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.

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.