Our tips for an eco-responsible Christmas

Temps de lecture : 4 minutes

Christmas is one of the most important celebrations of the year, an event that we prepare for in advance and for which we rediscover the pleasure of homemade decorating, cooking and gift-giving.

Spend time with family and friends, sharing our traditions and values .

Contrary to popular belief, ecology and sustainability are perfectly compatible with this time of year!

Discover our tips for a zero-waste Christmas!

Raising awareness

If you have any reluctant friends or family, challenge them!

Suggest a theme for Christmas: this year, it’s zero waste! It’s only once you’ve tried it that you can approve and feel like repeating the concept (and making it your own). And very often, to try it is to adopt it.

Choosing your tree

The Christmas tree is the subject of a huge debate every year. Potted, non-potted, natural, synthetic, recycled, everyone has their own opinion. It seems that the most eco-friendly variant is the potted tree, which is replanted every year, but you have to give it a big glass of water every day, otherwise it will dry out and you won’t be able to replant it!

The real Swiss fir

If we opt for a real cut tree, let’s choose a local one, replant it if possible, and if not, let’s at least recycle its branches, as we suggested last year here!

To rent a potted tree for replanting

You can rent from EcosapinThe trees are grown in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, delivered to your home and taken back after the holidays for replanting. But demand is becoming so strong that they are sometimes imported from France, Belgium and Germany. Nevertheless, it’s still a very successful system, created by a young local entrepreneur and farmer with great values.

Synthetic fir

Often made in China, it comes from far away, and if it’s not robustly designed, it may not stand up to multiple assembly/disassembly. And to offset its carbon footprint, it needs to last at least 20 years – if you’re going to change it every year, forget it!

The recycled tree

A salvaged tree or one created from recyclable materials?

Why not turn to an alternative tree, to be made with the whole family.

Recovered wood, cardboard, forest foliage and garland lights will make your tree unique!

You’ll find lots ofideas on pinterest!

The do-it-yourself wooden tree

We recently made a wonderful discovery! A tree made from Swiss wood, ecological, ethical, designer and manufactured in the Canton of Vaud by Les Ateliers de réinsertion Olbis.

Do-it-yourself assembly, as easy as child’s play: https://monbosapin.ch/

Decoration

We adopt blanc de meudon (=calcium carbonate) to decorate windows. Simply mix the powder with water and paint patterns directly onto the glass, using a brush or finger. The mixture contains no chemicals, washes off easily with water and can be used by children without fear.

It’s made by mixing 2 parts blanc de meudon with 1 part water. It couldn’t be simpler!

For table decorations, you can use edible products such as citrus fruits, spices, chocolates and cookies…

Or create pieces in self-hardening dough or salt dough… with a focus on natural materials.

Our forests are overflowing with wonders, so go and collect branches, pine cones, holly… We dry them and use them as wreaths or table runners.

Here are a few ideas!

The gifts

Let’s give priority to immaterial presents!

• a tree to plant in the country of your choice
• give time, a moment to share (baby-sitting, restaurant or movie evenings, spa days to share…)
• experiences (cinema tickets, relaxing treatments, shows, eco-responsible workshops (with Paillettes Vertes for example ;-)), creative workshops (at Matière brute or Histoire de Faire), a night in an unusual place – there’s so much more to life than possessions…)
• a subscription to a newspaper, swimming pool, cinema or object library such as La Manivelle
• sponsor a WWF endangered animal: https://www.wwf.ch/fr/parrainage-wwf
• homemade treats from the heart!

And of course, if you’re looking for nuggets to give as gifts, call on local designers and artisans, who sometimes come together in wonderful little ephemeral boutiques during the Advent season. Our small selection from around Lausanne:

• Pop-up The Local Cornerroute de Genève, Lausanne
• Le Pop-up Créateurs in Lutry, Quai Doret 8
• Facebook Group Christmas market for small artisans
• Boutique des créateurs de Bô NoëlLausanne

And La Chouquette spoils us with an article brimming with good ideas for local and eco-responsible gifts!

Finally, let’s not forget the 2nd hand, which is also possible at Christmas! Why not? Some boutiques offer like-new items, especially for children.

We take this opportunity to take a look at the Lausanne en Vrac blog and its page dedicated to second-hand addresses in Lausanne and/or online: https://lausanne-envrac.ch/la-seconde-main-a-lausanne/

Packaging

As soon as it’s given, as soon as it’s unwrapped and… as soon as it’s thrown away! Gift wrapping paper has a very short lifespan. Here are a few alternatives so you don’t end up with mountains of crumpled gift wrap under the living room table:

• a square of fabric (scarf, tablecloth, tea towel) knotted in the Japanese tradition of furoshiki (a traditional Japanese technique of folding and knotting fabric used for wrapping gifts and transporting various everyday objects).
• beeswrap (reusable beeswax packaging) for small food preparations
• the bulk bag, reusable, knotted and embellished with a small branch.
• reuse newspapers, pretty magazine pages, road maps – as they are or“spiced up” with a creative brushstroke
• a pretty box, jar or pot (iron, glass, ceramic, etc.) or a wicker basket

Feeding

The key word is ANTICIPATION!

This allows you to select the recipes and then the products needed to make them. Anticipation also allows you to identify bulk stores, small shops or farms close to home, so you can stock up on local and seasonal produce, order in advance and avoid last-minute stress and crowded stores (especially in these times, we avoid them)!

Favour homemade, seasonal dishes, and why not try to limit meat!

Why not share the task and propose a joint meal, with each guest bringing a dish? This allows everyone to innovate, discover, share in the preparations and come up with original recipes!

Join us every day in December on our Facebook & Instagram pages with an eco-responsible tip, recipe, suggestion or contest from one of our 24 artisans/entrepreneurs/friends!

We wish you a wonderful December and a wonderful holiday season!