5 Ways to Have a Merry Eco-Friendly Christmas! - Part 1

by Ruth Sheets, Earth Stewards Committee Co-chair

Earth Care as an Act of Love

As the Christmas Season approaches, a little forethought can make your celebrations eco-friendlier while reducing their negative impact on the planet. When we care for the planet, we are actually following Jesus’s command to “Love one another.”

We need to act in ways that do not harm the health of family, friends, plants and animals, and future generations. Everyone needs clean air, clean drinking water, and toxin-free soil to live and be healthy. We should work toward using sustainable practices as much as we can, because they are better for the earth and all people. Can you extend your love for others by practicing earth care this Christmas?

Transportation, Electricity, and Climate Concerns

EcoAmerica works to advance climate solutions, and Blessed Tomorrow is its faith-based program, working with many religious communities, including the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). I recently heard an ecoAmerica lecture. One key take-away was that transportation and electricity production are the two largest contributors to climate concerns because both rely heavily on fossil fuels. Being mindful of this connection helps to determine eco-friendlier ways. Let’s think about that when we plan our Christmas celebrations.

Practical Ideas for an Eco-Friendly Christmas

This article offers some practical ideas for making your holiday celebrations more eco-friendly. You do not need to adopt every suggestion at once. Learn about the concerns, choose the changes that work for your family, and aim to do a little more this year than you did last year. Even small steps can help keep the earth a bit cleaner and healthier.

Choose Locally Produced Food

1)    When planning holiday meals, consider choosing locally produced food when possible. A commonly used guideline defines local food as food produced within 100 miles.  Although that distance may not feel especially local, compared with foods transported from places such as California or Mexico, food grown nearer to home travels only a fraction of the distance and will likely cause less transportation-related pollution. Some products, including chocolate, coffee, bananas, and oranges—may not be grown locally, but you can still choose local produce when it is practical. 

2)    Choosing locally grown food supports farmers in your region, strengthening the local economy. Consumers benefit as well, because the food is fresher. 

Choose a Real Tree and LED Lights

3)    A real Christmas tree can be an eco-friendlier choice than a plastic one, especially when it is purchased locally and disposed of responsibly. Artificial trees can be reused for many years, but they are made from plastic derived from fossil fuels and will likely take hundreds of years to decompose. If you decide to buy a real tree, choose a tree farm that limits or avoids pesticide use.

4)    Once you have your tree, please consider saving energy by using LED Christmas tree lights. They last longer and use less energy.

Wrap Gifts Sustainably

Photo Credit: ID 204178693 | Christmas © Rimma Bondarenko | Dreamstime.com

5)    Did you know that gift-wrapping paper often uses toxic inks which end up in a landfill and pollute the ground? Instead, make gift wrapping more sustainable by reusing old maps, colorful newspaper comics, or fabric. The Japanese have traditionally used Furoshiki techniques to wrap gifts with fabric, reusing the cloths year after year.  Dish towels, scarves, and bandanas can also be used for wrapping gifts.  Finish the package with natural materials such as pinecones or twine and enjoy the creativity that comes with giving it a personal touch without the plastic ribbons, bows, and glitter.

In Part 2, I will explore ways to choose eco-friendly gifts.  Stay tuned!

References

Japan Objects, viewed Oct. 25, 2026, What are Furoshiki? 14 Things to Know about Japanese Wrapping Cloth,  https://japanobjects.com/features/furoshiki

Presbyterians for Earth Care, Sept. 27, 2026, Climate Ambassador Training: Part 1 [Webinar Pre-recorded Video from EcoAmerica].

Presbyterians for Earth Care, Nov. 14, 2023,Sustainable Holidays: Celebrating Christmas with a Focus on Earth Care[Webinar],https://www.presbyearthcare.org/events