Clean holiday: how to celebrate the New Year without harm to the planet

New Year and Christmas are a time of magic, gifts, fun and... increased consumption. Christmas trees, souvenirs to colleagues and acquaintances, wrapping paper, a festive table bursting with food, disposable wine glasses for corporate parties and picnics, round-the-clock illumination – nature receives such dubious "gifts" from us.

How to reduce the harm done to her and make the holiday really clean and bright?

Of course, during the holidays, the last thing you want to think about is unpleasant and limit yourself in desires. But after all, the New Year's week will end, and tons of garbage will remain with us for years, or even decades. We do not suggest giving up gifts and entertainment, we just suggest a little more responsible approach to their choice.

Buy a natural Christmas tree or, if possible, dress up a live tree. Its carbon footprint is much smaller and recycling is much easier than that of a plastic Christmas tree.

Try to make Christmas tree toys and decorations for the room with your own hands from recycled materials. On YouTube and other resources, you can easily find more than a dozen videos showing how to make a festive decor from the most unexpected things, from bottles to paper towel sleeves. Call the children for help – and the decoration of the house will turn into a real New Year's entertainment for several evenings!
Don't give meaningless gifts that will end up in the trash after the holidays. Figurines, key rings, magnets and mugs with symbols of the year – all these things are rarely used for their intended purpose. If the budget allows, give the right thing or gift-impression: a ticket to the theater or a quest, a certificate for a massage session, etc. If there is not much money for gifts or it is just a sign of attention for a colleague or not very close friend, you can give, for example, a hand-baked gingerbread, Christmas cookies in the form of a Christmas tree or a curly chocolate bar. Forms for them can be bought at any hobby and creative goods store and used for more than one year.

Don't throw away gifts that you don't need. Try to give or exchange them through online services, for example, avito. For someone you don't like a sweater with deer or a cup with a tiger can become a favorite thing that will last for more than one year.

Pack your gifts eco-friendly. Be creative and wrap them yourself using recycled materials, or put them in already used gift bags if they are in good condition.

Approach the preparation of the festive table wisely. Give preference to local products, seasonal fruits and vegetables – less resources are required for their cultivation and transportation. Don't cook too much! Festive salads spoil very quickly and often end up in the trash along with dried sausage and cake remnants.
Do not forget to turn off garlands and other glowing decorations at night. When choosing a garland, give preference to options with LED bulbs – they use less electricity and last longer.

Give up fireworks. Like any gorenje process, they contribute to the production of CO2 and other greenhouse gases and contain toxic substances, for example, perchlorates, which inhibit the thyroid gland. Different chemical elements are also responsible for the color of the flashes: red - strontium, yellow - sodium and its salts, green - barium salts, white - aluminum or magnesium, purple - a mixture of strontium and copper compounds. When fireworks are launched, these substances enter the air, and from there they settle into the soil and water, clogging and poisoning them.

Even a harmless pneumatic firecracker leaves behind a pile of multicolored garbage in the snow.
In addition, the roar and flashes of fireworks frighten birds and pets. Many European cities (Paris, Prague, Brussels, most German cities) they have already abandoned this dubious entertainment, preferring more environmentally friendly options - laser and holographic projections.

Well, as a nice bonus, using our tips will have a positive effect on the state of your wallet or bank account. And the consciousness that you are contributing to the preservation of nature by your actions will add a little more pleasant emotions to your New Year's mood. Celebrate the holidays without harm to the planet and take care of it for yourself and your loved ones!