In everyday family life, you try to live as sustainably as possible because, for your child’s future, you only want the best. Christmas is just around the corner, and you’d like to make the celebration as sustainable as possible, too. In this article, we’ll share five simple tips to help your family enjoy a more sustainable Christmas.

1. Buy an ecological Christmas tree

There are many discussions surrounding the sustainability of a Christmas tree. Some still prefer a real fir tree, while others opt for a long-lasting artificial one. One thing is certain: Christmas trees are sold in huge quantities and quickly disposed of again – unfortunately, that’s not very sustainable. In the end, no one can make this decision for you, but we do have a few tips for buying a tree for you:

• If you don’t want to give up a Christmas tree, choose an ecological one that comes from environmentally friendly forest management rather than from monocultures. In particular, look for trees from farms that are 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 grown in pots that, after the holidays, can be replanted thanks to their strong root system. You can also rent a tree and have it planted afterward—lovely alternatives that give your Christmas tree a new life.

• How about trying a alternative to the Christmas tree this year, such as a metal or wooden frame? You can decorate it together with your little explorer. Classic Christmas baubles and ornaments look just as beautiful 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 warm glow creates a cozy atmosphere during the dark hours of the Christmas season and makes Christmas feel extra special for many. However, commercially available light strings can consume a lot of electricity, which is why you should opt for energy-saving LED string lights this year.

Want to light things more sustainably and choose candles instead of string lights? There are a few things to keep in mind here, too: Before buying, check what the candles are made of. Candles made of beeswax are much more environmentally friendly than candles made from paraffin or palm oil. Especially if you have an active little explorer at home, make sure your child can’t get too close to the Christmas tree to help prevent accidents with an open flame.

3. Gift wooden toys to the children

A sustainable Christmas celebration also means avoiding unnecessary CO₂ emissions when giving gifts and choosing environmentally friendly presents that are truly needed. When it comes to gifts for children, this can easily take a backseat—something we probably all have to admit. After all, it’s often the little ones who are happiest with the simplest gifts.

Instead of colorful plastic toys , you can make your little explorer happy this Christmas with sustainable, non-toxic wooden toys. Because wood is stable and durable , your child can enjoy it for a long time. Wooden toys are also valuable because they promote Motor Skills and stimulate creativity . It’s best to buy wooden toys from a toy store near you and avoid online shopping, as it puts an extra burden on the environment.

4. Wrap gifts sustainably

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

• If you still have Christmas wrapping paper from last year that wasn’t damaged, you can save it and reuse it this year , for example for smaller gifts. We know this still creates waste, but it’s the small steps that matter, right? :)

• As sustainable wrapping paper, you can use wrapping paper, old magazines, and journals . Or choose 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 as you prepare for Christmas. Look around your home to see which baskets, boxes, socks, or shirts could serve as gift wrap for a short time. The internet is full of creative wrapping techniques.

So, 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, what’s inside the gift probably matters more than the packaging anyway, right? :)

5. Baking vegan Christmas cookies

Baking cookies and Christmas go hand in hand. Even if you’re aiming for a sustainable Christmas celebration as a family, you don’t have to miss out on sweet treats. This year, try baking exclusively vegan Christmas cookies —they’re just as delicious as cookies made with animal products. If you’re still looking for a recipe for tasty 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 the 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 it can be rolled out easily later.

4. Now prepare a work surface and roll out the dough. 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, then decorate them with your little explorer however you like. Enjoy your meal!

Christmas is celebrated as a festival of love in many families—probably in yours, too. We hope our five tips for more sustainability during the Christmas season have shown you that it can be worthwhile (and even fun) to question traditions more often and approach Christmas a little differently this year than in years past. We wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas!