to organic farming standards (e.g., Bioland, Naturland, BIO) or according to standards of ecologically oriented forestry (e.g., Naturland or FSC®).

• There are now even Christmas trees that are grown in pots and, after the holiday, thanks to their strong root system be re-implanted can. It is also possible to rent the tree and have someone else plant it – nice alternatives that give your Christmas tree a new life.

• How about this year with a Alternative to the Christmas tree , for example in the form of a metal or wooden frame? You can also decorate this tree together with your little explorer. The classic Christmas baubles and ornaments look just as good without fir greenery.

2. Decorate the Christmas tree with an LED string of lights

A string of lights on the Christmas tree is probably a must-have for most families! The beautiful lights provide cozy illumination during the dark hours of the Christmas holidays and make Christmas what it is for many. Commercially available light chains, however, consume a lot of electricity, which is why you should opt for a in this year. energy-saving LED string lights grabs.

You want to illuminate more sustainably and therefore opt for candles instead of string lights? Here too, there are some things to consider: Find out before purchasing what the candles are made of. Candles made of beeswax are much more environmentally friendly than candles made from paraffin or palm oil. Especially when you have an active little explorer at home, you should be careful to prevent your child from getting close to the Christmas tree to avoid accidents with the open flame.

3. Gift wooden toys to the children

For a sustainable Christmas celebration, it also means avoiding avoidable CO₂ emissions when giving gifts and instead choosing environmentally friendly presents that are truly needed. The fact that this often takes a backseat when giving gifts to children is something we probably all can't deny. After all, it is the little ones among us who are already satisfied with the simplest gifts.

Instead of with colorful plastic toys Can you make your little explorer happy this Christmas with sustainable, non-toxic wooden toys? Since the material wood is very stable and durable is, your child benefits from it for a long time. The toy is also useful because it promotes the Motor Skills and stimulates creativity . It's best to get the wooden toys from a toy store near you and avoid online shopping, because it burdens the environment.

4. Wrap gifts sustainably

Are you always surprised at Christmas how much wrapping paper ends up in the trash? Especially during a Christmas celebration with small children, the paper scraps almost cover the entire floor towards the end of the gift exchange. Our wonderful, creative, and above all sustainable gift wrap alternatives show you how it can be done differently:

• Christmas wrapping paper that remained undamaged last year, you can cancel and reuse in the new year , for example for smaller gifts. We are aware that this still creates waste, but it's the small steps that matter, right? :)

• As sustainable wrapping paper, you can Wrapping paper, old magazines and journals use. Or you can get eco-friendly recycled wrapping paper made from 100% waste paper and produced without deforestation and with lower water consumption. You can recognize it by the "Blue Angel" seal.

• Let your creativity run free in preparing for Christmas. Take a look around your home to see which Baskets, boxes, socks, or shirts could serve as gift wrapping for a short time. The internet is now full of creative packing techniques.

Well, have our ideas convinced you? Then we already wish you lots of fun with creative wrapping. And let's be honest: for your little explorer, the content of the gift probably matters more than the packaging anyway, right? :)

5. Baking vegan Christmas cookies

Baking cookies and Christmas are inseparable. Even during a sustainable Christmas celebration as a family, you don't have to do without the sweet treats. This year, make sure to baking exclusively vegan Christmas cookies , because they are just as tasty as cookies made from animal products. If you're still looking for a recipe for delicious Christmas cookies, we've got just the thing for you. And your little one will love these cookies too! :)

For the vegan Christmas cookies, you need:

• 200 g spelt flour type 812

• ½ tsp baking powder

• 70 g dates

• 1 tsp lemon zest

• 100 g vegan butter or vegetable margarine

• For decoration: vegan dark chocolate

And here's how it works:

1. Chop the dates in a food processor or with an immersion blender until a paste forms.

2. Mix together flour, baking powder, date paste, lemon zest, and room-temperature vegan butter or margarine. Your little explorer can help you knead. ;)

3. Chill the finished shortcrust pastry for about 30 minutes so that it can be rolled out easily later.

4. Now roll out a work surface and roll the dough onto it. For the reindeer cookies, it's best to use a round cookie cutter, but of course, you and your child can also cut out stars, Christmas trees, or boots.

5. Place the cookies in the preheated oven at 180°C top and bottom heat for 8 to 10 minutes.

6. Let the vegan Christmas cookies cool down and then decorate them with your little explorer as you like. Enjoy your meal!

Christmas is celebrated as a festival of love in many families – probably also in yours. That it is worthwhile and can even be fun to question traditions more often and to approach Christmas differently this year than in previous years, our five tips for more sustainability during the Christmas season have hopefully shown you. We wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas!