How to Have a Plastic-Free Christmas

Plastic is a big problem during the holiday season. Use these easy tips to have a plastic-free Christmas or at least reduce your plastic use over the holidays.

Plastic is everywhere during the holiday season, plastic trees, plastic gifts, plastic bags from shopping, plastic wrapping, and so much more.

Even though I try to avoid plastic I have to say I’m sitting next to our artificial tree. I’m allergic to the real thing and just can’t imagine not having any tree. There are also some plastic ornaments and candy canes wrapped in plastic on the tree.

The tree is at least mostly PE plastic which is safer than PVC which most trees are made of, the ornaments are used every year and most are glass, and the candy canes are organic. There are many ways we can reduce the plastic we are consuming this holiday season though.

How to Have a Plastic-Free Christmas

Plastic-Free Ornaments

Use glass, metal, or natural fiber, like wool, ornaments. There are so many great ornaments out there that aren’t plastic. I love vintage mercury glass ornaments. They are beautiful and buying vintage means no new materials needed to be used. They are also very trendy right now. 

Go with Real Greenery

Assuming you aren’t allergic to real greenery, choose sustainably raised greenery and trees. For extra greenery pieces ask places selling trees if you can use the pieces that have been dropped. You can create some great greenery pieces with this normally trashed pieces and usually, you can get them for free.

If you are allergic to the real thing look for PE plastic instead of PVC. PVC contains lead and is best to avoid. Most trees and other greenery that say “most realistic” contains at least a large percentage of PE plastic. If you do end up with PVC be sure to vacuum and dust often and don’t let your kids touch it.

A great plastic free option for wreaths is to make a rag wreath. They are fun and easy to make and can be made using scrap fabric for a very eco-friendly project.

Additional Resource: Eco-Friendly Articial Christmas Tree

Choose Recycled, Recyclable, or Reusable Gift Wrap

Traditional wrapping paper isn’t recycled or even recyclable. Look for ones that are instead. You can also use things like scarves, fabric or towels to wrap gifts. A newspaper is a lot of fun as well and you can decorate it to make it look really beautiful. 

You can now also buy beautiful fabric gift bags that are reusable. My husband loves these because it’s so easy for him to wrap gifts. No cutting, taping or even tissue paper. 

Additional Resource: Eco-Friendly Holiday Gift Wrapping Guide

Avoid Plastic Gifts

Look for gifts that contain more sustainable materials. There are a lot of great wooden toys for kids and for adults look for glass and other sustainable materials. Or skip the material gifts and give experience gifts or donations instead. 

Additional Resource: 14 Amazing Ways to Repurpose Items- Easy and Fun Gifts

Use Reusable Bags While Shopping

A really easy way to reduce your plastic use this year is using reusable shopping bags while doing your Christmas shopping.

Plastic bags are causing so many environmental issues. It’s hard to believe something so small could cause so many problems but it’s estimated that 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed each year! So those little bags really add up. It’s estimated that a million seabirds and 100,000 animals die from plastic bags and other waste each year. These bags come with a big price.

You can even get cute Christmas reusable bags for your Christmas shopping each year, or give them as gifts!

Additional Eco-Friendly Christmas Resources

• 10 Tips for Reducing Waste During Christmas
• Lead Exposure and Christmas Photos

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