Over the last few years I have become increasingly aware of how much waste I create during the holidays. Every Christmas since I can remember we’d pull out our black garbage bags and fill them to the brim with non-recyclable wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows. Plastic toys came packaged in layers of more plastic. Single use cutlery, plates, straws and napkins made Christmas dinners easier to clean up. The quantity of my gifts were always more important than the quality of my gifts – and all this waste was created with out a second thought.

But it was impossible to close my eyes and ignore the excess once I saw it. As my family took steps to create a more minimalist home and simple lifestyle I realized how unnecessary so much of the garbage created by Christmas truly was. We could simplify and minimize our waste without missing any of the beauty and tradition we’ve always loved about the holidays.

We certainly aren’t perfect, but we are embracing the process of learning how to celebrate Christmas sustainably. Here are some of our favourite ways to keep waste to a minimum this Holiday season!

Decorate – Naturally!

Buy a fresh Christmas tree.

Growing up, my family bought a real Christmas tree every year. When my husband and I got married we continued the tradition. There is nothing like the smell of fresh pine filling up your living room as you pull out your favourite ornaments and twinkle lights! Decorating with a real tree has so many benefits. Even though a fake tree can be used for years in a row, they eventually end up in a landfill. Fresh Christmas trees can be composted or recycled and mulched. A lot of townships and cities have special tree pickup days after the holidays. We opt to let our tree dry out in our backyard. We save it for a big bonfire to celebrate the beginning of the summer! Buying a real tree is also an excellent opportunity to support local farmers. And speaking of Christmas tree farms, growing these seasonally sold trees naturally creates oxygen and cleans the air! They might be a little messier than the prefabricated alternative – but we find it worth the mess every year.

Decorate your home with natural greenery and natural/locally made/thrifted ornaments.

Creating a cozy home filled with holiday cheer isn’t something I’m willing to sacrifice just because I want to celebrate minimally and sustainably.

Outside our front door we have an antique metal maple sap bucket filled with fallen birch branches, extra boughs from our tree and backyard, and woven wooden stars. It looks so festive and barely cost me a thing! Try foraging around your yard or local green space to find fresh branches and boughs. Don’t live in, or near, a forested area? You can also purchase fresh greenery from local nurseries/farms – even some grocery stores carry them!

There is a huge excess of Christmas decor out there, and you can keep it out of the landfill by reusing it rather than buying new. If you need/want to freshen up your home’s holiday style try hunting through some local antique shops for unique finds. Some of my favourite ornaments are our vintage glass Christmas balls and carved wooden Santa’s – they are all filled with such character and history. Not feeling thrifty? You can also find businesses that sell local artisan’s work or imported handmade, fair trade, decor.

Decorating with sustainability/simplicity in mind doesn’t mean you’re home will be lacking in Christmas cheer!

Wrap Presents with Recyclable/Compostable/Reusable Materials.

Last year was the first time I really put the effort in to reduce my Christmas wrapping waste. Mainly because I love my pretty Christmas papers and bags. It’s ALL about the aesthetics for me. I take way too much pride/satisfaction in the beauty of the presents under my tree. I was happily dubbed my family’s official wrapper for years growing up. It’s literally one of my favourite parts of the holidays. It’s no wonder it took me so long to try and find some alternatives to all the glitter, gold, and plastic bows!

Last Christmas my decorative wrapping was replaced with a giant (and inexpensive!) roll of brown craft paper. My pretty bows were replaced with butchers twine (you can find twine in multiple colours online if you want variation). I also found jute or yarn to be lovely alternatives to plastic ribbon. I trimmed some excess branches off of our tree and tied them onto the presents to pretty them up – and loved the results! More plastic free decorative options are: rosemary sprigs, cedar cuttings, or a pretty handmade ornament!

The only non-recyclable I used was scotch tape, which had to be pulled off of the craft paper before it could be placed in the recycling bin.

This year I have been DETERMINED to do an even more thorough job of eradicating waste from my wrapping. My favourite discovery has been Washi Tape! Many Washi Tapes are made of plant materials and are compost/recycling friendly. In fact, a lot of town/cities will accept craft paper in the compost too. I joyfully discovered that our township does! It feels so satisfying to know that all of our wrapping waste can be thrown in the green bin after Christmas morning.

Reusable wrapping is also an excellent option. The last couple months I’ve been scouring the Salvation Army for second hand sheets/fabric cuttings/drapes that I could use to wrap presents in. I FINALLY found the loveliest cotton bed skirt that was easily cut up to wrap multiple gifts under our tree. More reusable ideas I love are: fabric bags, decorative storage containers, scarves, and pretty tea towels! I’ve also read about families who create Christmas scavenger hunts. Presents are hidden around the house to be discovered – instead of wrapped and placed under the tree. If you have small children this could be such a fun and exciting experience!

Plan a Plant Based Christmas Menu.

If there is anything I’ve discovered since switching to a vegan diet 3 years ago – it’s that I don’t have to miss out on my favourite holiday flavours and foods just because I’ve cut out animal products. Eating plant based is an amazing way to lessen your environmental impact/carbon footprint this Christmas (and into the new year!). There are now endless recipes at our fingertips, and so many options in our grocery stores – it’s not difficult to switch out your favourite Christmas classics with a delicious vegan alternative. My go to holiday dinner is stuffed butternut squash – filled with wild rice, fresh herbs, cranberries, chickpeas, spinach, apples, and cashews! On the side I love garlicky mashed potatoes, vegan gravy, and maple glazed carrots! For dessert? Vegan apple or pumpkin pie with coconut whipped cream on top. Yum!

If you feel overwhelmed by the idea of making a plant based Christmas dinner, why not try simply switching out one or two of your favourite dishes with vegan or vegetarian alternatives? It’s an easy and healthy way to make your Christmas more sustainable.