Our two Parish Creation Care Ministries in Oak Park, H.O.M.E. (Ascension and St. Edmund) and Vine and Branches (St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles), offer the following suggestions to make your Holiday Season an Eco-Sustainable Christmas that will minimize its environmental impact through conscious choices in decorations, gifts, and food.

15 IDEAS FOR SUSTAINABLE HOLIDAYS

• Purchase ingredients for holiday dishes from local farms.
• Gather up newspaper, old maps, funnies, etc. for wrapping paper.
• Find a sustainable Christmas tree farm near you.
• Set a timer on your Christmas lights.
• Purchase locally crafted Christmas gifts for everyone on your list.
• Make some sweet DIY Christmas decorations.
• Send an e-card instead of a physical one.
• Buy a gift certificate from a local business.
• Get crafty and make some awesome DIY Christmas gifts.
• Donate to an environmental charity in someone’s name.
• Host a virtual gift swap!
• Find out how to recycle your Christmas tree.
• Fill Christmas stockings with delicious holiday treats.
• Break out the Christmas PJs and turn down your thermostat.
• Spike the eggnog with some locally produced bourbon.

PRESENTS

• Try making gifts yourself from knitting a scarf to baking a batch of cookies. There are lots of fantastic presents you can DIY.
• Buy presents from shops that make their products in an ethical and sustainable way… just like the Wildlife Trusts’ store.
• Think quality not quantity having a family Secret Santa means you don’t have to buy for everyone and helps to create less waste.
• Avoid non-recyclable wrapping paper by using brown paper and brown paper tape. Better yet, go for a reusable option like a bag or a box.

FOOD

• Plan your meals so food doesn’t go to waste. Leftovers can make some of the tastiest meals.
• Shop local! Are there ingredients for your Christmas dinner that you can source from local farms or shops?
• Compost your vegetable waste.
• Try out some veggie and vegan alternatives to cut down on meat and dairy.

DECORATIONS

• If you already have a cupboard full of sparkly Christmas decorations, make sure to reuse them.
• Instead of plastic tinsel, try using bunting, pinecones or popcorn tinsel instead.
• Avoid buying Christmas crackers that contain plastic tags. You might want to try making your own using toilet roll tubes instead.