How to prepare eco-responsible Christmas parties?

The final stretch before Christmas and its famous preparations . Whether we spend these end-of-year holidays with family or friends , there are always many steps to take: decorating the tree and the house , creating delicious recipes for a festive meal , and of course wrapping all the gifts for the people around us.

What if we did all this responsibly ? Let's challenge ourselves to have the most eco-friendly Christmas possible , and to help you with that, we're giving you some ideas we've found to have a magical time at the end of this year.

Make your own Christmas decorations: the Do It Yourself version!

For DIY enthusiasts, there are various methods for decorating your home and Christmas tree. This can be a fun activity to do with children or friends while patiently waiting for the arrival of the sack full of presents.

• Create an Advent wreath: Christmas wreaths can be placed on a table or hung on the door. Making one yourself couldn't be simpler! Start by preparing a wire circle around which you can wrap small fir branches. You can add pine cones, which you can attach with small pieces of string. Red ribbons, candies, dried citrus fruits: the possibilities are endless, so let your creativity flow with this DIY Christmas decoration!

• Making an original Christmas tree: if you don't want a real Christmas tree (the kind that sheds its beautiful needles all over the living room 😄), you can make this little tree in many ways: from a wooden pallet, paper, or even cardboard. There are various tutorials online, and you should quickly find something you like. And why not draw a tree using suitable markers directly on your patio door or a mirror?

• Decorate the house with original creations: paper garlands, children's coloured drawings, handmade scented candles, pine cones placed all around your home, cardboard snowflakes… Once you start looking for ideas, you won't be able to stop!

If you're not feeling particularly creative or are short on time, we suggest you take a stroll through your local secondhand shops to buy used decorations. You'll be able to give a second life to often-neglected items and create a unique decor.

Prepare reusable gift wrapping: an eco-friendly alternative for an original Christmas

Once you've made the (difficult) choice of gifts for your family, friends, and yourself (yes, don't forget to treat yourself!), the next question is how to wrap them. Forget the traditional paper that ends up in the bin (although some people do use it to wrap other gifts: nice idea!). Now there are some great alternatives:

• Seed paper: this is recycled paper that has been impregnated with seeds. Once it has been used, simply plant it in the ground and you will discover pretty, colorful flowers when the warmer weather arrives.

• Furoshiki: In the era of zero waste, we're hearing more and more about this Japanese technique of wrapping gifts in fabric. You can use sheets, textiles you no longer use, or even take the opportunity to make it with a beautiful scarf to give as a gift.

• Newspaper: here's a great way to use up paper that's already been used, and also to create an eco-friendly and original gift wrap! Feel free to choose a specific page with a secret message 😉.

For a simpler approach, you can also give a gift in a kraft paper bag or without any embellishment. It's up to you whether you want to keep the surprise for your loved one until the very last moment.

If you're (still) looking for gift ideas to spoil your loved ones, quickly read our article: 3 good reasons to choose an ethical gift for Christmas

Prepare a local, homemade meal for an eco-friendly Christmas celebration

Christmas meals are often associated with indulgence and heavy meals. This holiday season, it's possible to create a delicious, responsible, and creative dinner!

Here, we're not going to give you recipes (we'll wait for you to give us some ideas in the comments 😄), but some tips for cooking a healthy and tasty festive meal.

• By prioritizing local products, you'll be able to offer exceptional dishes and showcase recipes that are sometimes overlooked but are part of your region's heritage. Go and meet the farmers and producers around you!

• Consider creating a menu in advance and confirming your guest list; this way you will know how much food to buy and you can avoid food waste.

• For chocolate lovers, it's possible to find ethical treats from Swiss artisan chocolatiers. You can meet them at Christmas markets, but also in their beautiful shops.

Of course, there are plenty of tips for creating an eco-friendly festive meal, and you'll be able to find the ones that suit you best! What's certain is that this dinner will be exquisite and perfect, because it will be created with all your love.

In a critical ecological context, it is true that it is important to continue to consume responsibly, even in exceptional events.

In this article, we wanted to offer some ideas on how to prepare eco-friendly Christmas celebrations, but everyone adapts to their own scale and what we want most of all is for you to have a wonderful holiday season with the people you love!

By the way, don't forget that we're waiting for your recipe ideas in the comments to celebrate a Christmas that will awaken our taste buds!